COSATU Takes to the Streets Across South Africa Over Jobs, Wages and Rising Living Costs

 

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is staging nationwide protest action on Wednesday as workers raise concerns over job losses, wages, job security and the rising cost of living.

The demonstrations coincide with the World Day for Decent Work, with marches and pickets planned in several parts of South Africa. COSATU says workers are facing growing pressure from retrenchments, non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage, casualisation and challenges to collective bargaining. 

COSATU spokesperson Zanele Sabela said the federation is particularly concerned about widespread retrenchments at a time when unemployment remains extremely high.

Among the actions planned are demonstrations involving Massmart over workers dismissed from Makro and Sun International over planned job cuts. Protest activities are also expected in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Cape Town, North West, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Mpumalanga. 

The federation is also calling for stronger enforcement of the National Minimum Wage and greater protection for workers affected by insecure employment.

South Africans are simultaneously dealing with pressure from electricity, fuel, food and transport costs, adding a wider cost-of-living dimension to Wednesday's labour action. 

The protest action is protected under Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act. The scheduled action runs from approximately 9am to 4:30pm, although individual marches and pickets may follow different local arrangements. 

For participating employees, legal protection does not necessarily mean they must be paid for time not worked. Employers may apply the “no work, no pay” principle where applicable, while workers participating in compliant protected action generally cannot be disciplined merely for taking part. 

The demonstrations come as COSATU marks its 40th anniversary, with the federation arguing that unemployment, poverty and inequality continue to place millions of workers under severe economic pressure. 

Wednesday's nationwide action puts employment and household affordability back at the centre of South Africa's economic debate, as organised labour calls for stronger measures to protect jobs and improve working conditions.