The decision follows the conclusion of the annual Nedlac Labour School, where unions resolved to reestablish a dedicated National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) Task Team to address urgent economic pressures facing households.
With petrol prices set to rise steeply on April 1 and electricity tariffs also increasing, Congress of SA Trade Unions General Secretary Solly Phetoe said unions could no longer remain passive in the face of growing hardship. Global tensions, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, have pushed fuel and food prices to record highs, amplifying South Africa’s domestic economic challenges.
“We must embark on a national day of action on the cost of living,” Phetoe said. “Workers are trapped in many economic challenges, and therefore, we are very happy that we put it here. The four federations have agreed that before the Decent Work Day in October, we must take up these critical issues.”
Phetoe said the unions would mobilise jointly to defend workers from the rising cost of essentials, warning that the increases expected on 1 April would add further strain on families already struggling with stagnant wages and mounting debt. “Petrol is coming up, a number of issues are going to come up, and that is a trap for workers,” he said.
The coordinated action is expected to include mass mobilisation, policy engagement at NEDLAC and intensified pressure on government to intervene on administered prices, unemployment and retrenchments. Labour leaders argue that while workers bear the brunt of price shocks, government and business must shoulder greater responsibility for stabilising the economy.
The economic pressures coincide with widespread restructuring and job losses across multiple sectors, adding urgency to labour’s call for stronger protections. “There are issues of unemployment and the retrenchments taking place in the country,” Phetoe emphasised.
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
