/ 17 May 2000

SACOB CAUTIONS COSATU OVER STRIKES

THE South African Chamber of Business has warned that the Congress of South African Trade Unions must accept that it is also responsible for the country’s economic well-being. Sacob’s policy director Henry Makupula said Cosatu should “seriously consider” the consequences of strikes given the “fragile nature of the South African economy”. He has also called for the “social compact” between government, labour and business to be normalized, saying the “creative tension” between the three social partners will stimulate development. Last week thousands of Cosatu members embarked on a one-day strike to protest job losses and unemployment.