Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Mohammed Valli Moosa said on Wednesday he was surprised by the Congress of SA Trade Unions’ (Cosatu) concern about the implementation of the plastic bags agreement.
Cosatu and the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union (Ceppwawu) earlier said they were concerned about the government’s failure to implement the plastic bags agreement.
Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said the failure to implement the agreement was leading to job losses.
”This is particularly disquieting in the run up to the Growth and Development Summit, which is focusing on addressing the unemployment crisis,” said Craven.
He called on the government to take urgent action to end the import of substandard bags.
Moosa said in response: ”Cosatu has attended all the meetings of the task team and has never raised these issues in the meetings.”
He was thus ”surprised that such issues were raised in the manner Cosatu has.
”This is clearly contrary to the spirit of the agreement and the spirit of the partnership that endured throughout the process of the plastic bags regulations.
”Cosatu is part of the task team and the agreement that was reached between these parties was binding on them collectively,” said Moosa.
He said he was encouraged by the response from both the consumers and the retailers in the implementation of the plastic bags regulations.
”There is a tremendous response from the public about the plastic bags regulations and we are happy that our people have received these measures with a sense of responsibility.
”There is no evidence that imports are disrupting the agreement,” he said.
Moos said government would pursue the question of imports further, and would monitor the rise or fall of food prices.
He invited anybody who had ”issues” with the plastic bags to raise them openly with his department.
”We have opened a hotline number to deal with all concerns of our people on this matter.
The toll-free number is 080 020 3622.
Environment Department spokesperson JP Louw said government’s latest reports on the assessment of the implementation of plastic bag regulations, revealed that the introduction of thicker, recyclable plastic bags was a success. He said the assessment was done to coincide with Environment Week celebrations. – Sapa