The Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) on Wednesday welcomed a proposed meeting between the government and labour unions to discuss unemployment, poverty reduction and globalisation.
”We view the government’s commitment to engage with labour around key social and economic issues in a very positive light,” said Fedusa’s general secretary, Dennis George, in a statement.
The decision to have the two-day session was taken at a meeting by President Thabo Mbeki’s trade union working group on Tuesday.
”Discussions had been fruitful and labour had raised some pertinent issues, which included the functioning of the South African National Aids Council, which has been plagued by controversy, and criticism of the historically dictatorial stance of government,” said Fedusa’s president Mary Malete and George, commenting on Tuesday’s meeting.
The session would be held ”as soon as possible” between a delegation of Cabinet ministers, under the leadership of President Mbeki and the leadership of Fedusa, the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the National Council of Trade Unions.
The regulation of casualisation would also be high on the list of matters the federation will raise at the bi-lateral.
”Fedusa leadership intends to use this opportunity and others, which have been arranged for the coming weeks between the ministers of finance and public service and administration and the Fedusa leadership, to grapple with the matters that concern the working class of our country,” said George. — Sapa