/ 18 June 2007

Cosatu: Job creation must last beyond 2010

South Africa needs to create jobs that will last beyond the 2010 Soccer World Cup, Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Willie Madisha said on Monday. ''In some countries that have hosted the World Cup, the jobs that were created collapsed after the Cup. [We] need to discuss what happens beyond the Cup and what do we do to sustain these jobs.''

South Africa needs to create jobs that will last beyond the 2010 Soccer World Cup, Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Willie Madisha said on Monday.

”In some countries that have hosted the World Cup, the jobs that were created collapsed after the Cup. This conference needs to discuss what happens beyond the Cup and what do we do to sustain these jobs.”

Madisha was speaking at a conference in Boksburg on Cosatu’s jobs and poverty campaign

He said there is a lack of quality jobs, even in the public sector.

”You are not safe in the private and public sector.”

He said privatisation of public services leads to exploitation, low salaries, casual labour and retrenchment.

There are workers who remain poor as their salaries are too low.

He called on all Cosatu affiliates to fight for a living wage in all sectors.

”The public-sector strikes must been seen in that light. Workers have reason and said enough is enough,” Madisha said. — Sapa