Cosatu takes to the streets

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has rejected proposals by the Department of Labour to enforce tougher regulations on labour broking, saying a total ban is the only solution.

Speaking at a march held in Johannesburg yesterday, Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini said in his address to workers that no compromises would be made. Several marches took place around the country as part of the World Day for Decent Work campaign, organised by the International Trade Union Confederation.

The Department of Labour is proposing amendments to several Acts, which all fall under the Labour Relations Act. The new amendments would either effectively abolish labour broking, or increase regulation of all temporary employment services.

The department's amendments are currently sitting with National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). The proposal document shows that the department is moving towards increased regulation instead of an outright ban. Public hearings are also being held around the country, following heated Parliamentary sessions.

In an interview with ITWeb, Dlamini says there will be no exceptions and that the federation stands by its resolution to pressure government to ban labour brokers.

“We argue that regulation is not going to solve the problem. A total ban will make labour brokers move to a situation where they will invent new forms of businesses, which respect decent work, which respect employment under the conditions of the law,” he said.

While the federation is happy that public discussions are being held, it notes that it would not support any decision by government that does not affect a ban of labour brokers.

“What we are happy with is that there is a process of consultation, the hearings are important. But we are not going to support any form of regulation. We will only support a total ban and we are persuading our government to implement a total ban,” he said.

The amendments by the department would change wage structures, increase ministerial powers and remove the flexibility of practices such as outsourcing and subcontracting. Cosatu states that the voice of business and any others supporting labour broking has come too late, and the only solution now is a widespread ban.

“Total ban is going to be the solution and there is no other solution,” he said.

Cosatu has also given government until the end of 2010 to ban labour broking, or face mass strike action. During its recent 10th National Congress, in Midrand, all Cosatu member unions signed a resolution on labour broking.

Dlamini noted that, while Cosatu will follow through with its plans, it hopes government will ban labour broking before the set deadline.

“I hope it does not come to that, because it is on this matter that we have said, even if it means the economy of the country comes to a standstill, it's a matter that we're prepared to die for. We pray it doesn't come to such a situation,” he said.

While the Information Technology Association and Business Unity SA have indicated the IT industry would be negatively impacted by the proposed amendments, Cosatu says no sector should be exempt from the ban. The bodies have noted that amendments could result in the end of skills-based services and spell the end of the outsourcing industry.

“We are alive to the reality that workers have been complaining about severe working conditions under the labour brokers. All sectors have been using labour brokers. Even in the IT sector there is a lot of outsourcing happening there, and you will find a lot of such exploitation,” says Dlamini.