Bright Ntuli
With Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana expected to table his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in Parliament today workers unions have announced their expectations.
The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa is calling on the minister to proclaim an emergency, state-led jobs plan to address unemployment.
The country’s official unemployment rate rose to 33.6-percent in the second quarter of this year.
GIWUSA president Mametlwe Sebei says the plan should include mass public employment programmes, direct state investment in productive sectors, support for cooperatives and worker-controlled enterprises.
Click below to listen to Sebei’s sentiments…
Meanwhile teachers union SADTU says the budget policy statement must demonstrate a clear political and fiscal commitment to creating decent jobs, alleviating poverty and ensuring that every learner and educator has the resources and opportunities needed to thrive.
Last year’s budget saw cuts to the School Infrastructure Backlogs Grant.
SADTU’s spokesperson Nomusa Cembi says they expect minister Godongwana to make a provision for the expansion of funded teaching posts, enabling the absorption of unemployed educators into the system
Click below to listen to Cembi’s sentiments…
