|
News and Publicity - Press Statement: [Press]BIG Book COSATU Communications Department - 2003-11-28 |
Launch of first book on: =93A Basic Income Grant=94 - edited by Dr. Guy Standing and Dr. Michael Samson On Thursday evening of 27 November 2003, a book entitled =93A Basic Income Grant for South Africa=94 was launched at the Centre for the Book in Cape Town. Published by UCT Press, the book is the first to provide =91an accessible collection of the current research on the issue, with chapters by both proponents and critics of the Basic Income Grant (BIG)=92. Introductory comments are made by Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of COSATU, Sheena Duncan, Patron of the Black Sash; and Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa (CPSA). This bears testimony to the commitment by labour and civil society to strengthen the call for a BIG and place it firmly on the national agenda. The final chapter by Neil Coleman, Co-Ordinator of the COSATU Parliamentary office, deals with current debates around BIG describing the political and socio- economic contexts in which these debates are transpiring. COSATU=92s endorsement of the BIG and this book demonstrates it role in the call for a South African BIG. The book in fact acknowledges COSATU=92s key role in raising awareness and negotiating the investigation of a universal social grant for all South Africans as far back as the Presidential Job Summit in 1998. The call for a BIG is endorsed by the CEC of COSATU and was one of the resolutions of the 8th National Congress. South Africans can now, for the first time, read a comprehensive book about a topic that has been the source of much debate, and can make up their own mind about its urgent need and feasibility. This book was launched in the midst of increasing debates around a BIG. A week ago, a closed conference was held in Johannesburg between members of the BIG Financing Reference Group and key economists with government officials, civil society and business. Next week, from 2 - 3 December 2003, the Basic Income Grant Coalition will be holding a conference entitled Reducing Inequality and Poverty - a BIG Solution, at the Ipelegeng Community Centre, in Soweto. Dr. Guy Standing is Director of the Socio-Economic Security programme of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and founder member of the Basic Income European Network (BIEN). Dr. Michael Samson is the Director of Research for the Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI) in Cape Town and is also an Associate Professor of Economics at the Williams College Center for Development Economics in the United States. The book is available from Juta Bookshops nationwide at a cost of R120, the proposed value of a BIG. (R100 based the price index of the year 2000). Note to media: Please foward this to your book editor Patrick Craven Acting COSATU Spokesperson patrick@cosatu.org.za 082-821-7456 339-4911 ********************************************************* Visit the COSATU web site at http://www.cosatu.org.za/press/latest.html fo= r copies of our most recent press statements. Get free e-mail for union members. Visit www.union.org.za and sign up now= ! It's free! COSATU takes steps to ensure that any attachments are free from viruses. You should, however, carry out your own virus check before opening any attachment. COSATU accepts no liability for loss or damage caused by software viruses. ***********************************************************
