Cosatu backs affirmative action 05-03-07

 

COSATU backs affirmative action

The Congress of South African Trade Unions welcomes and supports the statement by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlane that "affirmative action and current employment equity legislation would never be repealed but would be intensified instead".

COSATU fully agrees with the minister that the imbalances of our apartheid past are still very far from being redressed. The Employment Equity Act has not been effectively enforced and as a result the pattern of employment still reveals the predominance of white and males in senior positions. Our members regularly report examples of racism in the workplace, with white workers getting better wages and faster promotion.

The minister was absolutely correct to demand that "liberation should be accompanied by programmes to improve the quality of life of the poor by totally eradicating the apartheid legacy and empower people with skills for better opportunities." The federation will do everything possible to assist the government to achieve this.

COSATU condemns the decision of the Democratic Alliance to report the minister to the International Labour Organisation and to urge it to apply sanctions against him. We call upon the ILO to reject this call and support South Africa's struggle to achieve equity at work.