South Africa 
Unions alarmed over rising SA unemployment

afrol.com, 28 March - The South African trade union COSATU today said it noted "with alarm two new reports which confirm its view that unemployment has become a national emergency." New statistics have revealed that unemployment has slightly risen in South Africa, contesting government assurances that new jobs were being created. 

The government agency Statistics South Africa has revealed that unemployment rose from 36.3 percent in 1999 to 37.3 percent in 2000. Even the 'official' figures, which exclude so-called "discouraged job seekers", show a rise from 23.3 percent to 26.7 percent, according to the statistics agency. According to studies of the labour market in South Africa, there has been a 15 percent loss in formal sector jobs over the last ten years.

- These figures represent a disaster both for the workers concerned, their families, and the economy as a whole, says COSATU in a statement. "They refute government assurances that new jobs are being created. Even more alarming is the p,e,o,p,l,e report's prediction of a further 3% decline in the number of jobs this year," the trade union says.

The union noted with particular concern that last year the rate of job losses in the public sector (4%) was double that in the private sector (2%). "This vindicates COSATU's opposition to policies of privatisation, downsizing and outsourcing in the public sector, which have all contributed to this loss of jobs. The federation will continue to campaign against the destruction of jobs in the public sector," unionists say. 

There have been numerous strikes and political action against the large-scale privatisation currently going on in South Africa. The ANC government, which generally has been perceived as slightly leftist, has spearheaded this privatisation, although it has been even more comprehensive in municipalities led by the DA opposition. Thabo Mbeki, president of South Africa and the ANC, is currently in Cuba. 

Protests have focused on the negative effects on poverty alleviation, rising prices for former public services and employment. Social tensions remain high in South Africa as the poor and unemployed grow impatient with the ANC government's slow process in improving their living standards. 

Andrew Levy, editing the Associates Labour Relations Report, predicts that organised labour will "become more vocal in its role as protector of jobs," a prediction which is supported by COSATU. The trade union says it "will redouble its efforts to defend all workers, employed and unemployed, and their families, and to extend its help to workers in the informal sector, where 1.9 million new jobs were created last year."

South Africa Statistics however also reported a drop in trade union membership from 3.8 million in 1998 to 3.3 million in 1999. COSATU has however not lost members in the period and today proudly reported that its "total membership has remained stable around 1.8 million in this period, despite the job losses. This indicates that workers with jobs see an even greater need for trade union protection in this difficult period," the union states.

Sources: Based on COSATU and afrol archives

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