Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 26 August 2021
Norman Mampane
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Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin
‘Whoever sides with the revolutionary people in deed as well as in word is a revolutionary in the full sense’-Maoo
Our side of the story
Thursday, 26 August 2021
‘Deepen
the Back to Basics Campaign, Consolidate the Struggle
for the NDR and Advance the Struggle for Socialism’
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We shall overcome!
Contents
o Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SACTWU's 2021 textile wage increases become law
o South Africa
- SACP Gauteng mourns the passing of Sipho Madonsela
- The ANCWL statement on the high teenage pregnancies
o International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- ILO to launch World Social Protection Report 2020-22
- Sierra Leone is founding crisis recovery and resilience on international labour standards
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
SACTWU's 2021 textile wage increases become law
André Kriel, SACTWU GENERAL SECRETARY, 26 August 2021
The textile industry wage increases which the Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers' Union (SACTWU) has negotiated this year, are now national law in South Africa.
This is so because the Minister of Employment & Labour, Thulas Nxesi, has gazetted it and extended it to all non-party companies in our country.
This process was finalised in a government gazette, which was published on 24th August 2021.
In simple terms, it means that our trade union's wage increases for the various textile sub-sectors which fall within the registered scope of the National Textile Bargaining Council (NTBC), are now binding on all employers and workers operating in these sectors.
It is applicable nationally, for all parts of South Africa.
The textile sub-sectors so covered includes for workers who manufacture home textiles (such as curtains and bedding), blankets, yarns for the manufacture of fabrics, labels and elastics which go into clothing, fabrics, and industrial textiles for roadworks, etc..
SACTWU welcomes this gazettal development as a major step forward for the protection of our 2021 collective bargaining outcomes, and hence of our members' Living Wage goals and aspiration.
We will now conduct a detailed audit to ensure that every textile company which is covered by these wage increases, actually implement them to the fullest.
Issued by
André Kriel
SACTWU
GENERAL SECRETARY
If further information or comment is required, kindly contact SACTWU's National Collective Bargaining Officer, Fachmy Abrahams, on cell number 081 462 5841.
South Africa
SACP Gauteng mourns the passing of Sipho Madonsela
Jacob Mamabolo – SACP Gauteng Provincial Secretary, For immediate release 25 August 2021
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Gauteng Province is reeling with shock and sadness from the news of the passing of Comrade Sipho Madonsela, the Province’s longest serving District Organiser of Tshwane. Comrade Sipho was discovered in a house in Soshanguve yesterday, 24 August 2021, following a brief battle with COVID-19.
On behalf of our entire membership of the SACP across the length and breadth of Gauteng Province, we dip our red banner in expressing our messages of sympathy to Comrade Sipho’s family and close relatives, friends and comrades. We also send our messages of solidarity to the Tshwane District leadership and membership in particular, where Comrade Sipho spent over a decade dedicating his best years to the finest cause, the liberation of humankind.
As the Province, we are particularly devastated by the untimely death of Comrade Sipho during the time where humanity is fighting for its own survival facing an existential crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is precisely such dedication and commitment as gallantly displayed by Comrade Sipho that is now required to confront the scourge of this invisible enemy.
We take solace from the fact that Comrade Sipho, like a true combatant, died in the cause of duty, serving the working class. In this regard, we dare not forget Comrade Sipho’s commitment and dedication to the Socialist Struggle which he committed himself to, not in words and rhetoric, but through his praxis. Daily, Comrade Sipho was in the service of the SACP doing his work with little complaints and often without reward. Comrade Sipho never dithered from his beliefs that a better world is indeed possible.
In his honour, we will continue with the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, we urge everyone to remain ever vigilant against the COVID-19 scourge and ensure that the basic preventative measures of wearing our masks when in public places, washing our hands and maintaining social distance remain paramount.
Most importantly, as a Marxist-Leninist vanguard party, we urge all the people, the working class in particular, to ensure that together with their loved ones, including neighbours, are vaccinated.
As things stand, vaccination is the only scientifically proven measure that can reduce hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.
In memory of Comrade Sipho, we use this solemn occasion to commit ourselves to pick up where he left off and continue with the struggle for building socialism on the basis of a reconfigured Alliance and consolidated popular left front.
We hope the Madonsela family and relatives will take solace from the fact that Comrade Sipho spent the better part of his life dedicated to the struggle for humankind.
This fact alone makes him a hero for the working class struggle.
Long live the spirit of Comrade Sipho Madonsela!!
ENDS
Issued by the SACP Gauteng Province
Contact:
Jacob Mamabolo – SACP Gauteng Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 082 884 1868
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The ANCWL statement on the high teenage pregnancies
25th August 2021
The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) is saddened by the reported high teenage pregnancy rate in South Africa.
Teenage pregnancy in South Africa is a multifaceted problem with many contributing factors such as gender inequalities and gender-based violence. The ANCWL appeals to all progressive individuals and institutions to provide psycho-social support to these teens who are pregnant and encourage them to name the perpetrators. These teens were impregnated by perpetrators who must face the law. It is important to know these perpetrators and their ages so that the law can take its course without fear or favour and without prejudice.
The ANCWL calls for the South African Police Services to come on board to investigate these cases of statutory rape that resulted in these high number of teenage pregnancies. Anyone who has sex with a person below the age of 16 must face the full might of the law. We call on Community organisations and patriotic citizens to report such cases in their communities and ensure the girls get all the necessary support they need. We demand a commitment from the minister of police on the action and plan on how they will use the available information on the statistics to arrest all these perpetrators.
Issued by the ANCWL
Secretary General
Meokgo Matuba
For enquiries
Pheladi Moruthane
074 481 8912
International
ILO to launch World Social Protection Report 2020-22
GENEVA (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) will issue its World
Social Protection Report 2020-22: Social protection at the crossroads – in pursuit of a better future on Wednesday 1 September.
This flagship report gives a global overview of recent developments in social protection systems, including social protection floors, and covers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on new data, it offers a broad
range of global, regional and country statistics on social protection coverage, the benefits provided and related public expenditure.
The report also identifies protection gaps and sets out key policy recommendations, including in relation to the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The report and all associated materials will be under STRICT EMBARGO until Wednesday 1 September at 13:00 CEST (11:00 GMT).
For UNOG-accredited correspondents, an embargoed virtual press briefing will take place on Wednesday 1 September from 11:00 to 12:00 CEST (9:00 to 10:00 GMT). Login details will be sent to journalists ahead
of the briefing.
Recognized regional journalists will be able to follow the virtual briefing via YouTube. The link will be sent in advance and on request.
The findings will be presented by ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, and Shahra Razavi, Director, ILO Social Protection department.
Embargoed copies of the report and the press release can be made available to recognized media on request.
Audio of the briefing will be available to the UNOG press corps and registered journalists after the press conference.
For further information and to arrange media interviews, please contact the ILO Department of Communication: news...@ilo.org .
For broadcast coverage and interviews, please contact: multi...@ilo.org .
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Sierra Leone is founding crisis recovery and resilience on international labour standards
25 August 2021
Sierra Leone’s historic ratification of 9 ILO instruments was marked in a virtual ceremony with the ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder.
Sierra Leone made a very significant move towards recognizing, promoting and implementing decent work for women and men in the country by ratifying 8 ILO
Conventions and one Protocol.
The Sierra Leone Ambassador and Permanent Representative, His Excellency Mr Lansana Alison Gberie presented the instruments of ratification of the following instruments to ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder:
· the Migration for Employment Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 97) ;
· the Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975 (No. 143) ;
· the Labour Administration Convention, 1978 (No. 150) ;
· the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) ;
· the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) ;
· the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181) ;
· the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) ;
· the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) ;
· the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention 1930 .
These nine instruments are the first ratifications by Sierra Leone since 2011 and the first ratifications of technical Conventions since 1967. They bring
to 44 the total number of Conventions Sierra Leone has ratified.
“I very much welcome the deposit of these nine key ILO instruments. They are a testimony of the will of the people of Sierra Leone for peace, stability and good governance. They demonstrate its resilience in ensuring that recovery from crisis is founded on
human rights and decent work,” said Ryder.
He highlighted the fact that the choice of instruments ratified was closely aligned to that of other countries in the region, focusing on similar themes: migrant workers and forced labour (anti-trafficking), occupational safety and health, and domestic workers.
This coordinated move, he said, augured well for a comprehensive implementation of these instruments and synergies in promoting decent work for all throughout the region.
“The workplace is a good place to start improving the life of the people, promoting peace and preventing conflict, enabling crisis recovery and building resilience”, Ryder added.
With the ratification of both Conventions on migrant workers, the Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention, the Domestic Workers Convention and the Convention on private employment agencies, Sierra Leone demonstrates its strong commitment not only to fight
human trafficking but also to promote decent work for all workers, including those having left their country for employment purposes and categories of workers that are less protected by labour legislation (such as migrant workers).
The ratification of these 9 Conventions, including the two leading Conventions on occupational safety and health, the labour administration Convention, and the labour statistics Convention, can be seen as a commitment from the people of Sierra Leone and their
representatives to continued improved governance and a step closer to meeting the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) ,
notably SDG 1 (No poverty), 3 (Good health and well-being), 8 (Decent work and economic growth) and 10 (Reduced inequalities), and ensuring
that no one is left behind.
The Sierra Leone Ambassador and Permanent Representative, His Excellency Mr Lansana Alison Gberie declared “As a government, we are committed to improving the labour standards of the workforce in Sierra Leone as well as creating a private sector business-friendly
environment that makes the law clear, consistent with international standards and easy to comply with for domestic and foreign investors. By ratifying these nine (9) ILO Conventions and Protocols, we have taken steps to eliminate compulsory and forced labour,
eliminate discrimination against migrant workers and domestic workers, , abolish child labour, promote occupational safety and health standards, and ensure a thriving and responsible private employment agency sector in Sierra Leone.”
In 2018, within the framework of the ILO Centenary ratification campaign, the Government, in consultation with employers’ and workers’ organizations, agreed to the ratification of the ten ILO Conventions and one Protocol and promoted the alignment of national
labour legislation with international labour standards, taking into account the comments of the ILO supervisory bodies. The ILO provided technical comments on the draft Labour Act consolidating different pieces of legislation that had been discussed by the
Joint Consultative Committee. It is expected that the ratification of these 9 instruments, and their entry into force in the near future, will allow a favourable environment for the adoption of a modern legislative framework conducive to decent work for all.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the ILO Director-General thanked Ambassador Lansana Alison Gberie, the Government of Sierra Leone, led by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and Sierra Leone’s workers and employers organizations for their “commitment
to the rights of working men and women, as set out in ILO instruments.”
The nine instruments will enter into force in Sierra Leone on 25 August 2022.
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Norman Mampane (Shopsteward Editor)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
110 Jorissen Cnr Simmonds Street, Braamfontein, 2017
P.O.Box 1019, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
Tel: +27 11 339-4911 Direct line: 010 219-1348