SAMWU to fully participate in the International Day for Decent Work

05 October 2023

SAMWU to fully participate in the International Day for Decent Work

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) will be fully participating in the International Day for Decent Work on Friday 6th October 2023. Our federation COSATU along with its affiliates will be commemorating the day through several activities across the country campaigning for employment creation, social protection, workers’ rights and social dialogue.

For SAMWU, the International Day for Decent Work is a platform to campaign for municipalities to play their role in promoting local economic development through filling of vacancies which are unacceptably high. The Union will also be campaigning for the permanent and direct employment of all Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers and those working in similar programmes. As a Union, we cannot be speaking of decent work when workers are being exploited by municipalities and government departments through these programmes which do not give them any job security or benefits.

In commemorating the International Day for Decent Work, SAMWU will be campaigning against the onslaught from government targeted at workers in the public and local government sectors. As a Union, we are of the firm view that the austerity measures that have been put in place by government hamper growth, service delivery, economic development while also leaving out many South Africans out of formal employment.

For SAMWU, South Africans and municipal workers in particular cannot be speaking of decent work when municipalities have embarked on a crusade to weaken unions through union bashing, reneging on collective agreements, victimization and mass dismissal of employees. This year’s commemoration of the day coincides with the day in which the Union will be at the Constitutional Court challenging the constitutionality of the amendments to the Municipal Systems Act which limits workers’ rights and the Bill of Rights.

Decent work for the Union includes municipalities being able to pay workers their salaries and third parties on time. As workers and residents, we cannot fold our arms when municipalities are being left to fend for themselves as a result of inadequate funding. We cannot fold our arms and be spectators when fraud and corruption have crippled and brought many municipalities to their knees, affecting service delivery.

As SAMWU, we will be campaigning for the fair and just funding of municipalities, waging a war against fraud and corruption in municipalities, defending workers’ gains which are being reversed by the attack and undermining of collective bargaining.

SAMWU calls on all its members to join other workers and participate in the International Day for Decent Work by attending any of the activities organized by COSATU throughout the country. Members are encouraged to contact their nearest Shopsteward for details of activities near them.

Issued by SAMWU Secretariat

Dumisane Magagula
General Secretary
(076 580 4029)

Or

Nkhetheni Muthavhi
Deputy General Secretary
(082 526 5224)

or

Papikie Mohale
National Media Officer
(076 795 8670)