KABOKWENI – The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), joined by the African National Congress (ANC), led Workers’ Day commemorations at Kabokweni Stadium on Friday, 1 May with a strong focus on workers’ struggles, economic justice, and strengthening workplace representation.
The federation used the platform to emphasise the need to reinforce workplace organisation, stressing closer collaboration with affiliated unions to better respond to workers’ concerns.
COSATU Deputy General-Secretary, Gerald Thwala said the federation is actively working to ensure unions remain accessible and responsive to workers’ needs.
“We’re busy as the federation making sure that we work together with our unions to strengthen what we call workplace organisation, that a union should be able to reach out to issues of workers and address those issues,” said Thwala. “Workers join unions specifically for protection, so we must provide that protection when they come with their grievances. We must be seen prioritising the issues that workers face in their workplaces.”
He described the process as ongoing, noting that COSATU would continue working on the ground with unions to improve service delivery and ensure workers feel supported. Concerns over worsening labour conditions also dominated the discussions, with some workers highlighting growing financial pressure and instability among workers.
Some of them described widespread anxiety among workers, citing retrenchments, stagnant wages, and rising living costs as key concerns. The strain, they said, is particularly severe in the private sector, while public sector workers also continue to experience income shortfalls in real terms.
Star Mmadi described the current situation as tough, particularly in the private sector. “As workers, we are facing a lot of challenges. We have experienced a lot of bloodbath, especially in the private sector.
“Even in the public service, workers have not received income increases in line with the cost of living. The current increments of 4% are not enough to match the rising cost of labour. Workers are still facing a lot of challenges,” Mmadi said.
Lemias Mashile stressed over unemployment and job losses, warning of the broader impact on communities. “We’re worried about the high unemployment rate and the retrenchment of workers. That makes the communities we live in poorer,” Mashile added.
He called on government to take urgent steps to address job losses and to stabilise livelihoods. The commemorations highlighted both the progress made in advancing workers’ rights and the persistent challenges that continue to affect millions of South Africans, with labour leaders calling for stronger interventions to protect workers and improve economic conditions.
