Trade unions look to Brics for solutions

South Africa’s biggest trade union federations have committed to ensuring workers’ voices are prioritised by the Brics forum.

The country’s biggest trade union federations have committed to ensuring workers’ voices are prioritised by the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) forum.

Fedusa, Cosatu and Nactu also wanted the forum’s mandate to not only represent South Africa’s interests but those of other African states.

The federations have been joined by other trade union structures from across the continent at a two day workshop in Johannesburg, focused on the strategies around the placement of people at the centre of industrialisation, investment and development.

International Labour Organisation (ILO) director for SA, Dr Joni Musabayana, called for greater unity and collaboration between trade union movements during his address on Monday.

“The Brics trade union forum is a key pillar responsible for fostering and putting into motion the locomotive to the world economic development, but with a creation of decent jobs, protection of labour, defending workers interest and attainment of social justice.”

He also encouraged delegates to focus on the impact of technology and what it means for workers’ preparation for challenges it might pose.

“Through such reflections, the Brics trade unions will make an essential contribution across and because of their diversity of situations and experiences – to the global Centenary Initiative on the Future of Work that the ILO had adopted,” he said.

The Department of International Relations’ Dave Malcomson echoed similar remarks, saying it was apparent that the industrial revolution hurt workers on many levels, and that the department would take the mandate given by workers to the Brics forum.

@ZintleMahlati

Labour Bureau