THE Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi called for a swift resolution to the recent National Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) strike that saw thousands of protestors march to the Durban City Hall on Tuesday.
The Minister urged all parties to resolve issues urgently through social dialogue.
This statement was made as the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (SEIFSA) and NUMSA remain in a deadlock over pay, following the end of their wage agreement in June.
Also read: WATCH: Numsa’s steel industry strike erupts in Durban
Nxesi said hostility would not solve differences.
”Our Constitution guarantees the right of association and the protection of worker rights and industrial action. We respect the fact that many people died for us to be able to enjoy these rights. But with the rights come the responsibilities. We would like to urge unions and other worker representatives to exercise this responsibility,” said Nxesi.
The minister said the recent protest comes after a difficult economic period in South Africa.
“It is common cause that the country is now going through one of the most difficult periods, occasioned by the pandemic on one hand and the inclement economic conditions that prevailed, even before Covid-19, on the other,” he said.
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The minister highlighted the latest unemployment figures from Statistics South Africa that show the number of unemployed persons increased by 584 000 to 7.8 million, compared to the first quarter of 2021.
Nxesi said it would be tragic if more people became unemployed when social dialogue would be more fruitful.
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