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The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is concerned about Organised Labour's exclusion from the Government and Business Energy and Freight Logistics Task Team convened by the Presidency.  The Federation appreciates government has the right to meet with whomever it pleases and does so from time to time with COSATU.  Our concern is that this not a mere once off engagement between government and business but is now a full-fledged task team with various work streams that is undertaking the restructuring of Transnet and Eskom, that may have implications for their employees’ jobs and conditions and for the role of the state in these critical State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). 

Despite COSATU having raised our deep unhappiness about this with government we continue to see that workers are being excluded from important discussions about themselves, their jobs and the economy.  Such exclusion of Organised Labour fuels workers’ fears of privatisation of our SOEs and job losses.

COSATU is equally aggrieved that this undermines National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) and the President’s commitment to a social compact.  Whilst Organised Business may be pleased to bypass Nedlac now, it may come to regret setting such a precedent in future when a less trustworthy administration may take office.

We will not be able to fix Eskom, Transnet or the economy unless all social partners are involved, contribute and take ownership of a common programme to rebuild our SOEs.  COSATU will be engaging the Presidency to ensure that all social partners are part of these efforts to address the many challenges affecting Eskom and Transnet and that the legislated role of Nedlac is upheld and defended.

Issued by COSATU