FEDUSA

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) is very concerned by South Africa’s meagre 1.4% increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) over this financial quarter. “South Africa must tackle the increasing concerns surrounding slow economic growth and high unemployment rates,” said FEDUSA General Secretary, Dennis George.

While FEDUSA acknowledges that the United States of America and Eurozone countries are currently economically stagnant or in a mild recession, South Africa needs to increase the rate of economic growth to an average of 7% a year in order to meaningfully impact the country’s very high unemployment figures. South Africa is facing a real unemployment rate of 25% of the labour force, many of whom are young people between the ages of 25 and 30, and FEDUSA has on numerous occasions called on government to address the ticking time bomb of youth unemployment.

FEDUSA has already raised concerns regarding further possible economic contagion from Europe and America with the Economic Cluster Ministers in Finance, Pravin Gordhan, Economic Development, Ebrahim Patel, Trade and Industry, Rob Davies and the Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), Gill Marcus.

Continue reading FEDUSA CONCERNED BY ECONOMIC CONTAGION THREAT

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) is very encouraged by the strategies and proposals outlined by the Minister in the Presidency for the National Planning Commission (NPC), Trevor Manuel, at FEDUSA House today. The NPC met with FEDUSA leadership to engage around the National Development Plan (NDP) with a specific focus on strategies targeting job creation, quality education and healthcare, infrastructure expansion and intensifying the fight against corruption.

“The most important aspect to imamate from our discussions today was the need to change the way in which South Africa is functioning. FEDUSA is constantly balancing the need to embrace diversity and individual expression with collective goals and unified commitment. Social cohesion and collective effort are not always easy actions to foster, however it is only though working together that we can make South Africa to be the country we wish it to be,” said FEDUSA General Secretary, Dennis George.

Manuel emphasised that the cycle of poverty and inequality can only be broken by collective national commitment to implementing goals around improving education and healthcare systems, creating job opportunities and raising living standards.

“It’s all about creating a link between targets and implementation. FEDUSA has put considerable time and effort into the drafting and implementation of commitments under the New Growth Path (NGP). In the same vein FEDUSA is committed to reaching the goals of the NDP. We wish to ensure that these two documents complement each other and aid in attaining the goals and aspirations of all workers,” explained George.

FEDUSA further welcomed Manuel’s position that not only must we create more jobs, but that potential applicants must have the corresponding skills required to do the job well.

“Our education systems must be able to equip our learners with the necessary skills for the world of work. FEDUSA is actively participating in the commitments outlined in the NGP Accord on Basic Education and Partnerships with Schools. We have also recently adopted a resolution urging government to cease its policy of cadre deployment and combat corruption in local, provincial and national government so that the necessary services can be delivered to South Africans.

Continue reading FEDUSA IS COMMITTED TO JOB CREATION OBJECTIVES OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) will be meeting with Minister Trevor Manual and his delegation from the National Planning Commission (NPC) today, 29 November 2011, morning.

FEDUSA leadership and the NPC delegation will discuss the draft National Development Plan (NDP) with specific focus around the strategies targeting job creation, quality education and healthcare, infrastructure expansion and intensifying the fight against corruption.

FEDUSA is pleased to note a great deal of synergy between the NDP and the Federation’s recent Congress Resolutions adopted earlier this month at its 5^th National Conference. Distinctly similar goals and strategies can also be seen between the NDP and FEDUSA’s economic policy base document, The Building Blocks of a New Employment Growth Path.

Date: 29 November 2011

Press Conference Time: 10h30

Venue: FEDUSA House, 10 Kingfisher Street, Horizon Park, Roodepoort

The Minister will take questions from the media after the meeting at 10h30

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) will be meeting with Minister Trevor Manuel and his delegation from the National Planning Commission (NPC) tomorrow, 29 November 2011, morning.

FEDUSA leadership and the NPC delegation will discuss the draft National Development Plan (NDP) with specific focus around the strategies targeting job creation, quality education and healthcare, infrastructure expansion and intensifying the fight against corruption.

FEDUSA is pleased to note a great deal of synergy between the NDP and the Federation’s recent Congress Resolutions adopted earlier this month at its 5^th National Conference. Distinctly similar goals and strategies can also be seen between the NDP and FEDUSA’s economic policy base document, The Building Blocks of a New Employment Growth Path.

Date: 29 November 2011

Time: 08h30 – 10h30, followed by press conference

Venue: FEDUSA House, 10 Kingfisher Street, Horizon Park, Roodepoort

This is an open meeting. Please confirm your attendance with Anja Muller-Deibicht on media@fedusa.org.za or 073 713 6173