04/09/2025
Publication: CWAO
Author: CWAO Press Writer
On Friday, 5th September 2025, at 08h30, the Campaign to Scrap the Labour Bill Amendment Bills will be staging a picket at the NEDLAC's Annual Summit that is being held at the NH Hotel, 138 Rivonia Rd, Sandown, Sandton.
Ironically, the theme of NEDLAC’s Annual Summit is: “Advancing Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability in the Labour Market”, while NEDLAC has formulated a package of labour law amendments that represents a major assault on workers’ rights.
The South African government, bosses and some trade union federations (COSATU, FEDUSA, NACTU) have negotiated in NEDLAC certain changes to the country’s labour laws. The proposed labour law changes are going to intensify the casualisation of work and increase the precarious and short-term nature of employment. The proposed labour law changes are in line with the cheap labour policies of the South African government.
It is deceitful to speak about “solidarity and equality” in the labour market when the proposed amendments are advocating for the deregulation of the labour market, where newly employed workers would not be protected against unfair dismissals. For the first three months of their employment, newly employed workers can be dismissed without any valid reason and without the holding of a disciplinary hearing.
It is deceitful to speak about “solidarity and equality” in the labour market when unfair labour practices are dramatically narrowed down. With these proposed amendments, workers will no longer be able to challenge unfair probation, promotion, demotion, and unfair provision of training and benefits.
It is deceitful to speak about “solidarity and equality” when the main aim of these amendments is to strengthen the power and control of the capitalists over workers.
The labour of workers is the source of the profits of the capitalists; however, the capitalists must extract the profit-producing labour out of the workers. This requires that the capitalists must have the necessary power and ability to control workers. And this is why they agitate and demand the unrestricted freedom to exploit workers. They do not want restrictions on their freedom to exploit, like legal protection against unfair dismissals. They do not want any challenge to their power, like workers’ rights to challenge unfair labour practices and conduct.
It is deceitful to speak about “sustainability” in the labour market when the proposed labour law changes are attempting to cheapen the labour power of workers. Wage agreements negotiated in bargaining councils will no longer be binding on an employer of a new business that employs fewer than than 50 employees and is in business for less than 2 years.
The theme of NEDLAC’s Annual Summit must rather be changed to “Advancing the Naked Interests of the bosses by sacrificing workers’ rights”.
As the Campaign to Scrap the Labour Law Amendment Bills, we reject these proposed amendments and are calling on NEDLAC to withdraw them.
We invite the media to attend the picket.
For more information, contact the following spokesperson:
Patrick Mlaba – 073 377 9249
