South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for collective action to promote inclusive economic growth, job creation, and the protection of workers’ rights across the country.
In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of working together to improve the lives of all South African workers, stating, “At a time when our singular focus is on inclusive economic growth and job creation, we must continue to work together to improve the lives of every South African worker. Let us use the hard-won gains of workers to create new opportunities for all.”
Reflecting on South Africa’s history, he noted that under apartheid, black workers were systematically denied their rights and excluded from unionisation. While recognising progress since the introduction of employment equity laws, Ramaphosa stressed that more needs to be done to transform the racial composition of economic ownership, control, and management.
“As part of our G20 presidency, we are engaging with labour on the consolidation of worker rights,” he stated, adding that discussions with the International Trade Union Confederation and other bodies had been productive.
Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to using its progressive labour laws to address historical imbalances, ensuring that these protections result in real benefits for workers. He also called on businesses to do more than merely comply with the laws, urging them to actively foster diversity and inclusion as outlined in the constitution, particularly by creating opportunities for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
(NAN)