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The “commodification of human labour” is how Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla described labour brokering when he talked to City Press today.
Pamla was commenting on the pledge expressed by Gauteng Premier David Makhura, who on Wednesday at the nationwide Cosatu strike, pledged to end labour brokering by the end of the year.
Cosatu has long called for an end to the practise alongside corruption and state capture.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) this morning released a statement noting Makhura’s statement on Wednesday, when he received the memorandum which was presented to him by Cosatu and the South African Communist Party.
“The premier of the province, David Makhura, announced at the Cosatu strike on Wednesday, that the Gauteng government would ban labour brokers by the end of the year.
"What Makhura failed to mention was that his government has no choice but to ban labour brokers, because Numsa has been instrumental in ensuring that the labour law strengthens the rights of all contract and temporary workers,” the statement read.
Pamla said the union welcomed the Premier’s promise.
“When a premier of a province says they are committing to making a change for the better, we welcome it.
"We do hope that labour brokering does come to an end, not just in Gauteng but nationally. We are hoping that the people who make a lot of noise about making these changes around radical economic transformation follow through and we hope they commit.
"For us, the battle
continues,” Pamla said.
“Labour brokers are the commodification of human labour. They make money of human beings and we have long called for an end to this practise,” he went on to say.
Gauteng provincial spokesperson Thabo Masebe said that the premier was simply stating the sentiments of the Gauteng government, and that the commitment is there to end labour brokering.
“The Gauteng provincial government has always believed in ending labour brokering. Obviously all the necessary steps will be taken to ensure this happens by the end of the financial year,” Masebe told City Press.
“It is a fact that labour brokers are modern day slave traders who exploit temporary workers by making them work harder for less pay.
"Temporary workers are unable to save because they earn so little. They often have no pensions, savings or investments.
"And to make matters worse, the vast majority
of them live in poverty,” Numsa said.
