COSATU has prepared an urgent memo to the Cabinet for the immediate reversal of the CCMA budget cuts
24 March 2021
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has prepared an urgent memo to Cabinet for the immediate reversal of the CCMA budget cuts. The protection and promotion of fair labour rights in South Africa is enshrined in the Constitution. The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), the entity that is mandated by law to oversee labour disputes is under imminent threat because of the drastic cuts to its funding in the 2021/22 budget as well as over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
COSATU has prepared this urgent memo to Cabinet through the Minister of Employment and Labour to explain organised labour’s call for the immediate reversal of these draconian budget cuts to the CCMA in the interest of protecting workers’ hard won labour rights.
The CCMA has been the worst affected labour market institution with regards to budget cuts as the CCMA grapples with the overwhelming caseloads.
Even though the CCMA is currently doing everything possible to function under these crippling conditions, it is workers who will suffer the most as employers make use of the CCMA’s weaknesses to exploit and unfairly dismiss workers. Financial resources are vital for the success of the CCMA to satisfactorily provide conciliation, mediation and arbitration. The budget cuts on the CCMA are seen by COSATU and other unions and workers as a new wave of attacks on worker’s rights to labour protection.