The Congress of South African Trade Unions is seriously concerned at the news of yet another increase in the number of people unemployed - across all categories of the labour force - from 23.5% to 23.6% in the second three months of this year (see here).

In particular the federation is alarmed that Stats SA's expanded unemployment figure - including those who have given up seeking work - which we believe is a more realistic figure, rose much faster, from 31.2% to 32.5%.

This reveals that 302 000 additional workers have despaired of ever finding a job and have given up looking.  It brings the total of discouraged workers up to a massive 1.52 million, out of the total number of 4.12 million unemployed people. Meanwhile the number of employed people fell by 267 000 to 13, 37 million.

These figures clearly confirm COSATU's view that we are in the throes of a national unemployment emergency. They have given even greater weight to the case for the ambitious job-creation strategies and targets contained in the ANC manifesto, the State of the Nation address and the Framework Agreement on South Africa's response to the world economic crisis.

All policies, from government, business and labour - and the SA Reserve Bank - must prioritise saving jobs and creating new jobs. This includes policy on economic development, tariffs, interest rates, the expanded public works programme, community service delivery, rural development, etc. They must all now focus on measures to end the job loss bloodbath and create decent jobs.

Statement issued by COSATU, July 28 2009

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