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COSATU’s decision to decline a meeting to discuss youth unemployment and the continued delay in the implementation of the Youth Wage Subsidy points to a growing contradiction in the labour federation. On the one hand, they oppose corruption, and programmes such as E-Tolling in Gauteng, which hurt the poor the hardest, but on the other hand, continue to oppose a policy which would create an estimated 423,000 jobs for young, unemployed South Africans.

There is growing consensus, including among senior members of government, that the Youth Wage Subsidy is necessary to fight the high levels of youth unemployment and that it should be implemented as soon as possible. Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan and the Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe, have both addressed Parliament on the need for such a policy to be implemented.

COSATU therefore finds itself increasingly isolated in its opposition. NEDLAC has had suitable time to debate and consider the policy, and it is now time for a resolution to this standoff. Adopting such a stubborn approach to genuine attempts to have a frank discussion on opposing positions on the Youth Wage Subsidy, will only be to the detriment of young and unemployed South Africans, who so desperately need assistance to enter the formal economy.

The DA will remain committed to engaging all parties on the Youth Wage Subsidy so that a solution can be found which will be to the benefit of unemployed young South Africans.

I look forward to a response from Mr Vavi himself setting out why COSATU has opted to close down all discussion around the policy, despite clear evidence of its benefit.

The DA will continue to use every mechanism available to us to fight for the Youth Wage Subsidy to be implemented. The 60% of unemployed young South Africans deserve nothing less.