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The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has welcomed the constitutional appointment of Cyril Ramaphosa as acting President until his swearing in today as President of the Republic of South Africa. The leading trade union federations (COSATU, FEDUSA and NACTU) met with Ramaphosa on 30 January 2018 to discuss the critical areas that need to be included in the State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The leadership of Organised Labour and Ramaphosa agree that trust, co-operation and collaboration should be strengthened in NEDLAC to propel the achievement of higher inclusive economic growth, employment creation, State Owned Company reforms, reversal of the recent downgrade of the country to investment status, and improvement of fiscal and institutional strength.

FEDUSA was encouraged with the material drop in the unemployment figures from 27.7% to 26.7% according to Statistics South Africa, however this fall short of the National Development Plan target of 11 million jobs by 2030. The number of unemployed persons decreased from 6.210 to 5.880 million, while the discouraged work-seekers increased from 2.436 to 2.538 million in the last quarter of 2017.  It is imperative for Ramaphosa to create a positive atmosphere and moment to stage the Presidential Economy and Jobs Summit during the workers month of May this year.

FEDUSA wants the government to fast track the implementation of key economic priorities and policies to get  the South Africa economy growing and working for the people as a whole again and not just for the benefit of the elite and a few politically connected individuals and families in the following areas that could be finalise at the Presidential Economy and Jobs Summit which should revolve around;

Which should revolve around strengthening and improving IPAP

Prioritizing incentives for labour intensive sectors

Prioritizing critical scarce skills

Reforming and restructuring monopolies and addressing concentration in the economy

Strengthening the township economy and entrepreneurship

Reviewing of the NDP in particular the economy and the labour chapters

Encouraging retirement funds to invest in labour intensive projects.

We need a common ground on a shared vision and this could include concluding a social compact in order to address among others the above challenges.

“Government needs to prioritise the fast tracking of the dire situation at most state owned from a position of state capture and corruption to good and clean governance and root out all forms of corruption and ensure that the budgetary process translates into reassured confidence and increased investments,” said FEDUSA General Secretary Dennis George.

Issued by FEDUSA