The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) and the South African Typographical Union (SATU), the oldest trade union in the printing industry with more than 100 years of service to workers and an affiliate of FEDUSA, have cautioned the government against introducing legislative changes that would destroy the printing industry and jeopardize and lead to massive jobs losses.

FEDUSA’s warning follows a recent announcement by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi that the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill will be submitted to cabinet for approval early next year.

The Bill proposes to introduce far –reaching changes South Africa’s tobacco laws, including: a zero-tolerance policy on in-door smoking in public places and the removal of designated smoking areas in restaurants; a ban on outdoor smoking in public places; when smoking outside, smokers would be required to be at least 10 metres away from public entrances; the removal of all signage on cigarette packaging except the brand name and health warning and the requirement retailers will no longer be allowed to display cigarette and tobacco merchandises.

“The minister’s decision to have cigarettes packaged  in plain packaging will have a massive negative impact on the workers and the industry workers and will lead to massive job losses,” said FEDUSA Secretary General Dennis George

“FEDUSA also supports the views that have been expressed by the tobacco industry – which employs more than 21 000 people and generates R14.5 billion in tax revenue -   that a policy of plain cigarette packaging is disproportionate and will not deliver its intended results and significantly erodes intellectual property rights and could have a significant knock-on effect on South Africa’s economy”.

Issued by FEDUSA