All operations of Lusikisiki came at a halt as O.R Tambo District COSATU gathered at Lusikisiki St Elizabeth open sites to host an international day of decent work for all workers of South Africa.
This day the 7 of October was put aside as the day for international decent work by the united nations.
Mkhawuleli Wamahlubi Maleki (Gura) Secretary General of Eastern Cape COSATU explained what decent work is. He said “Decent work is work with dignity, it is working in a stable workplace not working like a springbok, whereby today you’re placed to work here and tomorrow you work somewhere else and you’re not sure which skills you must have. Decent work begins when workers work in safe environments, when their work rights and human rights are protected, when the salaries they receive are satisfactory and Satisfactory salaries mean your salary can cover your basic needs given the current high cost of living. We as COSATU take plight in taking this day to highlight all dissatisfactions of workers of South Africa”
All workers including those under COSATU, SADTU as well as the unemployed youth of Lusikisiki gathered at this open site. The gathering is aimed at forwarding a petition to the Lusikisiki department of employment and labour.
Mkhawuleli Wamahlubi Maleki further said that a right to have a demonstration of this nature is enshrined in the constitution of the country. He added that being gathered as workers and joining a union of your choice is part of decent work.
Some of the major dissatisfactions of these workers include unsafe work environments, indecent salaries that do not match the inflation rate of South Africa. These workers say they want to see work environments being decent enough for all workers so that workers can live better lives.
“We are SADTU, affiliates of COSATU. Today we have a march and we are gathered here in this venue to fix the issues of workers. We want better work environments and an overall better life. When we talk of a better life we are talking about salaries. We are talking about the infrastructure that workers are in, we are talking about the equipment used by workers at work. That’s why we are here to go to department of employment and labour to say to them as workers we are not satisfied.” Said Luwezile Fihlani SADTU chairperson of Lusikisiki branch.
These workers departed from their point of departure in revolutionary songs and marched to the department of employment and labour in town where they went to forward their petition.
Xolilizwe Mnguni who is the LEC member of COSATU Lusikisiki branch said they are fighting for the safety of workers. “we want our workers to work in safe environments because we have realised that schools are being broken into and nothing is being done to ensure the safety of teachers, the wages of workers are very low and when they ask for salary increments they get a little increase which makes no difference in their lives.”
When giving his message of support Mr Besi Secretary General of SANCO said they want decent work for all workers in all sectors regardless of them being public or private. He also encouraged all workers to join unions so they can fight for their rights.
