COSATU says government missed yet another opportunity to tackle unemployment, poverty and declining growth

 

The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU says government has missed another opportunity to tackle unemployment, poverty and weak growth in yesterday's Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement. COSATU says while debt must be stabilised, austerity and early retirement packages will not unlock the three-percent growth needed to cut the 43.8 percent unemployment rate. The federation has however welcomed the ten-billion-rand fuel levy holiday for November and December, saying it will ease pressure on workers and lower inflation. We spoke to Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator.