The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) said the government’s failure to introduce a strong stimulus package, along with cuts to the Presidential Employment Programme, is undermining efforts to address unemployment.
The federation argues that while funding has been allocated to certain public services and infrastructure projects, it is insufficient to drive meaningful job creation or support economic recovery.
COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks said government appears to be prioritising fiscal consolidation over urgent economic intervention.
“COSATU is extremely frustrated that Treasury and government have reduced the budget once again and missed the opportunity to table a bold stimulus package that will fix public and municipal services, spur economic growth, boost employment, provide relief for the poor and the unemployed, and ramp up tax compliance,” Parks said.
He warned that the country cannot continue to accept low economic growth and high unemployment as the norm.
“We cannot afford to continue to normalise 1% economic growth, nor 41% unemployment,” he added.
COSATU has called on government to implement more aggressive measures to stimulate the economy and prioritise job creation amid ongoing financial pressures.
VOC News
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