2020 WORKERS PARLIAMENT REACHES OUT THE NEEDY AND VULNERABLE WORKERS

Amid Covid-19 the annual workers Parliament was moved beyond virtual debate to the most affected rural workers who are most hit by the impact of the pandemic. These workers received the most needed tangible support in the form of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), Hand Sanitizers, Masks in the early hours of the morning of the 27 May 2020. It was the view of the Federations, namely, COSATU, NCTU and FEDUSA that the unity of the working class during this difficult time in the labor market can better be demonstrated by the workers lending a hand in the communities where life- saving protective equipment is running low, as there is an increased demand of these.

These are the workers that face the most challenges as they live in poor communities and work in industries that are mostly volatile in the time of the pandemic. The workers of Mandini Industrial Areas and Farm workers of Ixopo woke up to receive these protective equipments on their way to work. The Members of the Provincial Legislature and the leaders of the three Federations, hit the ground on the cold morning to give support to these workers.

“This was the continuation of our 2020 Workers Parliament which we held on the 12 May 2020. Our hearts go to the workers like these, and in our struggle for better working conditions and better wages, include the fight against the COVID-19 for every worker”, said COSATU’s Provincial Secretary Edwin Mkhize.

Whilst the Speaker of the Legislature Hon Nontembeko Boyce commended the good course by the Federations and reiterated her commitment to ensure that the resolutions taken by the Federations in their 202 parliament will “indeed be followed up in pursuit of the constitutional responsibility of the legislature namely, to involve members of our society (and in this time around, the workers) in the legislative processes of the legislature”.