'Affirmative action here to stay' - Cosatu

By Nadia Samie
6 March 2007

Trade union federation Cosatu has come out in support of Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlane, saying that "affirmative action and current employment equity legislation would never be repealed but would be intensified instead".

The uproar about affirmative action started when Transport and Public Works MEC Marius Fransman proposed a hold be put on the practice to entice skilled workers back to the country, to make up for the dire skills shortage currently experienced in some sectors.

Cosatu’s Patrick Craven says the unions fully agree with the Labour Minister, that the imbalances of apartheid are still very far from being redressed.

According to Craven, the minister was absolutely correct to demand that 'liberation should be accompanied by programmes to improve the quality of life of the poor by totally eradicating the apartheid legacy and empower people with skills for better opportunities'. The federation will do everything possible to assist the government to achieve this, he added.