Union fears fuel price increases could lead to more job losses

By Lelethu Mquqo
1 October 2011

Trade union Uasa says next week’s fuel price increases will have a painful knock-on effect for consumers and the economy.

Spokesperson André Venter says workers will soon also have to pay more for food and other consumer goods.

The Energy Department announced that the price of petrol and diesel will rise by between 35- and 37-cents a litre on Wednesday.

Uasa says because consumers will have less money to spend, the decline in the demand for consumer goods will have a cascading effect on job losses.