Cosatu has called on millions of workers country-wide to stay at home on Thursday to protest the freezing of wages in the government and private sector.
The planned strike coincides with the Global Day of Decent Work which is observed worldwide.
The labour federation yesterday told the media that they would stage various protest actions in all parts of South Africa to express their disdain at the growing levels of unemployment, and unacceptable wage freeze in the public service and private sector.
Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said the strike was legally protected and was focused on pushing both the government and the private sector to act to fix the economic mess that the country finds itself in and to take seriously the issues that were affecting workers and South Africans in general.
“The federation is issuing a call to all workers and South Africans to join the strike on Thursday.
“They can either join the planned activities across the country or withdraw their labour by staying at home on the day,” Ntshalintshali said.
He reminded workers that the strike was taking place under Covid-19 restrictions, and urged everyone to take the necessary precautions.
Ntshalintshali said they would demand the reversal of budget cuts that have led to unacceptable wage freezes in the public service, the disintegration of the CCMA, and retrenchments in state-owned companies.
“We will also be calling on the private sector to abandon its investment strike that has seen many companies either hoarding or exporting cash out of the country, despite receiving generous incentives to invest back into the economy.”