This Saturday 1 May, South Africa will be celebrating Workers’ Day. For the second time, since the Covid pandemic commenced, there will be no rallies and marches to celebrate what began as a campaign for an eight-hour working day.
Originally born from the struggle for workers’ rights and social justice of the late 1800s, Workers’ Day has been an international holiday in many countries since 1891. In South Africa, a country with its own long history of labour and social conflicts, Workers’ Day has been officially recognised and observed since the first democratic elections in 1994. Workers’ Day in South Africa holds its own cultural significance, as the public holiday has come to signify sacrifices made toward fair employment standards and also the bitter battle against apartheid in which trade and labour unions played a key role. However, since Covid-19 struck things have taken a turn for the worst this past year. Workers and unions are still reeling from job losses even before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, facing what they feel is a bleak future.
Stats SA recently revealed that unemployment increased by 1.7 percent to 32.5 percent in the third quarter compared to the second quarter last year. Speaking to the Durban North News, Zandile Ngcobo, 20, from KwaMashu who matriculated in 2019 said that there is nothing to be proud about Workers’ Day this year. “After two years I’m still struggling to secure a sustainable job. These rallies and marches make no difference to me. I could not go to university because I don’t have money for registration,” said Ngcobo.
When Philani Cele, 21, from Inanda was asked if these rallies and the celebration of Workers’ Day makes any difference, he said: “I do celebrate the holiday because of the workers who fought for better working conditions but I feel that unions should also focus again on unemployed youth, as there is a dire need.” Mfanukhona Bele, 21, from Effingham, said: “We would like to see more change in terms of employment availability. Some of us have the skills but there are very little if not any opportunities given to us.” Trade union federation The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is planning a public sector strike over the wage stalemate with government. The strike is scheduled to take place before the upcoming local government elections on 27 October.
