Cosatu repeats: Don't buy e-tags!

Addressing a press conference on Thursday last week after the conclusion of a two-day central executive committee (CEC), Vavi said the labour federation had received "overwhelming support" from its affiliates for the planned protest marches next Wednesday. "It's all systems go, workers are determined to stop the 'commodification' of public services through the imposition of e-tolls on Gauteng highways. These are national assets designed for use by people of SA," he said.

Cosatu has rejected the government's R5.8bn allocated to the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP). The allocation was to reduce the South African National Roads Agency's R20bn debt associated with the disputed project.

Cosatu will also be marching against the use of labour broking. "The practice is nothing less than another form of human trafficking. We demand an end to the practice of selling workers as commodities, with no job security," Vavi said.

The government, labour and business under the auspices of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) are yet to pronounce on the finalisation of the controversial labour law amendments, which include the issue of labour broking.

The labour bills, first tabled in December 2010, seek to amend the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Employment Equity Act. Nedlac also released the Employment Services Bill, a new addition to employment law statutes.