Johannesburg - Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe has been deployed to “assist” Treasury and Cosatu at Friday's engagements on the Tax Laws Amendment Act which includes the controversial retirement reforms.
The Presidency announced this intervention in a statement following weeks of tensions between labour and Treasury over its implementation of the retirement reforms ahead of thorough consultations with all social partners.
The move is indicative of a changed attitude by government to Cosatu's calls that the laws be repealed, and would likely lead to some sort of agreement between parties which could include a postponement of the laws' implementation, scheduled for March 1st.
Cosatu is meeting with government at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) on Friday afternoon, where the federation's Section 77 strike application over the reforms is being discussed.
Earlier, the National Union of Metalworkers was also granted an opportunity to present its case on the retirement reforms it has rejected since its promulgation last December.
Cosatu members were also picketing outside the Nedlac offices in Rosebank, saying the law which was meant to encourage saving among workers would push them further into poverty.
They argued that their inability to withdraw all their retirement savings and instead be allowed only a third, while two-thirds are invested further would prevent them from improving their lives as retirees.
Labour Bureau
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