ANC minister opposes 40-hour week

South Africa is "not ready" for the introduction of a 40-hour week, African National Congress labour minister Membathisi Mdladlana declared on October 17. Mdladlana was commenting on a feasibility study on reducing the current 45-hour working week.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions expressed its "deep concern" that the government's commitment to the 40-hour week would not be honoured. "The minister argues that the country cannot afford to reduce the working week ... as this will lead to more overtime working and 'moonlighting' and the greater use of casual labour ... The minister's predictions will only come true if his own department fails to enforce existing labour laws which outlaw excessive working hours.

"It cannot be a coincidence that the minister's statement came a few weeks after his proposal to amend labour laws in a way that would make it easier for employers to worsen their workers' conditions, including overtime."

From GLW issue 425