Row over G20 labour platform

Representation is for workers to determine, says union federation.

- Brian Sokutu

Trade union federation Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) denies it is trying to hijack Labour 20 – the Presidency platform representing workers’ interests at the G20 summit – and turn it into one dominated by ANC interests.

Labour 20 was launched yesterday and the DA immediately claimed that participation in it was restricted to an ANC-aligned political platform dominated by Cosatu.

Writing in the online publication Politicsweb, DA deputy spokesperson for international relations and cooperation Ryan Smith described the blatant politicisation of the L20 platform, saying in a recent parliamentary Zoom meeting that Cosatu national spokesperson Matthew Parks represented labour seated in front of an ANC flag.

While Cosatu is South Africa’s largest representative of labour unions, it is an active member of the tripartite alliance, which supports the ANC electorally and bolsters its policies,” said Smith.

He slammed the seeming preference by the department of international relations and cooperation for left-leaning and ANC-aligned organisations to take part in the many working groups under SA’s G20 presidency.