SA Guild of Actors, Numsa highlight exploitation in creative industry

CALL FOR REFORM

- SIPHESIHLE BUTHELEZI [e-mail]

SOUTH Africa's creative industry generates billions for the economy, yet unions warn that the artists, actors, writers, and crews behind it remain excluded from labour protections and are too often left in poverty.

In a joint statement, the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) described the sector as “parasitic, feeding off the labour of artists while denying them fair compensation and security.’

SAGA chairperson and actor Jack Devnarain said, “For fifteen years, SAGA has lobbied government for labour protections and fair regulation. Until freelance actors are recognised as workers under labour law, we will continue to see heartbreaking stories of celebrated performers dying in poverty: