NUMSA demands reinstatement of 165 workers and review of funding at IDC Protest

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has delivered a memorandum of demands to the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), primarily calling for the immediate reinstatement of 165 workers who were dismissed following a protected strike in April this year.

On Tuesday, a small group of union members staged a picket outside the IDC’s offices in Sandton. Their demands included, among others, an immediate review of funding to SA Steel Mills, which trades under Alfeco Holdings.

The union's memorandum was received by the Corporation’s Tshepo Ramodibe.
NUMSA Spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola confirmed that the IDC has until next Wednesday to respond to the demands outlined in the memorandum.

“This marks our third protest at IDC, as workers continue to suffer under a months-long Business Rescue process that has failed to deliver results,” said Hlubi-Majola.

“NUMSA is deeply concerned that the IDC-appointed Business Rescue Practitioners are biased in favour of Alfeco, a bidder whose track record shows collapsed production and deteriorated labour relations. Alfeco’s so-called revival plan stretches over five years, with no guarantee of sustainability.”

Written by Puleng Maake