WEF must act in interest of poor - Cosatu

Cosatu has challenged leaders of business and governments, currently gathered for the World Economic Forum to address the expectations of workers and the poor, "if such a forum is to prove relevant to the prevailing conditions on the continent".

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said yesterday that Africa was the continent worst affected by both the recent global economic crisis "and the legacy of both colonialism and neo-liberalism".

It was facing "the worst poverty and underdevelopment", with very frightening indicators of the state under which its people lived.

The union federation said that in 2009, 22 of 24 nations identified as having "low human development" on the United Nations (UN) Human Development Index were located in sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2006, 34 of the 50 nations on the UN list of least-developed countries were in Africa.

Cosatu added that there was presently a discriminatory world trade regime in place, which protected the developed nations at the expense of the developing world, including the whole of Africa.

"We therefore call upon the delegates gathered in Cape Town to reflect soberly on the dire situation our people face and take the necessary bold steps to make a difference as soon as possible."

Several issues remained central in any attempt to qualitatively change the condition of the poor.

These included fundamental policy changes towards the definition of a new and progressive accumulation and growth path, as well as the creation and nurturing of a democratic and developmental state that was actively involved in driving a robust national agenda for development.

Also important were macroeconomic and trade policy spaces for African countries to pursue alternative developmental choices as opposed to World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund and World Bank "neo-liberal dogma" that placed profit before people.

"It is now clear that the markets will not deliver as they have always failed to do so."

Furthermore, industrialisation should be prioritised through the beneficiation of SA's natural resources to create jobs and capacity for further skilling of workers, Cosatu said.

"More infrastructure development through massive projects would also create jobs and also generate momentum for economic growth and development through the building of new transport systems."

needed were social policies that delivered basic services and needs to communities, particularly in the context of the massive poverty levels and high levels of unemployment, Cosatu concluded.