COSATU Statement on the 13th BRICS Trade Unions Forum (BTUF) scheduled for 7 to 8 September in the City of Sochi, Russia

05 September 2024

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is set to participate in the 13^th BRICS Trade Unions Forum (BTUF) scheduled to take place from 7 to 8 September 2024 in the City of Sochi, Russia.

The COSATU delegation is led by the President, Zingiswa Losi, and the Deputy General Secretary, Gerald Twala, who is also the NEDLAC Overall Convenor. The delegation has already departed for the Russian Federation to join fellow trade unionists from the BRICS countries plus the newly admitted members of BRICS.

It should be noted that the last BRICS Trade Union Forum was held in South Africa in the City of Ethekwini, in 2023 and it adopted the historic 12^th BTUF Declaration, which was based on the key 7 Point Action Plan.

The 13^th BRICS Trade Union Forum shall be historic for three main reasons:

Firstly, it shall be the first BRICS Trade Unions Forum (BTUF) to be held since the admission of the new members, namely, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Secondly, it shall be the first BRICS Trade Union Forum to have an Africa component of three countries, with South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia as official members and the presence of the Organisation of African Trade Unions Unity (OATUU).

Thirdly, there is now acceptance that the BRICS Trade Union Forum (BTUF) is here to stay and shall be an important part of the future of trade unionism and global movement for equitable development, decent work and alternative forms of working class power.

There will be dedicated discussions on the current global geo-political economy, its implications for developing countries and the role of workers. Further, the standing item of an alternative global payment system, which led to the Contingent Reserve Arrangement being placed on the agenda, remains a central feature of the BTUF in all its annual discussions.

In all these discussions, the implications for workers and global solidarity to advance decent work, equitable development and social justice remains the ultimate focus and running thread in all the processes.

COSATU places a high premium in ensuring that all BRICS processes enhance and anchor the struggle for a progressive trade and industrial development policy, with special focus on Africa and the global south in general.

The 12^th BRICS Trade Union Forum (BTUF) Declaration can be found at www.cosatu.org.za

Issued by COSATU

For more information, please contact:

Bongani Masuku(COSATU International Secretary)
Cell: 079 499 6419

Or

Noxolo Bhengu (COSATU Deputy International Secretary)
Cell: 072 866 7046

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