The youth wage subsidy must be introduced urgently to relieve unemployment among young people, the DA and the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) said on Thursday.
“We both want the youth wage subsidy as a means to create jobs for unemployed young South Africans. Both parties are eager for its urgent implementation, said Democratic Alliance chairman Wilmot James.
The organisations met on Tuesday to discuss the wage subsidy.
James said the party would continue to engage other interested parties to ensure the issue remained topical.
“We will also use all Constitutional tools at our disposal to ensure the wage subsidy is implemented.”
Fedusa general secretary Dennis George said his organisation supported the youth wage subsidy programme introduced by the Western Cape government.
“Fedusa also pledged its support for the DA’s application to the jobs fund for additional resources, in order to increase the scope and impact of the youth placement programme in Western Cape,” he said.
“One thing that both organisations have total agreement on is the urgency of the youth unemployment problem and the need to speedily implement the youth wage subsidy.”
George said Fedusa would use its presence in the National Economic Development and Labour Council to try and break a deadlock “unfairly imposed by other labour federations”.
Last month violence erupted in Johannesburg when the DA showed support for the subsidy by marching to the Johannesburg head office of the Congress of SA Trade Unions.
The march culminated in clashes between DA and Cosatu supporters. - Sapa