# The National Union of Mineworkers declared support for World Day for Decent Work on Wednesday and calls on workers to join nationwide pickets led by COSATU. NUM’s Mpho Phakedi says decent work remains critical amid unemployment, poverty and inequality, demanding living wages, safe workplaces and respect for collective bargaining and the right to strike. It warns mining companies are using retrenchments to replace permanent jobs with precarious subcontracted labour. He says manufacturers abuse youth training schemes as cheap labour.
NUM warns of systematic destruction of permanent jobs ahead of Decent Work Day