The SA Federation of Trade Unions Saftu said the proposed closure of British American Tobacco BAT is the latest example of big corporations shutting down local operations, warning this trend is steadily turning South Africa into a warehouse economy.
It also called on parliament to not pass the Tobacco Control Bill in its current form, as it would weaken legal tobacco producers while strengthening illicit and criminal operators. The bill, if passed, would accelerate factory closures and finish off thousands of remaining manufacturing jobs, Saftu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said in Johannesburg on Thursday.
He was briefing the media following the labour federations meeting with BAT regarding the proposed closure of its Heidelberg manufacturing plant.
