South Africa needs to find solutions to ongoing labour challenges if it is to grow the economy. According to Viola Manual, CEO of the Cape Chamber of Commerce, business no longer trusts the space in which labour issues are being debated and has become hesitant – impacting negatively on growth. “The ongoing tussle between government and labour, the strikes and violent action that we are seeing are all having a negative impact on our business environment,” she told FTW. “The result is that business is not reinvesting its profits in the country – and more than that they no longer feel they are taken seriously as a social dialogue partner in this debate.” Manual said it was therefore necessary to find a more equitable space where business could voice its opinion, but at the same time feel that both government and labour organisations were hearing it.
