The erosion of labour rights in South Africa

 International Workers’ Day, traditionally celebrates the working class—a day when the voices of labour echo through the streets in solidarity and defiance. However, the celebration rings hollow under the Government of National Unity (GNU) in South Africa.

It is a symbolic husk, stripped of its radical roots and repurposed as a PR exercise in a time of national instability, economic anxiety, and deepening inequality.

The participation of the Democratic Alliance (DA)—a party that has historically shown little concern for workers’ rights—only compounds the irony. The GNU, born out of electoral necessity rather than ideological alignment, represents a fragile coalition of political forces, many of which hold fundamentally opposing views on labour, redistribution, and economic justice. Workers’ rights have become a bargaining chip rather than a principle in this uncertain landscape.

Including the DA, whose policies often lean toward market liberalism and austerity, signals a shift away from the pro-labour stance traditionally associated with Workers' Day celebrations. The DA’s track record on labour rights is far from reassuring. From advocating for the weakening of collective bargaining frameworks to its push for a more "flexible" labour market, the party's economic vision consistently prioritises business interests over worker welfare.

Under its leadership in various municipalities, there have been repeated clashes with unions, erosion of job security, and outsourcing that undermines organised labour. These are not the politics of a party that honours the spirit of Workers' Day—they are the politics of neoliberalism, rebranded for a South African context.

So, what does Workers' Day mean in this new era of a GNU that includes the DA? For many, it’s a painful reminder of how easily workers' interests can be sidelined. Instead of being a platform to amplify the voices of the working class, Workers' Day has become a performance staged by leaders desperate to hold together an unstable alliance. It is no longer about fighting for a living wage, safer working conditions, or the right to organise—it is about managing perception and suppressing dissent.

This betrayal is most sharply felt by the millions of South Africans facing the triple threat of unemployment, poverty, and inequality. Workers' Day is not a celebration but a cruel joke for them. The government speaks of unity and shared responsibility while wages stagnate, labour laws are under pressure, and retrenchments are the norm in both the public and private sectors. What does “unity” mean when the wealth gap widens and the people intended to represent workers' interests sit at the same table as those who profit from exploitation?

Once a formidable political force, trade unions now find themselves in a precarious position. With some co-opted into the political machinery of the GNU and others sidelined, the labour movement risks losing its relevance and credibility. This disempowerment of unions is not accidental—it suits the neoliberal agenda, which thrives on weakening collective power and promoting individual responsibility over social solidarity.

Yet, all is not lost. Governments or politicians do not determine the meaning of Workers' Day; it is forged in the actions of workers themselves. If the GNU has diluted the significance of Workers' Day, then it is up to labour organisations, grassroots movements, and civil society to reclaim it. That means rejecting symbolic gestures and demanding real policy change: enforceable labour protections, a living wage, investment in public services, and job creation driven by public need rather than private profit.

Moreover, it means recognising that including the DA in the GNU is not just a political compromise but a warning. It tells us that without vigilance and mobilisation, even the most sacred victories of the labour movement can be undone. Workers' Day must not become an empty ritual. It must remain a day of protest, of memory, and resistance. It must remind us that the fight for justice is ongoing and that unity must never come at the expense of the working class. The GNU must be held accountable for maintaining political order and delivering economic justice in this national instability. And the DA must be challenged to prove, with policy and action, that it recognises the centrality of labour rights in a democratic society. Anything less would mock Workers' Day and the generations who fought for it.

*Mayalo is an independent writer, analyst and commentator

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media