Workers dissatisfied with proposed SADC free trade deal

South Africa’s largest trade union, COSATU, says that the proposed Southern African Development Community (SADC) free trade deal is a threat to South African jobs, media reports said on Tuesday. “The textile industry firmly believes that the proposed structure and design of the agreement will hold dire consequences for the textile industry and its jobs,” the union was quoted as saying. The proposed deal which was tabled in parliament last month and which is expected to take effect from 1 January covers Us $2.94 billion in trade between South Africa and the 13 other SADC members. COSATU urged that a social clause be inserted into agreement to prevent jobs from being lost and shifted to other countries where labour might be cheaper.