South Africa

Building workers' strike hits World Cup stadiums

Article published on the 2009-07-08 Latest update 2009-07-10 07:42 TU

Nelson Mandela Bay stadium
(Photo : AFP)

Construction of South Africa's World Cup stadiums has been hit be a strike, as thousands of South African building workers demand higher wages.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which claims to represent 50,000 of the 80,000 construction workers, has called an indefinite strike called from today, after marathon wage talks with management collapsed last week.

The NUM's logo

The NUM has rejected the employers' offer of a 10.4 per cent increase and is sticking to its demand for 13 per cent. All 2010 stadiums, as well as Gautrain (fast train) sites and other projects like the Medupi Power station in Limpopo, are hit by the strike.

The South African government has invested over 17 billion rand (1.5 billion euros) in infrastructure development associated with the event. But there is rising concern that the benefits of hosting football's biggest festival will not benefit the poor.

On Tuesday a report by the Public Service Commission (PSC) warned that "steps will have to be taken to ensure that the poor can access the necessary opportunities emanating from the hosting of the World Cup".

The report named corruption as one of the key reasons why hosting of the World Cup "may not bring material benefits to all regardless of race or class".