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3 weeks ago
A resource for trade union educators to inspire confidence and inclusivity in learning spaces
Use this facilitation exercise to create workshops where participants feel comfortable and supported.
Category: Articles
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1 month ago
Whose job will AI replace?
Here’s why a clerk in Ethiopia has more to fear than one in California.
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1 month ago
Using the power of coalitions in trade union bargaining and advocacy
Eight key actions that can create solidarity and make coalitions work.
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1 month ago
“All parents of whatever stripe”: Judge rules in favour of equal parental leave rights
Any parent is entitled to four months parental leave.
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2 months ago
Access denied | A woman worker’s struggle for social protection
This video shows the stark realities of Elizabeth and Lehlohonolo, two working-class people who face an extraordinary challenge – access to their UIF benefits.
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2 months ago
Equipping young women in the world of work
Young women workers are empowered in the world of work when they know and understand their rights and responsibilities.
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2 months ago
Exploring the experiences of migrant male domestic workers in South Africa
A study on the experiences of ten male domestic workers from Malawi and Zimbabwe highlights how these workers use their agency to improve their working conditions.
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2 months ago
Trade unions and the new economy: How workers are recasting their power in the digital age
Workers’ power is being recast as precarious workers in Africa experiment with new ways of organising in the digital age.
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2 months ago
Informal economy workers in Ghana share their expectations of the AfCFTA
“The African Continental Free Trade Area is a good initiative that is beyond our reach.”
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3 months ago
Trade union inclusion strategies that create meaningful change
Grassroots activism is helping to transform the United National Transport Union into a safe, inclusive and homophobia-free environment.
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3 months ago
Building an AfCFTA trade union campaign in Nigeria
Trade unions advocate for an inclusive continental trade agreement that represents the interests of workers in Nigeria.
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3 months ago
LRS insights on tackling gender-based violence in the world of work
Effective GBV strategies must work alongside shifts in workplace practices and policies.
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3 months ago
VIDEO: A day in the life of Volunteer Food Handler
We learn about the issues facing the workers who prepare and serve meals to learners under the National School Nutrition Programme through the eyes of Khuli Gumede, a Volunteer Food Handler in Gauteng.
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3 months ago
Bargaining Benchmarks | September 2023
A resource for trade union negotiators in South Africa.
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3 months ago
Labour laws every shop steward should know and use to represent workers
Using the law to support bargaining strategies.
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3 months ago
Understanding value chains: A guide for shop stewards
An introduction to value chains as a tool for trade unions to renew their bargaining and organising strategies.
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3 months ago
Annual Report for 2022-23
Our Annual Report shows the different ways in which we work with and for the trade union movement to address the challenges facing our organisations and the world of work.
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4 months ago
How parental social protection falls short for mothers
Women are less likely to benefit from contributory schemes such as UIF and COIDA if they are linked to formal employment.
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4 months ago
Women’s human rights in the informal sector
This Women’s Month, we advocate for better protection of women’s rights, especially in the informal sector, and celebrate trade unions that are working to improve the lives of many.
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4 months ago
A trade union checklist for analysing trade agreements
Unions seeking to build organising and bargaining power along regional value chains need to be familiar with trade agreements to secure decent work.
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4 months ago
VIDEO: Casual workers organise to claim their rights
Women casual workers talk about how they organised to fight for their right to permanent employment.
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4 months ago
Bargaining with South African multinationals | The LRS Pick n Pay Company Report 2023
A more flexible workforce is likely to be a Pick n Pay response to cost pressures, and retail unions will actively seek appropriate compensation for their members.
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4 months ago
How to approach the equity bargaining process
Equity bargaining is about ensuring that collective bargaining promotes equity in the workplace. Here’s how the union negotiator should approach equity bargaining.
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4 months ago
Healthcare workers are at risk in a society that does not value the work of caring
Lessons you can learn from our multi-stakeholder initiative to reduce violence and change perceptions about the value of care work and health workers.
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4 months ago
Walking Alongside: A practice to transform unequal power relations
An LRS facilitator reflects on her work with Africa’s science granting councils to promote gender transformation in science, technology and innovation.
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4 months ago
How public sector trade unions can address GBV
Six actions unions can take to develop and improve strategies to end gender-based violence.
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4 months ago
Injured at work: How this trade unionist overcame adversity
Richard Njenjema (33) is a migrant worker and a campaigner for better access to social protection for domestic workers.
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5 months ago
Using the law to support bargaining strategies: Which labour laws for which problem?
Effective shop stewards use labour laws to organise and represent workers. Here are 16 workplace scenarios and the labour laws to use for best results.
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5 months ago
Resources for facilitators and trainers
Exercises and games stimulate the senses and help us to learn new concepts and ideas creatively. Access our facilitation exercises for use in participatory education.
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5 months ago
Trade union action on labour migration for Africa’s development
Trade unions can help meet the challenges of free movement and free trade in Africa to benefit African workers and economies.
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5 months ago
Tackling the huge pay gap in the public sector
The 3% increase for office bearers is below average inflation, but what does it mean in Rand terms compared to the 7.5% increase for ordinary workers in the public service?
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5 months ago
Automation, data mining and the future of retail jobs
Automation and data mining in the context of workers’ data rights is a major concern for the future, and retail unions want to see a better balance between the use of technology and the protection of workers’ privacy and rights.
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6 months ago
A Guide to the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods
The Guide to the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods identifies areas of caution and opportunities for trade unions campaigning for decent work in the Continental Free Trade Area.
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6 months ago
Framing a just transition for trade unions in Africa
How do we define a just transition? What steps can we take to make it more tangible?
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6 months ago
RESOURCE: The Real Economy Bulletin | Q1 2023
The Real Economy Bulletin examines real economy trends, developments and data and is useful for negotiations and research.
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6 months ago
Thinking about labour provisions and the AfCFTA
We support trade unions campaigning for decent work in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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6 months ago
RESOURCE: Bargaining Benchmarks | June 2023
This is a vital resource for trade union negotiators that want to enter bargaining processes as informed role players.
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6 months ago
Negotiating inclusivity: The experience of a queer workers’ representative
Tumelo Mokoena (33) is a member of FEDUSA’s youth committee who says progressive workplace policies have contributed to a positive experience as a worker and trade union representative.
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7 months ago
Six trade union responses to the impact of the AfCFTA in Namibia
These suggestions for dealing with the impact of the Continental Free Trade Area on jobs and employment can also help trade unions in other countries.
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7 months ago
Using feminist pedagogy to transform a university trade union
Women leaders in the Academic and Professional Staff Association Union (APSA) are inspired to incorporate feminist principles, values and approaches into the policies and activities of the union.
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7 months ago
Four reasons to use the LRS Agreements Database
Sharing knowledge about successful negotiations and agreements can strengthen the overall position of workers and trade unions and lead to better outcomes for all.
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7 months ago
Gender equality: What it is and how to achieve it
Learn what creating a culture of gender equality means for the Labour Research Service.
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7 months ago
How trade unions can support Education Support Personnel
Teachers’ unions are concerned about the exploitation of education support personnel, the lack of decent jobs and the violation of fundamental human and labour rights, including the right to organise and bargain collectively.
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7 months ago
A review of minimum wages and conditions at work
In a new target, the National Minimum Wage Commission says the lowest-paid workers must get pay rises above inflation.
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7 months ago
What is the principle behind a condition at work?
Conditions at work always have a principle of wellbeing, fairness or a social value that underpins them. This principle forms the foundation of arguments in negotiations. Here are 15 main types of conditions at work and their value.
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8 months ago
Resource: Inflation Monitor | March 2023
Inflation tells us something about the buying power of a worker. Effective negotiators need to ensure that workers get regular increases to maintain the buying power of their wages.
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8 months ago
What a 7.5% wage increase means for the lowest paid worker in the public sector
Public sector workers will continue to have a hard time making ends meet. The increase is only 0.5% above the current rate of inflation.
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8 months ago
Strengthening collective bargaining is essential to counter the tactics of big business
SACCAWU’s example shows how LRS member unions are getting better at using company information to win better outcomes for members.
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8 months ago
Mapping the legal exclusion of domestic workers from labour law in Africa
An analysis of gaps in the regulation of domestic work in South Africa, Malawi, Mauritius, Lesotho, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.
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8 months ago
Volunteer Food Handlers advocate to have their jobs made visible, recognised, valued and remunerated
At a media conference on 29 March, food handlers spoke about their campaign for decent jobs for the more than 60,000 workers recruited by the National School Nutrition Programme to prepare and serve meals in schools countrywide.
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9 months ago
Building a campaign to recognise and value the work of Volunteer Food Handlers
The workers who cook meals for millions of learners across the country are classified as volunteers and paid a stipend. Recruiting workers as volunteers has become another way of pushing women into unrecognised and low-paid work.
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9 months ago
Resource: Inflation Monitor | February 2023
A simplified version of the latest inflation data to support negotiators and the bargaining process of the trade union.
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9 months ago
Trade unions and Trade: The four main issues for unions in Tunisia in the AfCFTA era
Research and strategy support for the trade union movement to engage with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) agreement.
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9 months ago
Bargaining Benchmarks | March 2023
This report provides union negotiators with the benchmarks to enter bargaining processes as informed role players.
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9 months ago
AGREED: A database of collective agreements for bargaining and research purposes
You have signed the collective agreement. You have shared it with your constituency and filed it safely for future reference. What if you could benchmark the agreement against agreements in other unions or sectors? You can do this and more with the LRS Agreements Database (AGREED).
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9 months ago
A checklist for bargaining with companies
Trade union negotiators can prepare for negotiations by following these five steps for using company information.
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9 months ago
Wage Bargaining Review | 2023
How have unions fared at the negotiating table? Our wage outcomes report aims to inform trade union strategic bargaining in 2023 and beyond.
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9 months ago
How relief grants can be used to help young people into jobs
There’s a case to be made for combining cash grants and job-search assistance services.
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10 months ago
Trade unions negotiating on environmental issues in the world of work
The ‘Trade Unions Going Green’ booklet is for workers’ organisations interested in the potential of a just transition. The booklet offers practical information for ensuring this for workers.
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10 months ago
Retail sector and company performance report | 2022
Is the company making a profit? How much does the CEO earn? Does the union have accurate information on the finances of the company? The LRS sector and company performance report for the retail sector will help the union to formulate its bargaining demands.
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10 months ago
Time for transparency on executive pay in South Africa
Retail executives earn 700 times more than the lowest paid workers in their industry.
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10 months ago
Trade unions and Trade: The possible effects of the AfCFTA on workers in Chad
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is unlikely to boost intra-trade in Chad, according to our study, which recommends several measures to promote development, growth and poverty reduction in the north-central African country.
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10 months ago
How trade unions can support volunteer food handlers
As key players in the school community and in government consultative spaces, trade union activists can help to make visible the work of volunteer food handlers in the National School Nutrition Programme.
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11 months ago
NEW RESOURCE: MNC Trends Report | 2022
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinationals: A review of revenue, profits and executive pay for JSE-listed companies operating in 12 sectors.
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11 months ago
Bargaining with South African multinational companies: Sector and company performance reports
How much does the CEO of your company earn? Is the company you work for making a profit? When negotiating, do the bosses accurately reflect the finances of the company?
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12 months ago
RESOURCE: Bargaining Benchmarks | December 2022
A resource for trade union negotiators in South Africa.
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12 months ago
Using C190 to support the struggle against homophobic and transphobic violence in the world of work
What will it take for trade unions to use ILO Convention 190 as a tool for protecting LGBTQ+ workers and young job seekers from discrimination and violence?
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12 months ago
RESOURCE: LRS framework for negotiating conditions at work
Our framework for negotiating conditions at work provides a way to think about conditions at work in relation to collective agreements and labour laws. A must-read for worker representatives that want to establish minimum standards in more informal workplaces.
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1 year ago
Implementing C190: Lessons from South Africa on ending violence in the world of work
A conversation with Nosipho Twala, Gender Equality Educator and Researcher at Labour Research Service.
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1 year ago
A trade union approach to addressing gender-based violence in health settings
In a society that does not value the work of caring, unions can lead social action initiatives to reduce violence in health facilities by drawing a direct relationship between the devaluing of the reproductive work of healthcare workers and the rising levels of GBV in the health system.
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1 year ago
3% wage increase: What does it mean for the lowest-paid worker in the public sector?
“We are no longer just fighting for a decent wage. We are fighting to keep the right to collective bargaining,” says trade unions protesting the government’s move to push through below-inflation wage increase.
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1 year ago
Everything you need to know about strikes
A step-by-step guide to planning an effective strike.
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1 year ago
VIDEO | What’s happening at Massmart?
The delisting of Massmart is bad news for workers and unions at the retail company.
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1 year ago
What unions can do to make the protections in C190 possible
Convention 190 (C190) and the accompanying Recommendation No. 206 (R206) provide a common framework to stop violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence and harassment.
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1 year ago
Bargaining Benchmarks | October 2022
Five benchmarks to help trade union negotiators enter bargaining processes as informed role players.
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1 year ago
Future of work dictionary: The worker leader’s guide to the jargon
What do we mean by ‘industry 4.0’, ‘future of work’, ‘fourth industrial revolution and ‘gig economy? Know the key terms in shaping and negotiating the future of work.
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1 year ago
Tunis declaration calls for the inclusion of labour provisions in the AfCFTA agreement
The Tunis declaration, adopted on 27 September by trade unions from 39 African countries, stresses the inclusion of labour provisions in the AfCFTA agreement to ensure compliance with international labour standards and the decent work agenda.
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1 year ago
A personal perspective on parental leave
Trade unions must continue to demand adequate maternity protection, paid parental leave and other basic social protection measures for all working parents.
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1 year ago
How reclaimers bargain | Struggles and successes of a worker organisation
Louis Mahlangu, Organiser at African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO), speaks about the organisation’s collective bargaining experience. ARO is the first to unite workers in South Africa’s landfills and streets.
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1 year ago
The essentials of collective bargaining in South Africa
The collective bargaining process comprises four main parts: preparation, negotiation, agreement and implementation. Know the steps to follow in each part of the process.
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1 year ago
Nine practical strategies for saving jobs at companies
Trade unions have the power to develop and adopt plans to save jobs. Here are some strategies for unionists to consider.
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1 year ago
Research and strategy support for trade unions in Africa to engage with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) agreement
The trade union movement has the opportunity to participate in the negotiations, policy development and implementation processes of the AFCFTA agreement and advance the decent work agenda on the continent.
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1 year ago
Finding a support system at work: My experience as a lesbian worker in the retail sector
“I came out at home and then I came out at work,” says Sanna Patricia Sekaule (49), whose story illustrates the importance of family support and acceptance, and bringing your whole self to the workplace.
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1 year ago
Working against discrimination and homophobia in the workplace
INTERVIEW: FEDUSA’s Social Policy Officer, Brenda Modise, speaks about the federation’s efforts to popularise its LGBTIQ+ resolution, as well as the lessons learned in promoting the rights of workers who are LGBTIQ+. The Labour Research Service supports the efforts of unions to negotiate for inclusivity and against discrimination.
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1 year ago
Tips for organising women in the informal economy
Some basic recruiting strategies for organisers that want to bring women workers in the informal into the trade union.
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1 year ago
Domestic workers demand better access to social protection
Domestic workers’ organisations have ramped up advocacy for access to UIF and COIDA so that all workers are covered for future crises.
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1 year ago
Volunteer Food Handlers are the hands and heart of the National School Nutrition Programme
The work of feeding millions of children must be seen as work deserving of recognition and value. We need decent jobs for volunteer food handlers.
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1 year ago
Ten articles to read in August
August is women’s month in South Africa, a time when gender equality and women’s empowerment take centre stage. The Labour Research Service stands with worker organisations that work tirelessly to advance women’s right to decent work.
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1 year ago
LRS WEBINAR: Negotiating for inclusivity and against discrimination
This webinar is for working class leaders – gender coordinators, shop stewards, organisers, negotiators, and gender activists – that share a desire to protect and advance the right to equality for workers who are LGBTQ+.
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1 year ago
Feminist visions of the future of women’s work in Africa
12 key initiatives for mitigating the immediate negative impact of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) on women workers in Africa.
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1 year ago
Workplace rights belong to everyone
A step-by-step guide to negotiating for inclusivity and against discrimination in the trade union and the workplace.
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1 year ago
Five trade union demands for mainstreaming gender in trade agreements
More action is needed to achieve equity, equality, non-discrimination and women empowerment in trade agreements. Here are five trade union demands for mainstreaming gender in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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1 year ago
Collective bargaining benchmarks in South Africa
The Labour Research Service update on collective bargaining benchmarks in South Africa looks at three factors: the national minimum wage, economic indicators and bargaining indicators.
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1 year ago
A trade union guide for negotiating the future of work
Strategies that trade unions can adapt to be more influential in shaping and responding to the future of work.
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1 year ago
LRS Inflation Monitor | June 2022
Our simplified version of what is happening with inflation in South Africa.
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1 year ago
Digital labour platforms subject global South workers to ‘algorithmic insecurity’
But platform workers are pushing back and demanding greater transparency and improved conditions.
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1 year ago
Power Up! consortium intends to transform power in three key areas
In South Africa, the Labour Research Service supports volunteer food handlers in the National School Nutrition Programme to have their jobs made visible, recognised, valued and remunerated. Know more.
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1 year ago
Strategies to inspire, organise and represent workers
An introduction to The LRS Negotiator’s Guide | A video presentation of the leading ideas from each of the chapters of the Guide.
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1 year ago
Can workers in Ghana’s manufacturing sector gain from the AfCFTA?
Our research shows real opportunities for Ghana to enhance its manufacturing capability and create jobs under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. But for businesses and citizens to fully benefit, stakeholders must address some immediate risks.
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1 year ago
Bargaining Benchmarks | July 2022
LRS Bargaining Benchmarks publication is for trade union negotiators. Our series of benchmarks will help the negotiator to enter into bargaining as an informed role player.
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