The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) urges the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) to swiftly action interventions to unlock the local film industry. 

The film industry is a key growth sector with the potential to attract substantial investment, promote South Africa as a leading global trade and tourism destination, and create badly needed jobs and value chains.  The challenges being experienced by the film industry need to be tackled as a matter of urgency.

COSATU supports DTIC’s timely focus on unlocking blockages to funding from the Department plus seeking additional financing from Treasury, the Industrial Development Corporation and the National Empowerment Fund, overhauling and streamlining funding application processes and reviewing the impact of potential incentives as key to unleashing this nascent growth sector.  The reassurances provided by Minister Parks Tau and the Department to Parliament of their commitments to do so provide comfort to workers in this sector.

It is critical that DTIC’s envisaged national working group for the industry include workers in the sector, in particular the South African Guild of Actors and unions organising stunt and technical crews.  For far too long these workers have been subjected to the most abhorrent and abominable working conditions, including industry-imposed contracts undermining their fundamental rights to be paid above the National Minimum Wage, paid leave, overtime pay and safe working conditions.

Support for the industry must be conditional upon production companies and employers complying with all our labour laws.  Employers must appreciate that South Africa is a nation of laws and be held accountable by government when they fall foul of their legal obligations.

Issued by COSATU.

Matthew Parks (COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator)

Mobile: 082 785 0687

Email: matthew@cosatu.org.za