Eskom wage talks to continue on Thursday

Power utility Eskom maintains it cannot afford the 15% wage increase demanded by unions. 

Talks between Eskom and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), National Union of Mine Workers (NUM), and Solidarity started on Tuesday and will continue on Thursday.

"The unions have placed demands on Eskom that would add an additional 30% to the more than R33 billion in employee benefits and wages that Eskom paid in the year ended March 2020. This is clearly unaffordable for a company heavily reliant for its status and survival on the taxpayer," said Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha. 

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"Eskom has requested the unions to revise down these wages in order for it to be able to present an offer to the trade unions. An offer that will not only look after the best interest of Eskom but of the employees themselves and the people of South Africa who have to pay for any agreement reached.”

Numsa has accused Eskom of using its financial status to avoid paying workers more and has vowed to not back down on its demands.