Solidarity Center

Solidarity Center

The Solidarity Center’s program in South Africa aims to improve the lives of working people, particularly the most vulnerable—farm workers, domestic workers, migrant workers and women workers—who face long-standing barriers to sharing the country’s economic prosperity. Together with union and human rights allies, the Solidarity Center addresses the interrelated issues of collective bargaining, economic policy, gender equality and resource-building.

The Solidarity Center’s strongest ally in South Africa is the 2-million member Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). The Center also works closely with the Federation of South Africa Trade Unions (FEDUSA), the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU), and the South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU).

In seeking to empower women and maximise their earning potential, Solidarity Center also promotes the Labor Rights for Women campaign, an effort that helps create provincial-level dialogue around such issues as maternity protection, sexual harassment and gender and sexual orientation discrimination at the workplace. The Center is represented by Nhlanhla Mabizela on the JHB-MHF.