This book has been titled Labour Pains to reflect the intensity of the struggle for gender equality in the trade union movement and society. Women in labour carry the double burden of paid work and unpaid work in the home. Black working class women are oppressed as black people, as women and as workers. They also face a ‘struggle within the struggle’ as they are forced to confront sexism in their won unions as well as in the workplace and at home. The book explores the experiences of women leaders in the trade unions, and the strategies they use to deal with the challenges and the burdens they face. It also reflects on the strategies adopted by COSATU and some of its affiliates to advance gender equality and promote organizational change. While the book acknowledges that progress has been made on the development of policy for gendered change, it argues that little has been achieved in practice in terms of translating commitments into meaningful reality for working class women. The book argues that challenging unequal power between men and women in the unions and society does not happen simply through resolutions, policies and setting up structures – it happens through action and activism.

The ALRN has embarked on a number of studies and has successfully completed the study on the hospitality sector. In 2007 May, the NPC meeting held in Johannesburg decided to accept membership of three organisation as follows: Labour Research Services (LRS), Botswana Federation of Trade Unions and Centro de Formacao e de Pesquisa Laboral (CFPLa, Angola).

This booklet forms part of the African Social Observatory (ASO) project, which is coordinated by the National Labour & Economic Development Institute (NALEDI) on behalf of the African Labour Research Network (ALRN). This booklet examines the behaviour of three leading gold producers in Africa, namely Gold Fields (in Ghana and South Africa), Anglogold Ashanti (in Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe) and Metorex (in Zambia). Special attention is given to labour relations and working conditions, company restructuring, HIV/AIDS policies and practices; health and safety and environmental issues and social responsibility programmes.

Mumbai, the host city of the fourth World Social Forum (WSF), appropriate in its tapestry as a reflection of inequalities and complexities faced by third world countries against globalisation, served as recognition of the fact that economic globalisation in its current form is not leading to improvement in ordinary peoples’ lives.

The Ramatex factory is undoubtedly the most spectacular foreign investment in Namibia since independence. The massive size of Ramatex’s operations, the establishment of a totally new industry and the controversies surrounding the company's environmental impact and working conditions, have made Ramatex one of the most talked-about companies in Namibia today. The company is not only the subject of debate amongst politicians, business people, researchers and the media, but also among ordinary men and women on the streets of Windhoek.

by Thobile Yanta who presented the paper to the 13th IIRA World Congress, Berlin, Germany, 8th to 12th September 2003

The issue of regional integration in Africa has been a subject of debate for some time. Political leaders and progressive academics provided various suggestions of how Africa should be unified. The struggle against slavery, colonialism and apartheid in Africa gave further impetus to the subject of regional integration.

Herbert Jauch, Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)

In recent years a new phenomenon appeared in the Namibian labour market: labour hire companies. They are now featuring prominently in Walvis Bay but also in other towns like Windhoek, Swakopmund and Tsumeb. A study carried out by the Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI) examined the effects these companies have in terms of job-creation, training and conditions of service. LaRRI also looked at the responses of trade unions and at the proposed regulations for the labour hire industry. This article summarises some of the findings of LaRRI’s study.

Herbert Jauch, Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI), Namibia

"Globalisation" has become one of the buzzwords of the 1990s. Governments, businesses, unions and community activists talk about it, but often attach very different meanings to the term. It is therefore essential to first define the term and to identify the forces that shape the process of globalisation. Analytical clarity is also crucial to explain the impact of globalisation and to develop possible alternatives.

On the brink of the 8th COSATU Congress and a national election, a recent survey of four affiliates’ members by NALEDI provides some interesting insights into their views and opinions. While some issues require further investigation, the results of the survey should assist in identifying areas requiring improved service delivery. We highlight some of the key findings here.

NALEDI Policy Bulletin asked Dr Neva Makgetla, head of COSATU’s Policy Unit how she thought NGDS outcomes will promote sector strategies and job creation.

By Mandy Moussouris

Research into various sectors show that skills development is not assisting sufficiently the transformation of workplaces.

By Thobile Yanta

Trade liberalisation creates First World winners and Third World losers. The effect of trade liberalisation on third world economies has been drastic, with the shedding of jobs in many sectors, especially, clothing and textile, agriculture, and fishing.