Businesses urged to close early on for WC opening ceremony

With under 48 hours to go before the kick off the to FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has called on businesses in the Western Cape to close their doors at 1pm on Friday afternoon, so that workers are able to watch the World Cup Opening Ceremony at home or at the Fan Parks.

"I think it that it is important that workers are both able to see the opening ceremony as well as the first game. The only way that is possible is if they do leave work early on Friday to be able to be with their families or at the Fanparks where they would be enjoying the game," said Tony Ehrenreich, spokesperson for Cosatu in the Western Cape.

According to Ehrenreich, everyone should be feeling the spirit of the World Cup. "People should enjoy it, and we should feel as one. It would be impossible to feel as one if some people in our community are unable to get to the venues on time." He said Cosatu will be negotiating with employers as well as the Cape Chamber of Commerce to close businesses early on Friday.

Nation-building

"The important objective of the World Cup is to have all of SA identifying with it and to maximize its nation-building potential, in a manner that heals our fractured society. Where arrangements are in place with workplace management these will continue and Cosatu's call is only to apply in areas where no arrangements or provisions exist," said Ehrenreich.

When asked if the World Cup would affect productivity, Ehrenreich replied: "It could affect productivity in two ways. On the one hand people could stay away from work and that would have a negative effect on productivity as they go and watch the games instead of going to work. But on the other hand it is generating so much excitement and that has a positive affect on productivity."

Explore options

Meanwhile, the Cape Chamber of Commerce confirmed to VOC that Cosatu has requested a meeting with them to explore the idea of having businesses closing earlier so that their workers are able to watch the opening ceremony as well as the opening match. "It is always difficult to come up with a general rule on these types of requests and issue," said Albert Schuitmaker the chairman of the Cape Chamber of Commerce.

"There are so many different types of businesses that have to continue to work, like the 24/7 operations, which cannot afford to close down or even miss a shift. You have the service industry that has been called upon now to operate at full tilt." He said that there are businesses that are part of the value chain, where customers expect them to supply on Friday and both their suppliers need to supply them in order to keep the production processes going.

"It is almost impossible for the retail sector to close earlier. What we have been saying at the Chamber for the last couple of months is that there is an extraordinary period of time with the World Cup and employers and employees should be sitting together to talk about any request that could be negotiated. In addition to that companies can make arrangements so that staff can stay and can watch the activities, particularly the opening ceremony on television at the offices of the employer," said Schuitmaker.