South Africa’s auto manufacturing industry could be heading for disruption as wage talks between employers and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) reach a stalemate.

On Kaya Biz, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, NUMSA spokesperson, joins the show to unpack the union’s stance amid deadlocked negotiations. Employers have tabled a 6.5% wage increase for the first year and 5% for the next two, but the union says this effectively amounts to a wage freeze especially in an environment where rising fuel, transport, and energy costs continue to erode workers’ earnings.

NUMSA is calling for 7% in the first year and 6% in the following two, arguing that the 1% gap is both reasonable and affordable given the sector’s profitability and government incentives. Kaya FM