The IFP in KwaZulu-Natal has made calls for the protection of jobs in the poultry sector after recent reports concerning the import of low quality chicken from Brazil and Europe and the resultant loss of an estimated 20 000 jobs.
“South Africa is faced with very high unemployment rates. An estimated loss of over 20 000 jobs in the poultry sector adds to the misery faced by our people. Importing low quality chicken only serves to destroy the local poultry industry and make us dependent on these imports. What then stops overseas suppliers from holding us to ransom and increasing prices at whim? We will then be saddled with huge masses of our people being unemployed and unable to purchase basic food, let alone the imported poultry,” said IFP Spokesperson on Agriculture, Mr Nhlanhla Msimango, MPL.
“South Africa is one of the most unprotected markets in the world and our government must do everything possible to curtail imports, protect jobs and grow local industry,” continued Mr Msimango.
“Whilst we support the free market principle, we must also ensure that we grow our local industry by providing support to the poultry producers, thereby saving jobs and growing our economy,” concluded Mr Msimango.
