Calls for drug company nationalisation have been made by the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (Giwusa). These calls follow plans by Adcock Ingram to retrench more than 240 workers.
Giwusa president Mametlwe Sebei said South Africa’s pharmaceutical sector had lost about 2,500 direct jobs over the past 18 months. He noted that nine local manufacturing plants closed during this period. This has weakened domestic pharmaceutical production and raised concerns about the future of local medicine manufacturing.
Sebei argued that the decline resulted from policies prioritising short-term cost savings over long-term industrial capacity. Giwusa represents workers in the pharmaceutical sector and is affiliated with the South African Federation of Trade Unions. It is also a party to the industry bargaining council.