SA Capitalists Issue a “No Work, No Pay, No Penalty” for 16 June 1986 Stay Away Call
On 5 June 1986, the Association of Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCOM) and the Federated Chamber of Industries (FCI) released a statement of “no work, no pay” to workers who stayed away from work on June 16. The statement was released after the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the National Education Crisis Committee (NECC) met to issue a call for a one-day work stay-away on 16 June 1986, in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Soweto Uprisings. ASSOCOM and FCI had almost the same approach to their employees as they both stated that it would be difficult for employers to operate their businesses properly when their workers stayed away from work without prior agreement.
The Association of Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCOM) and the Federated Chamber of Industries (FCI) were not forcibly coerced by the apartheid government to release their statement. Instead, they proactively issued a joint approach guiding employers to implement a “no work, no pay” policy for workers who stayed away on 16 June 1986. They did this voluntarily to protect businesses from losses, arguing that it was impossible to operate properly if employees stayed away without prior agreement. They further stated that it was unviable for businesses to pay workers who did not show up for work on the day.
While the stance was “no work, no pay”, the organis
