Save our jobs and industries

EARLIER this year RCL, the company known as Rainbow Chicken, announced that it was shedding 1 300 jobs and offloading 13 farms in Kwazulu-natal.

This was because it was battling to survive under the onslaught of chicken dumping by foreign producers.

Our view then, which we stand by, was that protectionism aimed at stemming the tide of foreign-produced chicken was futile. The required response was for stakeholders to plan and take proactive steps to deal with the vicissitudes of our globalised economy.

Borrowing from the speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, we argued that South Africa could not control the “waters” of the global trade ocean and should rather confront problems and seize opportunities.

It is sad to note that months later not much good news has been forthcoming.

The recent Brazil meat exposé, and the promised crackdown by our government, provided hope for local poultry and meat producers. They have long complained of sub-standard imports over and above the dumped chicken and the devastating effects on the local industry.

The crafting of measures to help the local industry deal with chicken dumping is welcome. Some producers have now even delayed closing operations.

But much more needs to be done and at a faster pace if the industry is to survive and maintain the jobs it provides.