Trade unions have backed calls for mandatory monitoring inside cigarette factories as part of efforts to curb South Africa’s illicit tobacco trade. The South African Federation of Trade Unions has urged government to introduce stricter oversight of cigarette production, including the installation of cameras inside factories.

The proposal comes amid an ongoing dispute between government and sections of the tobacco industry over surveillance systems aimed at monitoring production and tax compliance.

Tax Justice South Africa (TJSA) welcomed the unions’ stance on Thursday, saying it undermines claims by cigarette manufacturers that such monitoring would violate privacy.

TJSA leader Yusuf Abramjee said the intervention from organised labour “calls the bluff” of companies that have opposed surveillance measures proposed by the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

“For months, the local cigarette lobby has tried to portray SARS cameras in factories as some kind of abuse of privacy,” Abramjee said.

He said cameras are already widely used in workplaces such as shops, banks and warehouses to prevent crime.

“Why should cigarette factories be the only workplaces where cameras are suddenly unacceptable?” he asked.

According to Abramjee, illicit tobacco trade costs the country billions in lost tax revenue every year. He said the trade also threatens legitimate businesses and jobs in the sector.

The comments come as the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA), which represents several local cigarette manufacturers, continues to challenge surveillance measures.

Abramjee said the resistance to monitoring raises questions about what the industry is trying to hide.

“South Africa is losing more than R30 billion a year in tax revenue because of illicit cigarettes,” he said. “When companies fight this hard against basic monitoring of production, the public is entitled to ask whose interests they are protecting.”

He said companies that refuse to cooperate with monitoring measures should face stricter consequences.

“Any cigarette manufacturer that refuses to allow SARS monitoring systems in its factory should immediately lose its production licence,” Abramjee said.

TJSA said stronger enforcement measures are needed to address the illicit economy, which it estimates costs the country billions of rand in lost revenue each year.

Trade unions have backed calls for mandatory monitoring inside cigarette factories as part of efforts to curb South Africa’s illicit tobacco trade. The South African Federation of Trade Unions has urged government to introduce stricter oversight of cigarette production, including the installation of cameras inside factories.

The proposal comes amid an ongoing dispute between government and sections of the tobacco industry over surveillance systems aimed at monitoring production and tax compliance.

Tax Justice South Africa (TJSA) welcomed the unions’ stance on Thursday, saying it undermines claims by cigarette manufacturers that such monitoring would violate privacy.

TJSA leader Yusuf Abramjee said the intervention from organised labour “calls the bluff” of companies that have opposed surveillance measures proposed by the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

“For months, the local cigarette lobby has tried to portray SARS cameras in factories as some kind of abuse of privacy,” Abramjee said.

He said cameras are already widely used in workplaces such as shops, banks and warehouses to prevent crime.

“Why should cigarette factories be the only workplaces where cameras are suddenly unacceptable?” he asked.

According to Abramjee, illicit tobacco trade costs the country billions in lost tax revenue every year. He said the trade also threatens legitimate businesses and jobs in the sector.

The comments come as the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA), which represents several local cigarette manufacturers, continues to challenge surveillance measures.

Abramjee said the resistance to monitoring raises questions about what the industry is trying to hide.

“South Africa is losing more than R30 billion a year in tax revenue because of illicit cigarettes,” he said. “When companies fight this hard against basic monitoring of production, the public is entitled to ask whose interests they are protecting.”

He said companies that refuse to cooperate with monitoring measures should face stricter consequences.

“Any cigarette manufacturer that refuses to allow SARS monitoring systems in its factory should immediately lose its production licence,” Abramjee said.

TJSA said stronger enforcement measures are needed to address the illicit economy, which it estimates costs the country billions of rand in lost revenue each year.