UASA Media Release: 17 March 2025
In Picture: From Left: Zanele Mthembu (SWIFT), Romi Nomis (Everything.Insure) Lisa Modisane (Legends Actors & Performers Management), Mashadi Motlana (National Healthcare Group), Amor Tredoux (UASA Representative in Arts & Entertainment) and Khanyi Magubane (Zinokwanda Media and Communications (PTY) Ltd.
Statement by Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the trade union UASA:
UASA proudly participated in the 7th edition of the prestigious Joburg Film Festival (JFF) held in Sandton, Johannesburg, last week and over the weekend. As a trade union actively representing workers across diverse sectors like the Arts and Entertainment sector, UASA took this opportunity to advance vital conversations around industry standards and workers’ rights within the creative economy.
UASA’s Arts and Entertainment sector representative, Amor Tredoux, participated as a panellist in one of the festival’s highly anticipated JBX Talks industry sessions, “Prioritising Well-Being and Workers’ Rights in the Film Industry”. The panel, presented in partnership with SWIFT (Sisters Working in Film and Television), delved into the pressing issues faced by industry professionals, such as mental health challenges, inadequate support for parents, the precarious nature of freelance work and broader systemic inequities.
During the session, UASA reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for dignified, fair and sustainable working conditions in the creative sector. The union has long recognised the unique realities of workers in the Arts and Entertainment industry, where freelance and short-term contracts dominate,
supporting the session discussion on topics around benefits like maternity leave, childcare accessibility and the career setbacks parents face alongside systemic issues like workplace safety, harassment and inequity and social security, especially for women.
UASA’s work in this sector has included lobbying for improved workplace protections, playing an active role at NEDLAC where supportive and legislative reforms are strengthened partnering with industry stakeholders to build stronger inclusive support systems.
The union’s presence at JFF assisted in its belief that creative workers deserve the same labour protections and workplace dignity as those in more formalised sectors. During the panel discussion, Amor Tredoux, emphasised the need for creatives to have legal protection and assistance given the challenging working conditions that they work in which UASA offers to those who join our organisation.
Most benefits that are in place in traditional workplaces are non-existent in the creative industry, “creatives are encouraged to do research, stand together and recognise the value and role played by trade unions to protect their rights and dignity,” said Tredoux.
UASA’s participation in this dialogue highlighted its role in shaping worker-focused dialogue within South Africa’s Arts and Entertainment Industry.
For further enquiries or to set up a personal interview, contact Abigail Moyo at 065 170 0162.