The economy continues to destroy jobs at a rapid pace, aggravating unemployment, poverty and inequality. This trend confronts the whole nation with its most important challenge - to address the scourge of joblessness. Socially, workers and their families have benefited from the expanded delivery of such basic services as water and electricity, schooling and health. These gains form a major victory for the National Democratic Revolution. But our victories are now threatened by budgets cuts and free-market fundamentalism.
Crime also forms a key enemy.
In sum, our new terrain holds possibilities as well as threats for the progressive movement, including labour. It has thrown up a range of political, organisational, and economic challenges. The Secretariat Report details how we have responded to these challenges. The Secretariat Report is divided into Political, Organisational, International and Socio-Economic Reports. We will summarise each section in detail during the Congress.