Cosatu has welcomed the findings of a productivity survey showing that South African workers, especially car workers, were among the most productive in the world.

Cosatu has welcomed the findings of a productivity survey showing that South African workers, especially car workers, were among the most productive in the world.

The survey, conducted by Proudfoot Consulting, has revealed that South Africans were as productive as workers in Germany, Brazil, France and the US.

The survey showed that 23 percent of South African managers reported that their companies experienced productivity increases of more than 15 percent last year.

It also revealed that 19,3 percent of automotive companies experienced productivity increases of more than 15 percent last year, classifying them as "high performers".

The survey included more than 1250 in-depth interviews with senior company officials. Companies with an annual turnover in excess of R900 million in 12 countries across six industries were included in the survey.

The survey also showed that automotive sector managers believed their companies could increase their productivity by 13 percent over the next two years.

It also revealed that though internal communication issues were identified as the second leading barrier to improved productivity worldwide, this was not the case in South Africa.

Yesterday, Cosatu said it always reminded the employers of these figures whenever they claimed they could not afford workers' claims for increases in their meagre wages.- Sapa