4. Union proposalsThe unions submitted proposals on several issues, including youth wage subsidies, the national budget, tax incentives and they also criticized the NDP.4.1 COSATUIIn 2001, COSATU, together with other organizations, wrote a document entitled Popular Budget which explains their project aimed at contributing to the growth of the country (Popular Budget, 2001). “The popular budget aims to define budgetary strategies likely to reduce poverty, support economic development and ensure greater equity” (Popular Budget, 2001). The People's Budget proposed “budget increases to support: i. an effective strategy for restructuring the economy, coordinated with measures aimed at improving the social wage; ii. the expansion of the social wage in general, with the introduction of a basic income allowance, the creation of national health insurance and stricter measures to combat HIV/AIDS; iii. a coherent skills development strategy; and iv. better integration of infrastructure and housing development into the overall growth strategy” (People’s Budget,