Construction strike
70,000 construction workers[41] that were supposed to be working on the new stadiums walked off their jobs on 8 July 2009.[42] The majority of the workers receive R2500 per month (about £192, €224 or $313), but the unions allege that some workers are grossly underpaid. A spokesperson for the National Union of Mineworkers said to the SABC that the "no work no pay" strike will go on until FIFA assesses penalties on the organisers. Other unions threatened to strike into 2011.[43][44]
The World Cup organising committee downplayed the strike and expressed confidence that the stadiums will be ready. However the strike was swiftly dealt with and workers were back at work within a week of it starting. The agreement meant that there were no further strikes and all stadiums and construction projects were completed in time for the kick off.[45]