Hon Chairperson, I just delayed to allow the Minister to take his things because I have seen that I am designated here. Hon members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentleman, and fellow South Africans, good day.
Sihlalo, kuyinkulumo yami yokuqala kule Ndlu yoMkhandlu kaZwelonke weziFundazwe kusukela ngabekwa njengoNgqongqoshe wezabaSebenzi. Ngifisa ukuthatha leli thuba ngibonge uMongameli waseNingizimu Afrika, ubaba uJacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, ngokuthi angithembe futhi angiphathise lo Mnyango ngokuthemba ukuthi ngizokwazi ukuwuphatha ngobuchule nangobunyoninco.
Angisho-ke ukuthi ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, this is my maiden speech in this House of the National Council of Provinces as the Minister of Labour. I wish to take this opportunity to thank President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma for having faith in me and assigning this department to me to lead, believing that I would be leading it with great wisdom and proficiency.
Let me state that ...]
... the labour market system in South Africa as at the end of 2010 has been characterised, among other things, by ...
... izigidi ezi-4,2 zabantu baseNingizimu Afrika abasebenzi. Kulezi zigidi, izigidi ezi-2,8 ngabantu asebehlale isikhathi eside bengenawo umsebenzi. Kulaba abangasebenzi iningi labo yintsha, ikakhulukazi ephakathi kweminyaka engama-25 kanye nama-34 ubudala. Benjalo nje abaqeqeshekile kahle, abanaso isipiliyoni somsebenzi ngoba esikhathini esiningi uma kufuneka ukuthi abasebenzi baqashwe, kuyaye kubuzwe ukuthi isipiliyoni somuntu singakanani. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[... 4,2 million of the population of South Africa making up the labour force. Of these, 2,8 million are people who have remained unemployed for a long time. Of those who are unemployed, the majority is the youth, with ages ranging between 25 and 34 years. They have no proper training and no work experience because every time a person is interviewed for a particular job, they are asked what experience they have.]
These are not just numbers, but individual persons whose lives are severely affected by a lack of income, a lack of security and a lack of dignity. These are people who require assistance to find work or to re-enter the labour market.
On the one hand, South Africa has experienced a significant increase of industrial action through strikes. As a result many work days were lost due to industrial action in 74 cases. This industrial action, which was about improved wages and working conditions, took place when the world was hit by an economic meltdown. It will be important to study and derive lessons from this industrial action, with a view to confronting and improving on the labour relations system.
It should also be remembered that the labour relations system in itself requires ongoing engagement and refinement from time to time. Once an analysis has been conducted, one would hope that 2011 will see greatly improved labour relations in the respective workplaces, with a focus on bringing about stability and industrial peace.
Informed by our commitment and effort in bringing about a society based on justice and equality for all, the department has identified policy gaps, as a result of which we are introducing amendments to the following pieces of legislation: the Labour Relations Act, Act 66 of 1995; the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Act 75 of 1997; the Employment Equity Act, Act 55 of 1998; and the new Employment Services Bill of 2010. Further, we are also addressing policy gaps in sheltered employment factories, with the specific emphasis on accommodating the needs of people with disabilities and gender equality.
In recent times, labour brokering has attracted a huge policy debate in our country, mainly due to abuses that have commonly been associated with it. It is for this reason that one of our key aims in amending labour legislation is to address the phenomenon of labour brokering and its associated abusive tendencies. We do this well aware that amending this legislation will have important consequences for the operation of the labour market system. The debates on these Bills have attracted a variety of responses which illustrate clearly the articulation of different interests that could be affected by the proposed amendments.
Sihlalo, ngifuna ukusho ukuthi singuhulumeni ngokomgudu woMnyango wezabaSebenzi sizoqhubeka nokusebenzisana nozakwethu bezokuhlalisana, okuyi- Cosatu, Fedusa, Nactu kanye nosomabhizinisi; ukuze siqinisekise ukuthi abasebenzi baseNingizimu Afrika bayavikeleka kuzo zonke izinhlobo zokuhlukumezeka, futhi bavikeleka ngendlela efanelekile.
SinguMnyango wezabaSebenzi ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, I want to state that as per policy we should continue to work together with our social partners which are Cosatu, Fedusa, Nactu and the businesspeople to ensure that the workers of South Africa are protected from all forms of abuse, and they are protected accordingly.
As the Department of Labour ...]
... we must make sure that vulnerable workers are not abused by the employers. We will be doing that together with the employers themselves.
The previous financial year saw significant changes in the department with the transfer of the skills development functions to the Department of Higher Education and Training. The transfer has been concluded and the department has begun repositioning the public employment services.
The new Employment Services Bill sets out the proposed legal framework for the operation of our employment services. This Bill also sets out the role of Productivity South Africa under the mandate of the department and provides a legal basis for the operation of the sheltered employment factories.
During the 2010-11 financial year, our employment services managed to register 472 179 job seekers. The service managed to link 70% of these registered job seekers to career counselling, skills development interventions, work placement opportunities as well as Unemployment Insurance Fund, UIF, and Compensation Fund benefits.
Our career guidance services were undertaken by the nursing colleges in Gauteng, saving them up to R21 million in recruitment costs. We will continue to step up our commitment to improve our employment services to contribute to job creation in South Africa.
For the period up to March 2011, the UIF paid benefits to 693 000 beneficiaries, with a total value of R5,3 billion, compared to 779 604 beneficiaries with a total value of R5,7 billion the previous year. The fund experienced a very slight decrease in unemployment benefit payments compared to the same period in the year 2009-10. The decrease is mainly due to the effects of the recession wearing off. This once again highlights the importance of the UIF as a safety net during times of unemployment and economic crisis.
The UIF has invested 68% of its investment portfolio in central government, municipal and parastatal bonds and money market instruments that support infrastructure projects that will create and sustain jobs. The fund has identified a number of projects in pursuit of the creation of decent work in South Africa. The contribution made by the fund comprises both commercial and socially responsible investment. This is an investment of R35 billion of the R52 billion portfolio. The UIF has also invested in the Industrial Development Corporation, known as IDC, through the purchase of a R2 billion bond during 2010, with the aim of creating and sustaining jobs. These funds are available to startup businesses, to provide a debt portion of expansionary acquisitions for existing businesses and to facilitate working capital-funded expansions.
The UIF has also taken further steps by setting aside R1 billion over the 2009-10 and 2013-14 medium-term period for schemes aimed at re-integrating the unemployed UIF beneficiaries back into employment. The scheme involves participation by various sector education and training authorities in reskilling the unemployed in critical scarce and soft skills.
The fund is also providing assistance to Productivity South Africa through the allocation of funding to the social plan. For the 2010-11 financial year, R48 million has been committed towards the social plan. In the 2011- 12 financial year we aim to save 20 000 jobs through the social plan interventions.
In the 2010-11 financial year the Compensation Fund, which caters for people injured on duty, processed claims and paid compensation benefits in the amount of R2,1 billion. In terms of medical claims, the fund paid 186 563 medical accounts in the 2010-11 financial year in the amount of R1,9 billion, as compared to 135 829 in the amount of R1,5 billion during the same period in 2009-10.
Revenue of R4,5 billion was raised in 2010-11. The increased capacity in debt collection yielded positive results, as R431 million in debts has been recovered. The Compensation Fund's total investments increased by R3,2 billion - from R23,3 billion to R26,5 billion - in the year under review. The Compensation Fund aims to increase the number of registered employers in the current financial year in order to improve revenue collection through employer assessments.
To promote a return to work and to develop skills and improved functionality of injured and diseased employees, the fund has begun developing an integrated comprehensive policy framework for rehabilitation, reintegration and return to work of its beneficiaries. This will require amendments to the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, and these amendments are projected to be promulgated in the 2014-15 financial year.
The implementation of the Compensation Fund turnaround strategy is at an advanced stage. This is aimed at improving the turnaround time of claims, bringing Compensation Fund services closer to the people through decentralisation and job creation.
As at the turn of the fourth quarter, our inspectors visited more than 192 000 workplaces across the country. Of the workplaces visited, 77% were found to be compliant with our labour laws. We are intensifying our efforts on inspection and enforcement as part of our commitment to ensure the creation of decent working conditions for workers, and, at the same time, to ensure a competitive environment under which businesses can operate.
The department remains focused on ensuring the highest level of compliance by companies. In this regard, notices have been issued to noncomplying employers. We have referred 295 cases to the Labour Court, and 415 employers to a Magistrate's court. We hope that those who flout the law will be successfully prosecuted.
Speeding up economic growth and transforming the economy to create decent work and sustainable livelihoods is the first priority of government for 2011 through to 2014. Decent work will feature strongly in all economic policies during the coming period. The last ANC conference held in 2007 resolved that the ANC-led government would make the creation of decent work opportunities and sustainable livelihoods the primary focus of our economy.
Decent work is defined by the International Labour Organisation, ILO, as being productive work for women and men in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Decent work involves opportunities for productive work; delivers a fair income; provides security in the workplace; provides social protection for workers and their families; offers better chances for personal and skills development; gives people freedom to express their concerns, to organise and to participate in decisions that affect their lives; and guarantees equal opportunities and equal treatment for all.
Our employment creation strategies must speak to the realities of the South African economy and labour market. Our priorities in the area of social protection must address the gaps that we find there. The South African Constitution, the Labour Relations Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act provide a strong floor of rights and standards. Equally, we have a very good framework in our legislation for governance and social dialogue, although we may need to find ways of strengthening our practice of social dialogue.
Our Constitution places an injunction on government and the democratic state to ensure equality between men and women, black and white, urban and rural, as well as the rich and poor. It is this constitutional ethos that drives the work of the Department of Labour. In other words, it is not possible for South Africa to speak of a well-developed society on the basis of equality and justice in isolation from improved economic efficiency and productivity, employment creation, sound labour relations, elimination of inequality and discrimination in the workplace, alleviation of poverty and unemployment, enhancement of occupational health and safety awareness and compliance in the workplace, as well as nurturing the culture of acceptance that worker rights are human rights.
Essentially, this is what the mandate of the Department of Labour is all about. The policies and programmes that regulate the labour market are developed in consultation with our social partners. In its assumption of administration, through the President, government placed a priority on job creation through meaningful economic transformation and inclusivity. This is a task that has to be undertaken with dedication, commitment and a higher level of vigour. It would require that the Department of Labour, together with its social partners, labour and business, and community constituency, be focused and remain committed to achieving common goals.
It is for this reason that the Department of Labour will focus on the following priorities in the 2011-12 financial year. Firstly, we are going to review and submit to Parliament amendments to labour legislation, that is the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Employment Equity Act, the Labour Relations Act and a new Employment Services Bill. Our aim is to create a policy framework to promote decent work, and a policy framework for the provision of public employment services which will enable government to maintain a database of job seekers and job opportunities, as well as matching and placing of job seekers.
During the 2011-12 financial year the department will consult with stakeholders and, on conclusion, present the Bills to Parliament. The Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993, predates the Constitution of the Republic and requires updating in certain areas. The department intends to repeal this legislation and replace it with new occupational health and safety legislation to ensure a safe and healthy working environment and to protect workers against hazards associated with their work or use of machinery.
Secondly, we will be strengthening the Labour Inspectorate to monitor and enforce compliance with legislation to ensure that decent work principles are adhered to, and address vulnerability in the labour market. The department was allocated R60 million in the two outer years of the Medium- Term Expenditure Framework by National Treasury for the creation of additional inspectors' posts at specialist level. That is also what has created a lot of noise around the Employment Equity Act. We are going to make sure that our workers are protected through that piece of legislation.
Thirdly, we will reduce inequality and discrimination in the labour market through effective compliance monitoring and enforcement of the Employment Equity Act. This Act is currently under review. Fourthly, we are going to improve access to social security services provided in terms of the Compensation Fund and UIF, including reintegration of workers into the labour market. Lastly, we are going to ensure that the mandate of the department is rooted in our provinces through our labour centres and provincial offices. It is for this reason that we are putting an emphasis on ensuring capacity-building of our operations at both provincial and labour centre levels. As such, capacity would mainly be biased towards inspection and enforcement as well as efficient and effective roll-out of services by the UIF and Compensation Fund.
These areas of priority are a direct effort in improving the policy framework that governs and regulates the labour market, as doing so is key to laying the basis and foundation for greater equity and reduction of inequalities.
Order, Minister. Your time is up.
Chairperson, can you take a few minutes from the time allocated to me at the end so that I can finish this? Those who will be debating won't be aware of what I was going to say and they will raise issues that I would have covered. However, it's up to you as the Chairperson; you have the powers.
Well, you'll have less time when you conclude; we will deduct the minutes you use.
Thank you, Chairperson.
These areas of priority are a direct effort in improving the policy framework that governs and regulates the labour market, as doing so is key to laying the basis and foundation for greater equity and reduction of inequalities.
As part of our ongoing effort and contribution in bringing about a society on the basis of equality, fairness and social justice, our branches and public entities within the department have outlined plans to contribute to creating jobs, saving jobs in identified distressed companies and sectors, and placing in excess of 2 million job seekers in jobs from 2011-12 through to 2013-14. Our interventions as the department will include training and reskilling of workers in order to give them capacity to compete in the open economy. Funding will be provided through the Compensation Fund and the UIF. The UIF set aside R1 billion in the 2009-10 finaancial year, as I have said previously.
I also want to say that the public employment service branch of the department has identified a number of interventions aimed at creating and sustaining jobs. The highlights are as follows. The department aims to refer 450 000 job seekers for placement in jobs and other opportunities in the 2011-12 financial year, and in excess of 2 million job seekers will be referred for placement in opportunities over the 2011-12 period.
There are 151 000 people from designated groups, who will be placed in training and income-generating opportunities over the period 2011-12 to 2015-16. The total targeted group comprises 10 000 young people, 15 000 women and 4 000 persons with disabilities. The sheltered employment factories, which fall under the public employment Service branch, aim to increase orders for goods, leading to the creation of jobs for 3 500 people with disabilities over the period 2011-12 to 2015-16.
About 3 200 learners will be recruited over the period to participate in the sheltered employment factories' centre of excellence, with a view to training them as members placed in both the sheltered employment factories and in the open economy.
In addition to contributing to job creation, the strategic plan of the department outlines a number of ways in which the department intends improving its efficiency and service delivery. I will not mention all of them, but I just want to say that one of them is to eliminate the vacancies in the department. We have already employed the director-general of the department - whom I want to introduce to this House - and that is Mr Nkosinathi Nhleko. Mr Nhleko has undertaken to eliminate the vacancy rate within this financial year. I must also say that in October 2011 we will be hosting the International Labour Organisation conference here in our country. Furthermore, the department has been allocated R1,98 billion for the 2011-12 financial year. This represents an 11% increase on the 2010 baseline.
In closing, let us recall the words of our former President, Nelson Mandela, who called on all of us in his first state of the nation address as President of South Africa "to regard labour as a resource and not a cost. As the economy begins to recover and as we strive to make 2011 the year of job creation, we would be well advised to bear in mind that in creating the many new jobs that government is committed to, we cannot treat labour only as a cost factor. We need to always remember that labour is a very special sector of our society. Workers, like all of us, are entitled to rights, to dignity in the workplace and to conditions of decent work.
Chairperson, allow me to congratulate all the political parties and their supporters that participated in the recent local government elections on the wonderful manner in which they conducted themselves during the election campaign period and on the election day.
I take this opportunity to thank members of the Select Committee on Labour for their valuable contribution as well as the sterling leadership provided by the committee chairperson, hon Priscilla Themba. I also thank Mr Sam Morotoba for the good leadership he has provided to the department, and the senior departmental managers for their continued support.
Hon members of this House, our efforts as the Department of Labour are a contribution towards honour and dignity for our people. Thus I put forward before you the budget of the Department of Labour, which I highly commend. I thank you. [Applause.]
Order! Hon members, you should remember that we are voting after this debate - there is a Bill. So, if you go out, please make sure that you come back.
Chairperson, hon Minister, hon members, I wish to welcome back the hon Minister to this House. In Setswana we say: Maropeng go a boelwa, go sa boelweng ke teng. [People will always go back to where they came from.]
In acknowledging and welcoming the Budget Vote of the Department of Labour, we need to stress that the department must be seen to be at the cutting edge of our national job creation programme. The five key job drivers, as articulated in the New Growth Path, need to be on the political radar of the department as it tracks progress and challenges in these areas.
Today's policy debate must therefore be about the political orientation of the department, positioning itself operationally to ensure that it contributes towards the 5 million jobs we have resolved to create.
This will not spontaneously happen, and in examining the Budget Vote we need to assure ourselves that the Vote addresses the following. Firstly, does the Budget Vote speak to the ANC policy priorities that were outlined in this year's January 8 Statement and the January NEC lekgotla? Secondly, does the Budget Vote address itself to the Cabinet lekgotla priorities and those that were articulated in the President's state of the nation address in February?
Thirdly, can we see this Budget Vote advancing the principles of adequacy and equity in the allocation of the funds to respective programmes? Fourthly, does this Budget Vote reflect that an impact assessment has been done of the department's performance in previous years and that this year's Budget Vote is a reflection of renewed focus on key priorities of both policy and assessment?
The challenge we face is that we live in one of the most unequal societies in the world and this objective reality means that Budget Votes must address themselves to these contradictions. It is a country defined by immense contradictions. The poverty and inequality trajectory are just some of the issues faced by our people. In order to address these challenges, the state of the nation address has declared 2011 the year of job creation. Government departments will have to align their respective programmes with this objective.
Whilst it is true that jobs in the formal sector have grown by 170 000 in the last assessed quarter, the reality is that we lost more jobs than that in the same quarter. So we are still dealing with a net loss in jobs per quarter and this must be cause for great concern. Certainly, whilst 80% of jobs in the Republic are to be found in the private sector and government has been increasing posts, it is to the private sector that greatest attention must be paid in order to create jobs, and if there is reluctance, to analyse the reasons for this.
As a signatory to the International Labour Organisation, South Africa's commitment to job creation will also be informed by the international organisation's decent work campaign. The goal of this campaign is to promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.
This Budget Vote debate will indeed address major areas, for example: exploitation of women's vulnerability from the gender perspective - hence casualisation and feminisation of labour; our labour laws and membership of BRIC - which means our relationship with China and their labour practices has to be realised without missing economic growth opportunities; and racial inequality, reflected in our wage distribution, of professionals, despite our hard-fought freedoms - professional associations have to work with labour to strengthen these.
The industrial age, although important, has been surpassed by the knowledge economy age, with its information and communications technology, and computerisation within the e-environments introducing less labour-intensive requirements in the market and, therefore, a new dynamic of the "new worker" concept. With regard to people with disabilities, the programme designed for such people is in place, but what is required is the upscaling of implementation and the reduction of fronting, especially in tendering and business procurement areas.
The government has performed well in integrating these programmes and introducing programme reviews. The essence of equality and respect for the Bill of Rights, as enshrined in our Constitution and expounded in the Freedom Charter, will be realised. We need to commend the department and Minister for such an important step. Our labour laws, compared with other countries, are sensitive to workers in the main. Although in some economic quarters there is a perception that we repel investors, our social and political history dictates the kind of social redress laws that we have adopted fundamentally.
Chair, enforcement is only an overall environment, and awareness is not targeted towards the white-collar corporate environment, where exploitation, violation and victimisation occur in a sophisticated, covert and threatening manner, with corporates using their financial power to hire top-class companies to deal with legal challenges by courageous employees or professionals.
An area that will be important for the Minister is working closely with unions that deal with lower-paid employees. The Minister has already responded to this in her speech. Public awareness, especially of youth and child labour, and of the Budget Vote on Labour is crucial. Unicef has been calling for this. We see less prosecution of those who exploit our children. Hence, especially in farm areas, foreigners or persons without proper official papers get exploited with their children as labourers.
Chair, the questions we need to ask ourselves should address the sustainability of our interventions; quality assurance on compliance measures; management of corruption and temptations for such in our system of compliance; and constant policy reviews to align our interventions and regulatory measures to change in the economic climate without compromising our social redress agenda.
In conclusion, labour inspection is a key element of any labour administration system for enduring the implementation of labour policies, providing feedback and allowing for a readjustment of these policies, if necessary. In recent years the importance of labour inspection in promoting decent work has been widely recognised. We welcome the increase that has been budgeted for the posts of labour inspectors. Yet in many countries the changing world of work, with its new employment patterns, has been accompanied by reduced government intervention in the workplace.
It is important that we take note of people such as the groups of men who stand on street corners, waiting for bakkies to collect them. These men are breadwinners and family men - let us always remember to respect and protect their rights. That is why the President in his state of the nation address focuses on job creation and skills development. Therefore we see the Minister of Labour as a shop steward for the men and women who are seeking the decent work and job creation that the ANC speaks of.
It is equally vital to note the women who beg for domestic work. Some open our dustbins or scramble for food on the dumping grounds. This is why, in its elections manifesto, the ANC focuses on decent work and job creation, together with skills development. The challenge facing all of us, in particular the private sector, is to create decent work and provide skills and opportunities for our people. The Select Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises supports this Budget Vote. Thank you.
Chairperson, President Zuma declared the year of 2011 the year of job creation. We find ourselves three months into the new financial year and one thing stands out clearly: We have seen no visible attempt but only loud noises in the attempt to improve the operations of the Department of Labour to make sure that it is geared for this goal.
In fact, all government departments are yet to align their respective programmes to the stated national goals of 5 million jobs in 2010, and to those of the International Labour Organisation's Decent Work Campaign for women to obtain opportunities for productive work in conditions of freedom, equality, security and human dignity. Farmworkers continue to be mistreated in the agricultural sector in this country. In fact, as recently as in last month's municipal elections, various farmworkers were prohibited from exercising their constitutional right to go and vote. The department has been quiet since.
Cope calls for legislative changes from commerce and industry to amend a number of prohibitive labour laws that are in the way of new investments ... [Interjections.]
Order, hon member! Hon Jacobs?
Chairperson, is it parliamentary for the hon member to address this Council with his hand in his pocket?
Hon member, that is neither out of order nor unparliamentary. Continue, hon member.
My father has a fishing coat.
The first problem we see in the department's strategic planning for 2011-12 is the lack of short-term targets in all its priority areas and programmes. The second problem is the department's lack of political will to restore run-down offices and labour centres around the country. The budget this year does not reflect any funds set aside for these purposes. Oversight visits done by parliamentarians to the Mpumalanga, North West, Gauteng and Limpopo offices revealed that the offices were dilapidated and staff morale was very low.
Furthermore, the 2011-12 budget doesn't include funds set aside for an increase in the department's mobile units. How effective have they been? The record on the ground does not support the service delivery objectives of the department. The sub-programme on the compliance, monitoring and enforcement budget decreased by 6,8% from last year. The budget for inspection and enforcement services only increased by 0,65% from last year. The sub-programme on the training of staff has gone up only by 0,5% while the budget for the sub-programme on registration, inspection and enforcement services is much more than key sub-programmes.
The department has not set target dates for compliance with a number of its programmes, including areas as critical as the amendments to occupational health and safety in its strategic plan 2011-12, and the financial and human resource implications of the Employment Services Bill. The definition of decent work still eludes the department, as do guidelines on how public employment services should comply with the relevant legislation supporting the definition of decent work. This is where the labour brokers have come in handy - by providing a workforce that would otherwise fall through the employment cracks.
The Auditor-General's report of 2009-10 pointed out that public-private partnerships, PPPs, are poorly recorded and undocumented, as are some assets and documents of the department. How can this department specifically ... [Time expired.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon members of the NCOP, members of the public and guests, the President of South Africa, hon Jacob Zuma, announced in his state of the nation address on 10 February 2011 that there will be millions more jobs for the people in South Africa. The hon Minister of Economic Development, Ebrahim Patel, announced in his budget speech on 12 April 2011 that the New Growth Path sets out the vision that there will be 5 million new jobs by 2020. That places employment at the centre of government's work and policies. But the state can't be the main driver of jobs over the next decade. There simply isn't enough money for that. Conditions need to be created for the private sector to flourish and to encourage the private sector to create jobs. That won't happen if the proposed legislation dealing with labour brokers is passed, as it will force companies to provide benefits for temporary workers.
South Africa faces a severe problem of persistent structural unemployment. This results not only from low growth but more importantly from the pattern of growth. More rapid economic growth is an important objective. But at any given level of growth, the economy needs to become more labour demanding.
Sustainable growth in job creation to reach government's aim of halving South Africa's unemployment by 2014 will depend on new and bigger business investment. The problem is that government will have to create 2 million new jobs in the public sector, which will cost government around R25 billion. The private sector will have to take responsibility for 3 million jobs, if around 5 million new jobs are to be created by 2020. That puts new emphasis on entrepreneurship, which is not one of South Africa's strong points.
However, successful entrepreneurs are so important that universities will increasingly have to make more entrepreneurial choices available in their selection of courses. All departments had a budget for job creation. Where are the jobs? Where are the trained youth in different departments? Where are the investments in the country to create jobs for all the millions who want to make a contribution to the economy of South Africa?
More development in the private sector will create more sustainable jobs for the people of South Africa. The shortage of schooled and skilled labour, which stands at 37%, is for the fifth year in a row the single biggest factor handicapping South Africa's growth in development. Grant Thornton's latest International Business Report shows that South Africa has 30% too many regulations and this overregulation is also handicapping growth in the South African economy.
Hon Minister, what about the rural areas in South Africa? The DA believes, as many people in our country do, that the relationship with BRICS countries, which include South Africa, will have the outcome of more jobs for the poor and the disadvantaged people in South Africa. With the support of these countries, there must be an opportunity for government to develop and create jobs in the rural areas. Government can't underestimate the importance of development of these areas in our country. We must keep our people in the rural areas for the sake of stability and to prevent depopulation.
Given the above, I couldn't understand Mr Jimmy Manyi's statement about removing certain race groups to different provinces in South Africa. This will lead to more depopulation of rural areas and the overcrowding of urban areas, not to mention the unhappiness of people being forced to leave their homes for a new destination.
Statistics SA's Quarterly Labour Force Survey shows a gain of 133 000 jobs in the year up to the first quarter of 2011 in the category of community and social services, which is mostly government created. However, total job gains were 40 000, meaning that a total of 93 000 jobs were lost in the private sector over this period. For government and state utilities to provide jobs is expensive for the taxpayer.
At public corporations, it could be argued that job growths could reflect spending on infrastructure by Transnet and Eskom, and that is a good thing. But this spending is highly capital-intensive, with little spin-off in the form of job growth. The jobs wouldn't necessarily fall under the public sector company; that company would be shown as the employer. Construction job numbers have fallen.
The state's role in employment creation would still be acceptable if it happened at a low cost. But Public Service unions have asked for a 9% salary increase this year - more than double South Africa's inflation rate. According to the Manpower survey, 14% of South African employers are struggling to fill essential vacancies. The jobs most in demand locally are drivers, machine operators, accounting staff, supervisors, health professionals and skilled traders.
On the oversight visits to labour centres by the select committee it was shocking to see how many people were sitting there, waiting for a possible job. Some of the centres handled more than 300 people a day. Between government and the private sector there is a responsibility to get more projects going all over South Africa. Let's improve the infrastructure by uplifting the quality of roads, upgrading rail lines, improving water supply by building more storage dams in our river systems and training people and letting them work in teams. For example, let them deforest the alien forests in South Africa. [Time expired.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon members and our guests up there, in its 2009 election manifesto the ANC identified the creation of decent work opportunities and sustainable livelihoods as one of the five strategic developmental priority areas for the next five years and said that these priorities should be tackled with all the means at our disposal, using the resources of government, the vision of the Freedom Charter and the energy and commitment of our people.
The ANC's 2010 January 8 Statement again reiterated its determination to forge ahead with the task of reconstructing and developing our country by speeding up growth and by creating more jobs, decent work opportunities and sustainable livelihoods. The ANC's 2011 January 8 Statement indicated that 2011 was the year for job creation.
Ndi khou mangadzwa nga tshiambi tsho ambaho lwa u fhedzisela, tshi khou gungula nga ha u sikiwa ha mishumo. Vha tou nga a vha ngo zwi pfa zwe Phuresidennde Vho Jacob Zuma vha amba zwone. Sa mura?o wa ?ihoro ?ivhusi, ndi na vhu?anzi ha uri Minisi?a Vho Olifant sa mufumakadzi vhane vha fara lufhanga nga vhuhalini, vha ?o kikirika ri na vho, na vhashumi vhavho, uri mishumo hei i sikiwe. Hezwo ri na vhu?anzi nazwo uri zwi ?o itea. U sikiwa ha mishumo ndi ganzhe na khiyi siani ?a u tsireledza mishumo. (Translation of Tshiven?a paragraphs follows.)
[I am surprised by the last speaker, who is worried about the creation of jobs. It seems the speaker did not understand what President Jacob Zuma said. As a member of the ruling party, I am sure Minister Oliphant, as a woman who holds a knife on its cutting blade, will together with us and her colleagues ensure that these jobs are created. This we are sure will happen.
To create jobs is a padlock and a key as far as job security is concerned.]
Job security refers to the opportunities that employees have to build a career. A career is central to the concept of decent work. Much informal work can best be described by the term "job", as opposed to "employment" or "career". People suffer from discrimination in the world of work which not only violates most basic human rights, but has wider social and economic consequences.
Discrimination stifles opportunities, wasting the human talent needed for economic progress and accentuates social tensions and inequalities. Combating discrimination is an essential part of promoting decent work, and success on this front is felt well beyond the workplace. To the poor and unemployed, decent work in the final instance sums up the aspirations in their working lives - their aspirations for opportunities and income; their rights, voice and recognition; their family stability and personal development; fairness and gender equality. Ultimately, the various dimensions of decent work underpin peace in communities and society and should reflect the concerns of government, workers and employees.
In the 2009 manifesto President Jacob Zuma declared that we have placed the creation of decent work at the centre of our efforts to address poverty and inequality, and all government policies and programmes are meant to speak to this goal. The Department of Labour has clearly paid heed to this call, as can be observed from the Budget Vote being debated today. It is an objective of the Department of Labour's public employment services programme to reduce unemployment by registering and placing unemployed people in decent work through the following: providing free recruitment and selection services for at least 70% of reported government posts at levels 2 to 9 and selected positions in state-owned enterprises, and municipalities on an annual basis; filling at least 50% of job opportunities on the public employment services database within 60 days of their registration on the system; supporting a multipronged strategy to reduce youth unemployment through youth training and employment creation innovation programmes for at least 100 000 young people by March 2012; making a submission of 200 recommendations to Home Affairs on migrant, corporate and general work permit applications by March 2012; and providing career counselling and employability enhancement programmes for 50% of referred work seekers by 2011-12.
Another objective is to contribute to the implementation of the framework for South Africa's response to the international economic crisis through, firstly, approving within 30 days 80% of recommended applications received from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and the sector education and training authority for the training layoff scheme and the social plan programme; and secondly, through disbursing funding for at least 50% of approved applications within 30 days of approval.
Labour also facilitates the employment of 500 veterans and people with disabilities per year by ensuring that the orders and sales of service products such as sheltered employment factories are increased by 30% per year. Furthermore, it facilitates the achievement of employment equity targets for disability by training 600 learners with disabilities per year for employment in the mainstream economy.
The public employment services programme is comprised of nine subprogrammes covering a wide field of activities in support of this important mission of the Department of Labour. The subprogrammes manage delegated administrative and financial responsibilities; facilitate the registration of employers and regulate private employment agencies; register work seekers and retrenched workers -636 140 job seekers were registered on the database in 2009-10 at an estimated cost of R18,1 million; and transfer funds to national councils which promote the employment of people with disabilities, youth and women in collaboration with sheltered employment factories and other relevant bodies, etc.
In the interests of realising the creation of decent work, the Department of Labour is continuing to regulate nonemployment and employment, and contribute to an environment that encourages investment and is conducive to economic growth and the reduction of poverty. Effective compliance monitoring and enforcement mechanisms will be developed and implemented to ensure compliance with all legislation and to give effect to the decent work agenda.
In conclusion, with global unemployment at historically high levels, there has never been a greater need to put employment at the centre of economic and social policies. Even among those who work, the extent of poverty underscores the need for a far greater number of productive and decent jobs.
Ndi ngazwo ndi tshi ri Mugaganyagwama wa 18 ndi wonewone. Vho Minisi?a, ri khou humbela uri vha ?hogomelese mabulasini. Hu na tshikanda milamila nga n?hani ha hone vhusiwana. Hu na mashumele a kon?aho sa zwi?a mulovha ngei Bethala, ri tshi pala ma?abula nga zwan?a. Ro vha ri tshi shuma ra bva mabiko. Zwi tshi khou vhavha vhukuma.
Ho dovha ha vha na tshikanda milamila, tsha u nkombetshedza u ya khethoni, u ya u khetha mahoro ane nda si a fune, ndi tshi khou ofha u pandelwa mushumoni nga rabulasi. Hezwo zwithu vha tea u zwi dzhiela n?ha ngauri zwi vha zwi tshi kha ?i tsikeledza mihumbulo ya vhathu vhashu. Zwi ita uri vha vhe na mitsiko na ma?we malwadze manzhi. Ri a zwi ?ivha zwauri Vho Minisi?a sa mufumakadzi, vha ?o zwi kona. Ndo livhuwa. Aa! (Translation of Tshiven?a paragraphs follows.)
[That is why I say Budget Vote No 18 is the right one. To the Minister, we ask that you should consider the farms. There is a lot of pressure because of poverty. There are unbearable working conditions like those we experienced in Bethal in previous times, where we dug potatoes with our hands. We used to toil and sweat. It was very painful.
There was also pressure which forced me to go and vote for parties I did not want. I was afraid I would be dismissed from work by the farmer. These things should be considered because they still suppress our people's thinking. These things caused them to suffer from depression and many other diseases. We know that the Minister as a woman would do that. I thank you. Greetings!] UMntwana M M M ZULU: Sihlalo, mhlonishwa Ngqongqoshe Shenge Sokwalisa, ngithi sekwaba ngumkhutshana esesiwejwayele ukuthi uma kuqala unyaka kumele sibale ukuthi izinkece sizozicosha kanjani kubaqashi bethu.
Ngendlela okukake ngayo dadewethu, ngingasho ukuthi ufuze oyihlomkhulu oMnyamane, ababetshengisa ukuhola ngendlela ongakaze uyibone ngoba bafake bonke abamele amalungelo abasebenzi ukuthi iMinyango yakho ivule amasango, ningakwazi ukuthi nixoxe ngezinto ezithikameza abantu bakithi.
Abantu abaqasha abantu ngamatoho, lezo izinto mhlonishwa Ngqongqoshe okufuneka ukuthi uzibheke impela ngoba ziyabahlukumeza abantu bakithi. Kuzo zonke lezi zinkalo, nathi laphaya emakhaya esinabantu abasiza ezindlini kodwa sibaholela ubala olunjengo bala. Yizinto zonke lezo okufuneka uzilungise eMnyangweni wakho.
Ngeze ngakhuluma ngoba kukhona okuhlinzekele intsha engasebenzi, ubalile izibalo ukuthi zimi kanjani. Ngabe ngangithanda ukushaya isijingi nje esinganaso umphumela walutho, ngoba yizinto zonke lezo ozikakile.
Akufuneki ukuthi wesabe ukuthi unikezwe lo Mnyango; unikezwe lo Mnyango ngoba wethenjiwe ukuthi uzokwazi ukuwuhola uwuyise lapho kufanele uye khona. Kufuneka sikwethembe njengezakhamizi zaleli lizwe, ukuthi izakhamizi zakithi ezimpisholo, ezihluphekile kakhulu, kanye nezimhlophe uzokwazi ukuziphumelelisa kufezeke amaphupho azo. Ubheke nakuwo uhulumeni uqobo ngoba usaqasha abantu ngamatoho; ufake uswazi nakuye uhulumeni uqobo, ngoba nguwena ongafaka uswazi ukuthi uhlelembele wonke umuntu. Ubheke futhi neziKhungo zomphakathi, nalezo zikhungo kudingeka ukuthi uzibheke nanoma kuthiwa azimele. Nazo zinako ukuhlukumeza abantu bakithi eNingizimu Afrika.
Kuwumthwalo othweswe wona ntombi yakithi ukuthi ubabheke ukuthi abantu bakithi bayameleleka. Ngiyabonga. (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)
[Prince M M M ZULU: Chairperson, hon Minister Shenge Sokwalisa at the beginning of the year we are accustomed to having to work out how much money we are going to accrue from our employers.
The way you covered it I can say that you take after your grandfather Mnyamane, who had very rare leadership skills, because they influenced all those who are representing workers' rights so that all the departments should open their doors, and so that you cannot talk about the issues affecting our people.
The hon Minister has to deal with the issues regarding employers who employ people on a part-time basis because that affects our people from all walks of life, not to mention the domestic workers who are paid peanuts. Those are the things that your department needs to correct.
I should not say anything with regard to the unemployed youth because you have the statistics. I would be making a noise for no apparent reason, because you have covered those things.
You must not be afraid that you were given this department, because they have faith in you and you are going to steer it in the right direction. As the community we have to trust that you are going to help our underprivileged black and white communities reach their goals.
You have to look into the government too, because they still employ people on a part-time basis; you have to be strict with government too because you have the power to be strict to prepare for everybody. You have to monitor the community centres too, even though they are said to be private. They too abuse the people of South Africa.
It is your responsibility to make sure that you stand up for our people. Thank you.]
Sihlalo, ngizothanda ukukhumbuza amaqembu aphikisayo ikakhulukazi i-DA, ukuthi ezinkathini eziningi benza izinto bese beyalibala ngoba bengoLibala.
Eminyakeni eyedlule i-ANC yathi kuhulumeni wogimbela kwesakhe makayeke ubandlululo bakhe amathuba emisebenzi. Impendulo nangempela ngokungananazi baletha izimonyo ezifana no-Ambi kanye noKarro; amakha, o-cc noma i-country club. Yingoba babecabanga ukuthi i-ANC ifuna abantu bazimonyonge babemhlophe.
Izolo lokhu i-ANC yaphinda futhi yathi ohlelweni lokubuyisana makukhuthazwe ukuqamba kabusha izakhiwo, imigwaqo, njalo njalo futhi makubuyiselwe emakhaya izinsalela noma amathambo amaqhawe kanye nabanye abashonela ngaphesheya - okufaka phakathi nomama u-Sarah Baartman.
I-DA yaphendula yathi loko kuzobangela izindleko ezinkulu. Uma sibabuza ukuthi nangempela uSarah Baartman angalethwa ekhaya na? impendulo kwathiwa, ingabe sizomvusa na? I-ANC yase isebenzisa ubuningi bayo eNdlini yesiShayamthetho ukufeza amaphupho ezakhamuzi zakuleli - okufaka phakathi umphakathi wamaKhaladi, abaMhlophe, wamaNdiya, kanye nabanye abaMpisholo
Indaba kaJimmy Manyi angazi noma bekwenziwa ngoba bekuyisikhathi sokhetho yini, kodwa kuyiqiniso ukuthi ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Mr M P SIBANDE: Chairperson, I would like to remind the opposition parties, especially the DA, that in most cases they do things and then forget because they are forgetful.
Some years ago the ANC told the government that it did not have the interests of all the people at heart and to stop discrimination and create jobs. Their response of course without a doubt was to bring face ointment such as Ambi and Karro, and perfumes like Country Club. They thought the ANC wanted people to lighten their complexion.
The ANC recently made a call in its reconciliation programme to encourage the renaming of buildings, roads etc, and to return the remains of the heroes including those who died abroad, such as Ms Sarah Baartman.
The DA responded by saying that this would be too costly. When we asked them whether Sarah Baartman could be brought home, instead we were asked if we would bring her back to life. The ANC then used its majority rule in the National Assembly to fulfil the dreams of the citizens of this country, which includes the coloured community, whites, Indians and all the other black people.
As for the issue of Jimmy Manyi, I'm not sure whether it was because of the local elections but the truth is that ...]
... the ANC is the only organisation which is concerned about any race - not you, as was being projected by the media. I will leave it there. In the private sector, it was you who laid the foundation of what is happening now because the budget we are dealing with now ... [Interjections.]
Hon member, address the Council through me.
Chairperson ...
... ngisafuna ukuthi ngiqondise okunye ku-Cope, i-Cope inenkinga le emuva ekusungulweni kwayo ngoba uMnu De Beer angikhumbuli ebakhona ekuhambeleni amakhaya. Mhlawumbe nge-remote control uyakwazi. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[... I just want to set the record straight in respect of Cope. Cope has had a problem since its inception, because I don't remember Mr De Beer doing home visits. Maybe he is able to do that via a remote control.]
Since its establishment in 1996 the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, CCMA, has rewritten the dispute resolution landscape in South Africa. It has established itself as a defender and protector of rights, freedoms and responsibilities. It has emerged as one of the pre- eminent post-apartheid institutions. It is a role model on social dialogue, partnerships and collaboration.
Through you, Chairperson, I will remind you in one debate of how the DA was funded and founded. [Interjections.]
The CCMA embodies the best of our collective will. It has become the platform for us to face our own problems and challenges, and enabled us to deal with very serious and bitter conflicts and adversarialism that plagued our labour market.
The CCMA has set standards of conduct and performance well suited to our emerging economy. The CCMA is what we have struggled for and reflects social and economic progress and the maturity of our democracy. The international community, in particular the International Labour Organisation, ILO, and its director-general, holds the CCMA up as a world example of true labour reform and social dialogue.
The CCMA has led the way to a labour market that affords every working person equality before the law, respect and dignity in the workplace, within a framework of universal labour rights forged to our own particular needs and economic circumstances. The CCMA has carved out a robust balance between what is just in our society and what is necessary for continued growth and development.
Sihlalo, awubabheke sebebhocobele. [Chairperson, look at how down-hearted they are.]
The difficult business of balancing universally accepted labour rights with our own social and economic imperatives of balancing social justice with the requirements of economic progress fell in the first instance to those who participated in the process of crafting and drafting the legislation that led to the establishment of the CCMA.
The CCMA represents a durable social partnership translated into practice and action. Social partnership is often fragile and frequently elusive. However, it is a working arrangement which our democracy and national democratic revolution require. It is critical, as we enter a new economic growth path, that the concept of a sound and equitable social partnership is deepened, because this lies at the economic heart of the success of our future growth and prosperity.
The CCMA is a model that has processed approximately 10 000 cases a month, 500 per day, in every corner of our country, with a combined resolution rate of over 70%. By any indicator in dispute resolution, the CCMA has proven its strength. The benefits it has brought to the workplace, the culture it has inspired and the efficiencies it has introduced into our labour market are incalculable.
While we share in the benefit of an institution such as the CCMA, it is frequently approached by many countries and institutions to assist in the development of their equivalent dispute resolution agencies. Since its inception in 1996 it has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of men and women in its rulings, based on the values that underpin the CCMA.
What certainly has come up in the years of the CCMA's existence has been the need for review of areas in our legal practice. Important work is already being done in dispute-prevention and institution-building, but if the CCMA is to meet the anticipated increase in its case load within the existing constraints ...
On a point of order, Chairperson: I would like to know if it is parliamentary for a member of the ANC to keep his eyes closed for a very long time, if he is not sleeping. [Laughter.]
Continue, hon Sibande.
I hope my one minute will come back. The challenges of service delivery as the CCMA grows in size and volume are a reality, with mounting logistical challenges. The CCMA's case load has already exceeded expectations, not only in terms of the increasing volume of cases, but also in terms of their complexity, as a result of the rising body of legal precedents bearing upon the adjudication process. There has long been a debate about the nature of what these legal precedents present as an important opportunity for the CCMA to review its methodology.
In the past year, ending February 2010, there were 158 000 more contributors on the database of the UIF, compared to the end of March 2009, amounting to 7,7 million workers. However, the UIF paid benefits to 746 342 beneficiaries in the total amount of R5,3 billion. This is a 71% increase in unemployment benefit payments when compared to the previous year. This is a clear indication of the impact of the current economic crisis and job losses of the past year, as indicated earlier.
The UIF has also allocated a sum of R2 billion to the Industrial Development Corporation to enable it to help companies in distress. During these difficult economic circumstances the presence of a reliable social protection system becomes a necessity.
It is thus important to have measures in place to cushion the effects of harsh economic conditions. For the year ending March 2009, there were 300 000 more contributors - 7,6 million. The committee supports the Budget Vote. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Chairperson, I hope next time ngokuzayo amalungu akho ngeke angigqabele [your members will not use muthi against me].
I want to respond to some of the questions because eminye imibuzo isiphenduliwe ngamanye amalungu ahloniphekile [other questions have been responded to by the hon members].
There was a question from the chairperson of the select committee. He was asking whether the budget talks to the ANC priorities, the Cabinet legotla priorities of impact and policy assessment and job creation. My answer is yes. If the chairperson looks at the strategic plan of the department, he will see that it is based on the Polokwane resolutions, the 2009 ANC election manifesto and also those of the ANC National General Council. That is why we have those proposed amendments before the National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac. It derives from those policies of the ANC.
On the issue of job creation and our contribution, which came from hon De Beer and also from the DA member, we have a branch that deals specifically with the registration of jobs seekers, gives career guidance to first-time work seekers and also matches and places those people in jobs.
Regarding the UIF and compensation, it is part of retraining, particularly of people who were retrenched, and compensation ibhekelela labo abalimale besemsebenzini, iphinde ibhekelele nalabo abagulayo ukuthi bakwazi ukuthola imisebenzi elula abakwazi ukuyimela [is for those who are injured on duty, and looks after those who are sick so that they can get lighter jobs which they can perform with ease].
So those are the programmes that we as the department are focusing on. Also, when members look at our priorities as the department, they talk to certain questions that hon members have asked. I believe that hon members will have enough time to go through the strategic plan of the department, and they will see that whatever they raise is based on what is there in the strategic plan.
The hon member from Cope raised the issue of comparing the increase of the department's budget in several branch responsibilities. If the member recalls, during the medium-term review there were virements that were requested from the department and that is why you'll find that we don't have a big increase, because some of the funding was not utilised. That is why we have requested a virement. However, when you look at our programmes you will see that they talk to what we have as a department.
On the definition of decent jobs, we based those definitions on the International Labour Organisation, ILO, convention. I believe that the hon members will familiarise themselves with those documents.
On the issue of vacancies, the President has made it clear that all government departments must make sure that they fill posts, because they are funded. That is why we already have the director-general of the department today. If members read the newspapers, they will realise that posts are being advertised by the department to make sure we fill vacant posts.
I also want to touch on the issue of skills development, which is raised by members of the DA every now and then. I have said that the responsibility for skills development and training has now been given to the Department of Higher Education and Training. Members were raising certain issues that do not fall under the Department of Labour. I think that whenever we debate we must focus our debate on the department concerned, based on its responsibility. Members must not generalise, because I can't respond on behalf of other departments. I encourage hon members to go and observe because committees are open to the public.
On the issue of Jimmy Manyi, you must not come here and raise the issues that Jimmy Manyi raised as a "Department of the BMF". The BMF is the Black Management Forum. He was talking to black people. Those were coloureds and Indians. When he was talking to them, everybody was laughing in that meeting. I am not sure where you get that notion that Manyi was talking as if he didn't want a certain group in this country ... [Interjections.] I think you must shut up because I am responding to what you have just said. Yes, you have to. [Interjections.] I will not respond to his questions because he had enough time to raise questions. [Interjections.]
Chairperson, on a point of order: I believe it was a very crude word that was uttered at ...
Hon Faber, is that a point of order? What exactly is your point of order?
Chairperson, the member insulted a person by telling ... [Interjections.]
What is the point of order?
Rude words were used.
Which rude words?
The words were "shut up".
Hon Faber, can you please take your seat? That is not a point of order. Hon Minister, continue.
Chair, I want you to rule on the unbecoming language used by the hon Minister, when she said "shut up".
I have ruled already. That is not a point of order. Continue, Minister.
I think hon members must understand that I was once House Chairperson of the NCOP. I know the Rules of the NCOP. There are conventions in the way we run the NCOP and those words ...
Order, Minister. The words "shut up" mean "thula".
Exactly, yes.
There is nothing wrong with saying "thula". Continue, hon Minister.
I think people must be clear on the issue of Jimmy Manyi and whether they relate to him as the President of the BMF and as the former Director-General of the Department of Labour as well when he was talking about those things. Firstly, the proposals were already there. Secondly, on the issue that the member raised - that there will be no creation of jobs if we pass the proposed labour relations amendments - I think as Members of Parliament we have to wait for our own processes. This is still before Nedlac. Nedlac will decide whether these proposals will go on or not. We must wait for our own processes, so that we can then debate and decide whether to continue or not.
I also want to touch on the issue of labour brokers. The role of labour brokers is just to look at vacancies in the private sector, including the Public Service. They just place people; they don't create jobs. They place them. At the same time, there are labour brokers who have been abusing workers by not paying them what they are supposed to get. We are going to fight that. As the department, our responsibility is to protect the vulnerable workers.
Secondly, you are a member, and when you leave here, you will get a pension. But people who are employed by labour brokers will not even get a cent. Even if a person passes away, no one gets anything. I think we must be honest when we are saying that we protect the poor of this country, because when we want their votes, we say that we are protecting them. Thank you. [Applause.]
There is an announcement from the Director-General of the Department of Labour. We are all invited to the Old Assembly restaurant for dinner after we have finished. Members, we will finish in about 10 minutes because we have a vote to do on the Immigration Amendment Bill.
Debate concluded.