Mr Speaker, today the DA Youth unveiled a massive billboard in central Johannesburg. It reads: "Youth wage subsidy now" and forms part of the DA's campaign calling for the immediate implementation of the policy. Two years ago, the President announced the wage subsidy. Last year, R5 billion was allocated to fund its implementation on 1 April 2012. However, during this year's Budget Speech, Minister Pravin Gordhan had to back down on implementing it, because it is stuck at the National Economic Development Labour Advisory Council, Nedlac - but it is stuck at Nedlac because Cosatu is refusing to discuss it. This is unacceptable.
By opposing the youth wage subsidy, Cosatu is putting its own interests ahead of South Africa's 3,2 million jobless young people.
HON MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
It is too expensive and difficult to hire workers in our country but the wage subsidy would make it cheaper and easier without changing conditions of employment. This is why South Africa's second- biggest trade union federation, Fedusa, does not oppose the subsidy.
At www.youthwagesubsidynow.org, we calculated that the subsidy would already have benefited more than 250 000 people if it had been implemented two years ago. The DA Youth has a simple message for Cosatu: They will not sit back and allow them to hold South Africa to ransom. They will not allow them to kill job opportunities for young people who want to work. They want the youth wage subsidy implemented now. [Applause.]