Chairperson, central to building the economy is the question of workers' rights, as outlined in our Constitution. This Vote has the delicate but decisive purpose to ensure that poor relations between employers and workers are dealt with in the most appropriate forums.
The basic rights to organise and to strike must remain entrenched if we are to ensure that we strengthen our existing labour relations framework. Negotiations and participative collective bargaining structures at national, industrial and workplace levels play an effective role in the development of our economy and contribute towards growth. Practices which fall outside of this framework can only lead to regression and complicate the need to grow the economy through providing decent work and job opportunities.
The opposition's declaration is underpinned by the fact that they have been unable to come to terms with the labour dispensation that the Constitution has brought into existence, and they instead fight the very spirit and intention of the Constitution that they profess to defend. The ANC supports this Budget Vote. [Applause.]
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Independent Democrats and Freedom Front Plus dissenting).
Vote No 19 - Social Development - put
Declarations of vote: