Chairperson, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members, members of the public, ... . . . . maqabane, bantu bakuthi niphelele kunye nani basebenzi ... . . . [... comrades, fellow countrymen and members of the labour movement ...] . . .We need to examine the ability of the current bbudget to advance workers' rights, which, are an integral part of the human rights. I say this because we have just been celebratedting Human Rights Day only just yesterday.
Chairperson, the current bbudget is characterised as a pro-poor bbudget by all, because of its contribution on to the social wage. T Let us say the total social wage for poor households has certainly been certainly substantially increased for poor households, particularly when we take into account that individual households have access to more than one of the social grants.
One may go further and include the provision of schooling, as well as the school fees, free nutrition programmes, etc. The extension of learnership allowances that were introduced in 2002 for another five years as well as the impact thereof on the job training and, skills development is worth mentioning, and co as well as commeanding. The bbudget also commits itself in to a favourable allowance for companies that will include workers lieaving with disabilities.
However, a question arises: Was well and i.e. what about the private sector's role? Will the private sector respond positively by taking the advantage of these initiatives as articulated in their current bbudget?
There will be benefits for labour, duowing e to improvements ion the long- term retirement savings, as well as a further increase of in finance foring in skills development. It is worth mentioning that labour will be amongst the beneficiaries from of the joint initiative on priority skills acquisition, as contained as outlined in Asgisa.
GThe Government's emphasis on the labour- intensive infrastructure spending enhances the sharing aspects of Asgisa, because it has a potential to increase the elasticity of employment creation.
Mphathisihlalo, siyafuna ukusoloko sisiva qho ngonyaka minyaka lei ukubangakumbi xa uHhlahlo -lwabiwo- mali lungathi luyixhasa ngamandla imizamo yokudalwa kwemisebenzi. [Chairperson, we would like to hear every year that the budget considers job creation as one of its priorities.]
The ANC has long committed itself to decent work and living standards in the context of improved equity ownership and management skills, as well as access to opportunities. Hence the bbudget is also ensuresing that through the promulgation of the Co-operatives ActBill co-operatives, as a new entity in the economy, will also have financial support.
In spite of the noble achievements, as stated above, there are a few challenges lying ahead. Aamongst others these is firstly, the ability of the Expanded Public Works Programme to convert short- term jobs into permanent, sustainable, quality jobs. I say this simply because there is an irrefutable assertion that workers are central to the economy of any country. And definitely the ANC commits itself to the full productive potential of our economy to be productive, as we all know.
Tondly, the sustainability and the extension in of the sharing aspect of Asgisa is also another challenge. Whilst recognising that Asgisa is has the intention of sharing the wealth that will be created, we also, as the ANC persuades us to, have to assume collective responsibility for ensuring that such ideals are fully realised.
Kumnandi, bantu bakuthi, xa sisithi urRhulumente makenze le, naleya. ngoko ke Kodwa ke masibambane ngeezandla, sisebenzisane norhulumente wethu, siqinisekise ukuba ezi nkqubo siza nazoibeka, siyavumelaenae ngazo, kwaye ziyaphumelela. [It's easy for us to say that the government should do this and that. We need to hold hands and work together with the government to ensure that all our programmes come to fruition.]Oko sikwenze sisebenzisana norhulumente wethu.
The extent of access by the unemployed to government grants must still be on all of our agendas, particularly those of MPs when they engage in their constituency work.
There has to be enhanced understanding by labour of government programmes so that they can take advantage of such programmes. Of course, another challenge is whether the small business sector will pass on any of the current tax benefits to workers.
Mhlalingaphambili, ndithe makhe mandicaphule nje zibe mbalwa kwezi zinto zithunukayo. Nokuba ezinye izinto zintle, kodwa ke noko makhe sizijonge ezi ziza kukhe zisithi ntsho ngamehlo. [Chairperson, I thought I should mention just a few of the issues that have the main points of contention. Although some of the programmes have good intentions, we should consider those that may cause us problems in the future.]
Organised labour must also take advantage of the substantial budget expansion. I also strongly maintain that they should provide leadership and consistently ensure that all the workers benefit from such expansion. If our country is to ensure human rights for all, our budget has to be integral to that noble endeavour.
Just as we recognise the centrality of workers in our economy, so should we admire the government's recognition of labour, as articulated in the current budget. Let us, however, take outstanding achievements to even higher levels. Iyabulel' ilali. [Thank you.]