Hon Speaker, hon Deputy President, hon Ministers and members, I stand here on behalf of Cope to support the Bill and explain the reasons why we are doing this. [Applause.] This Bill's objectives are, inter alia, to provide for the establishment of schemes to promote the employment of young work seekers and other vulnerable persons. The other vital part of the objectives of the Bill is to provide registration for the and regulation of private employment agencies. The establishment of the Employment Services Board is welcomed by Cope although it should have come earlier.
The challenge of the poor and vulnerable workers is a challenge which can only be ameliorated by having access to institutions that can link them with potential work opportunities without having to pay for the services. Cope hopes that the Employment Services Board will not be another institution which will be another rubber stamp of the ANC, but that it will be constituted by objective South Africans, whether ANC members or not, who will understand their legislative responsibility. All South Africans, irrespective of their political affiliation, colour, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or age, will have the same opportunity to serve the country. The challenges of South Africa do not apply only to a particular political party, despite what the ANC wants us to believe through the mouth of its leadership and deeds.
What the youth of this country needs is the opportunity to be self- sufficient. No one wants to be a recipient of food parcels for the rest of their lives. The poor do not want to be recipients of food parcels only once every five years or during by-elections and general elections. They want their dignity through being able to earn a living by having legal and legitimate jobs. The better life for all can be realised only if this does not mean a better life for ANC leaders only.
The Employment Services Board, Productivity South Africa and supported employment enterprises can only be credible to the labour market role- players if those who run it are credible South Africans. Employers will only make these institutions functional if they have confidence in them. The credibility of these institutions depends on their impartiality and effectiveness. How they are perceived will make the relevant role-players trust them and make them achieve their objectives.
Nedlac will play a vital role in the success or failure of these institutions that will be created through this legislation. The purpose of this Bill is noble, if those entrusted with the implementation and responsibility can do what they are supposed to do without fear or favour. Nobody can oppose any law which aims to promote employment by providing opportunities for new entrants to the labour market to gain work experience; improving the employment and re-employment prospects of employees facing retrenchments; and promoting employment, growth and workplace productivity.
Hon members, all these objectives can only be achieved if the integrated free public employment services serve all South Africans equally, irrespective of their political affiliation. Cope supports clause 8, which deals with the employment of foreign nationals. It should not be interpreted as promoting xenophobia.
It is important that South Africans should get the available jobs first and thereafter foreigners can be accommodated. The tendency to regard only the pitch-black Africans as being the only foreigners in South Africa should be confronted head-on. In most cases, foreigners from Europe and Asia are not treated the same as foreigners from East and West African countries. It is a legal imperative anywhere else in the world that employers prove that "there are no other persons in the Republic with suitable skills to fill a vacancy, before recruiting a foreign national", as clause 8(2)(a) of the Bill states. Further, Cope supports the whole of clause 9 of this Bill.
Since the poor do not have money to pay for private agencies, which charges people for looking for jobs on their behalf, it is logical that private employment agencies should not discriminate due to an inability to pay. The employers who are sourcing the services of the private employment services should be allowed to carry the costs of acquiring labour. Free supported employment enterprises will also assist people with disabilities to get employment.
The current status quo is absolutely unsatisfactory. Given the history of how the state-owned enterprises, SOEs, are being run, Cope hopes that these employment agencies will not turn out to be loss-making entities like SAA or the SABC. Cope will support this Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]