As I have said, the Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill seeks to translate the vision enshrined in the Freedom Charter, the Constitution of the land and the 2009 election manifesto of the ANC. I am pleased to point out that by and large the Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill is in line with the aspirations of the Freedom Charter, the election manifesto and our international obligations, thanks to the ANC government.
In 1998, the 86th International Labour Conference adopted the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. This declaration contains four fundamental policies, the right of workers to associate freely and bargain collectively; the end of forced and compulsory labour; the end of child labour; and the end of unfair discrimination among workers. We deemed it necessary to propose amendments to the basic conditions of employment. We are very pleased that the National Assembly is considering the proposed Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill and will find it appropriate to adopt the passage of the Bill.
You will recall that these amendments are intended to respond to the growing informalisation of work in the South African labour market and to align the Basic Conditions of Employment Act with the Labour Relations Act in addressing unfair labour practices. The amendments also seek to bring the provisions relating to child labour in line with international standards and strengthen the mechanisms for enforcement of basic conditions of employment, including wages.
It is worth mentioning that 12 June 2013 was the International Day Against Child Labour. This day was celebrated last week, coinciding as it did with the International Labour Conference. Part of what this Bill does is to align our policies with international best practices. It will also prohibit the unethical behaviour of requiring work seekers to pay a fee in order to be placed in employment.
The law will also prevent employers from forcing employees to purchase goods from their businesses as conditions of work. It will also prohibit work by children under the age of 15 years. It will strengthen the labour inspectorate and enforcement. The Bill seeks to introduce measures to discourage noncompliance by, among other things, imposing heavier penalties. The Bill is also a direct consequence of the 2009 ANC election manifesto, which promised South Africans that the ANC-led government would introduce legal measures to promote our decent work agenda.
I want to thank members of the Portfolio Committee on Labour for their time, energy and wisdom in their efforts to enhance the objectives of the Bill. Let me also take this opportunity to call on our social partners to assist with implementing the amendments in their places of work. I am aware that some of the proposed amendments were complex, and it was not easy to reach consensus. Well, let me submit that labour laws have been and always will be a highly contested terrain, not only in South Africa, but the world over.
I would also like to encourage those who have not read this particular piece of legislation and are always saying that the labour laws of the country are rigid, to do so. I want to confirm that the labour laws of this country are flexible. When we were attending the International Labour Organization conference there were countries that had already requested to come and learn from our country. That is why I am appealing to this House to adopt these amendments. I thank you. [Applause.]