Hon Deputy Speaker, an important objective of the National Development Plan, NDP, is that the unemployment rate in the country should fall from 24,9% in June 2012 to 14% by 2020, and to 6% by 2030. This requires an additional 11 million jobs. The total employment should rise from 13 million to 24 million. We are very far from achieving these targets, with the latest unemployment figures revealing an official rate of 25,2%.
Among several significant actions to be taken to achieve this goal, says the NDP, South Africa should, and I quote: "Strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms in the labour market with a view to reducing tension and violence." The DA agrees. That is why I wrote to the Secretary to Parliament yesterday requesting urgent additional amendments to the Bill to be introduced and debated here today, in terms of National Assembly Rule 254. Our proposals were aimed at democratising labour relations as a means of reducing tension and violence, as called for by the NDP. Regrettably, we learnt this morning that our request had been rejected.
Deputy Speaker, the need for reform of South Africa's labour framework cannot be overstated. Reform is urgently needed to address the underlying causes of labour unrest and job losses in our country. The DA believes that section 64 of the Labour Relations Amendment Bill, which requires that unionised workers should ballot before embarking on a strike, would have gone a long way towards achieving the important goal of bringing stability and peace to the labour market, particularly in the strike-prone mining industry.
Unfortunately, the ANC Members of Parliament in the Portfolio Committee on Labour have voted to have the section removed from the Bill. This section was included in the Bill to reintroduce the requirement of a ballot before a protected strike or a lockout could take place. This amendment seeks to prevent industrial action being staged if it enjoys only minority support because violence and intimidation are more likely to occur under such circumstances. It was never about the right to strike, which is entrenched in our labour relations framework. Who of us can disagree with that rationale, given our experiences with the ever increasing number of strikes in our turbulent labour relations environment? Well, the ANC disagrees. They believe business as usual in the labour relations environment is the way to go - a position informed by their alliance with the only player who has a vested interest in things staying as they are, the Congress of SA Trade Unions, Cosatu. The DA disagrees. The status quo will be a copout.
The decision to remove the proposed amendment, which was intended to democratise labour relations as a measure to limit violence and intimidation in labour relations, makes a mockery of the entire legislative process over the last three years, including public hearings in Parliament and consultations in the National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac. Now, the Bill is being stampeded through this House. This is the strongest indication yet that the ANC is willing to pander to its alliance partner, labour federation Cosatu, ahead of next year's general elections, even if it means effectively voting in favour of legislation that perpetuates violence, intimidation and nondemocratic values. [Interjections.]
The people of South Africa must take note of what happens in this House today. What is happening is nothing short of a sellout of the NDP's commitment to economic growth and the elimination of poverty and inequality to the narrow interests of the ANC government and its allies. Hon Deputy Speaker, the hon former Chief Whip of the Majority Party is right. Decisions taken at Nedlac are not binding on the social partners, and therein lies a major problem. This is why Nedlac has lost integrity and credibility and its critics see the council as mere window-dressing. The key role-players, government, labour and business, no longer take the forum seriously. So, why ... [Interjections.]