House Chairperson, hon members, firstly, let me thank the political parties who have supported us. I also want to indicate to hon member Dikobo that these Bills were published in 2010. They did not just appear because there is unrest in the mining sector. Let me also indicate to the members that maybe the first thing they have to do is to ask themselves what the causes are of the unrest in the mining sector. It is because the companies themselves have negotiated with the committees of workers that are not recognised in terms of the laws of this country. They have not even respected their own Companies Act. That is why this unrest has taken place in those particular areas.
Let me remind the hon member Motau that in terms of the Regulatory Impact Assessment, RIA when we introduced these Bills we also submitted the RIA to the portfolio committee. I want to say that they wanted to redo it - they were supposed to do it again - but there was no difference, because we were even consulting now and again with those who were assisting us with those particular areas.
Along with the issue of balloting, I think we also need to include picketing, because those two issues were not part of the initial Bill. However, they were proposed by both organised labour and organised business. When they did not agree, they requested that those two clauses should be taken out of the Bill. However, we did not take them out. We said they must go to the public hearings and request the officials, including the committees of Parliament, to take those particular clauses out because they were already there in the Bill. That is why they are no longer in the Bill.
At the same time, I want to say that when we said we have to deal with the abusive systems that are practised by the labour brokers, in terms of this proposed amendment, what we have done is this. There is a clause that says whoever claims to be an employer must employ the worker in terms of the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, bargaining agreements and also the sectoral determination. So, from day one, in terms of these proposed amendments, the workers of this country will be protected for the first time, even if they are being employed by the so-called labour brokers. They will be protected by these particular amendments.
I therefore also want to say to the hon Motau, when you retire from this Parliament, you will get a pension. However, the worker who is employed by the labour broker will not get a pension and is not even covered by the Unemployment Insurance Fund. If that person is injured today, he will not get compensation from the employer. Therefore, if we are all saying we need to protect the vulnerable workers, let us practise what we preach. I thank you, hon House Chair. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Bill be read a second time.
Division demanded.
The House divided.