For those of you who do not know, that is a fact. [Interjections.] This is why labour legislation that is passed by this ANC government will take into account the needs of a vibrant economy as well as the needs of the workers, so as to end worker exploitation and also to encourage economic growth and development. [Interjections.]
Our labour laws are some of the most progressive labour laws in the world. [Laughter.] [Applause.] Is this perhaps the reason that some dodgy employers fail to comply with our labour legislation as they long for the days of slavery and come up with slogans like "Half a loaf is better than none". [Interjections.] These same shrewd exploiters of humanity increase their profits by saving the money they should have spent on workplace safety equipment and other workplace legal requirements. The Department of Labour inspectorate are overworked because many employers refuse to comply with labour legislation. These employers are like naughty children who have to be supervised constantly, yet they blame unions for low productivity in South Africa and at the same time they cannot even comply with South African legislation. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
The time has come to criminalise noncompliance with labour law. We cannot continue along a path where some employers disregard labour law in order to exploit people, and when they are caught, they only pay a fine. [Interjections.] It is time for those who are convicted of serious labour law noncompliance to go to prison.