Thank you very much. I fully agree with hon member Van Schalkwyk that the situation of essential workers is a very serious one and that we need to address it.
It is for that reason that we are saying that we need to find a mechanism to deal with this. It is international best practice that when you deal with a situation where on the one hand the constitution grants rights to people, including essential workers, and on the other hand you have to balance that with the provisions of the labour relations dispensation, in dealing with issues related to essential services you have to be mindful that those services that hon Van Schalkwyk is referring to are not disrupted. The question that the hon Schalkwyk is asking is a very important one. That is why we are saying that we are dealing with it. Let us all soil our hands and come December let us have a dispensation, and it will be fine.
I can guarantee that the 81,8% support of this year's negotiations by our unions yesterday suggests that as of now we are not anticipating a strike based on this and other demands. Therefore, we are safe to move forward until we find a new dispensation without having to actually experience such disruptions. Thank you very much.
Scope of the term "decent work"; and position of NPC regarding decreased labour market regulations 85. The Leader of the Opposition (DA) asked the Minister in the Presidency: National Planning Commission:
(1) What does the term "decent work" include as referred to in its diagnostic document and elements of the vision statement for 2030;
(2) why has the National Planning Commission, NPC, identified the creation of decent work as a key issue to be included in its vision statement, rather than simply focusing on job creation;
(3) whether, in light of the NPC's finding that South Africa's labour regulations have negative unintended consequences, the NPC intends to investigate a labour regime of decreasing labour market regulations as a means of stimulating employment; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?