100. Mr Z Mlenzana (COPE-EC) to ask the Minister of Labour:
Whether her department has any measures in place which will combat labour
unrests that continue to weigh on international investor sentiment; if not,
why not; if so, (a) what measures and (b) what are the further relevant
details?CW151E
MINISTER OF LABOUR REPLY:
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa is the supreme law of the
land, protect the right to demonstrate peacefully. Furthermore, our labour
laws encourage orderly collective bargaining and do not protect any acts of
violence committed in the name of industrial action therefore our legal
framework in terms of regulating industrial action and collective
bargaining matters is sound.
Given that one cannot regulate human behavior, there is state apparatus
that exist to ensure that any behavior that is not sanctioned or is deviant
to the law, is dealt with. Honourable Mlenzana would agree with me that
issues of violence during industrial action are matters falling within the
competency of the Police rather than labour laws.
However, in my address to trade unions on numerous occasions, I have raised
the issue of violent strikes and I have further encouraged social partners
at NEDLAC to deal with the matter.
END