“If passed in their current form, the labour amendment bills will exacerbate the unemployment crisis,” Democratic Alliance MP Andricus van der Westhuizen told reporters at Parliament.

He was referring to the Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill and the Labour Relations Amendment Bill, both the subject of public hearings before Parliament’s labour portfolio committee on Tuesday.

His colleague, DA MP Sej Motau, said a new regulatory impact assessment (RIA) was needed before any decision was taken on the draft legislation.

“We cannot gamble with the future of South African workers. The DA therefore calls for a new RIA to be completed to determine the effect of the current proposals on economic growth and job creation before any decision is taken on this draft legislation,” he said.

Motau said South Africa “has the highest unemployment rate among developed and developing countries, with 3.2 million people between the ages of 15 and 34 currently unemployed”.

He said if the bills were passed as is, they would “increase the cost of doing business, reduce South Africa’s attractiveness as an investment destination and, ultimately, destroy jobs”.

According to a document tabled at the media briefing, the DA opposes, among others, sections of the Labour Relations Amendment Bill that seek to limit certain contracted employment to six months.

Responding to a question on this, Motau said six months was too restrictive.

“Twelve months is held as good practice globally... and where we should be aiming.” 

He said the labour inspectorate would have difficulty policing a six-month cap.

According to the document, the DA also opposed section 55 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill.

The DA said the current version gave the labour minister too much power to act unilaterally, without proper consultation or accountability, including conferring the power to determine minimum salary increases for so-called “uncovered” workers in certain sectors.

The DA also had a problem with sections of the same draft legislation dealing with the power of employers to object to compliance orders issued by labour inspectors, which the bill seeks to remove.

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Wed Jun 19 11:51:33 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 24, 2012

emabhodini

HAVE U WORK UNDER LABOUE BROKER.U KNOW HOW DOES FILL TO WORK WITHOUT PROTECTION.ITS REALY SAD HWEN THIS COME FROM THE BLCK MAN.WE ARE REALY SUFFERING IN COMPANIES.YOU WANT TO TURN A BLIND EYE.SHAME ON YOU
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Jul 25, 2012

malema8514

all we see and hear is changes, which cost tax payers money and time. those changes have never positively made effective results. i think we need to research before we can amendt some of the bills of our labour relations acts.
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Jul 25, 2012

Cool-K

okay Mr MP or whoever you are opposing the Bill... how about giving away your luxury, your 13 cheque, your medical aid, all your benefits incl house subsidy, and even cut your salary 3 to 4 times??? how does that sound huh??
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