Chair, Minister, hon members, members of the department, I greet you all.
The Constitution of the Republic sums up the type of society that we ought to build. Our struggle is about constructing a humane, caring, open, democratic, nonracial and nonsexist society. These are the norms and values for which many have shed their blood. Experience over the past 17 years, since the dawn of our democracy, has taught us that it is one thing to proclaim an ideal and quite another to achieve it. We have strived in the past 17 years to fulfil the aspirations of our struggle for human dignity, freedom and equality.
As a nation, we can be proud of our accomplishments in such a fairly short space of time in the history of the new nation. We also agree that we are far from reaching the vision enshrined in our Constitution.
Many of our people are still trapped in poverty, unemployment and destitution. Levels of inequality, especially income inequality, have actually worsened since 1994. We are a nation with one of the worst differentials in terms of inequality. The legacy of dualistic development remains stubbornly entrenched.
For as long as we have this situation, we are far from achieving the promises of the Constitution of a more equal society. It is not the workers who undermine this vision, but those in power and those with power.
This widening inequality that has come to characterise the South African society threatens all our hard-won democratic gains. In the 2005-2006 financial year, the average income from work in the richest 10% of households was 32 times more than the average income of the poorest 60%. Relative deprivation is at the core of the so-called service delivery protests.
During the decades of struggle, it was understood that apartheid would not be allowed to continue in a normal society. Yet, that abnormal society is continuing at an economic level. The tragedy is that we are accepting as a norm that a minority will have First World infrastructure while the majority are trapped in humiliating and degrading squalor. [Interjections.]
Decent work is one of the foundations of human rights. The fight against poverty and inequality, and its promotion, is the cornerstone of all our efforts. Decent work embraces both the need for more jobs and for better quality jobs. The creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods is central to the ANC government's agenda and the primary focus of all our economic policies.
The labour legislation that we have fought for and that regulates the labour market needs to be defended. It protects the rights of workers who produce the wealth of the country.
The adoption of the democratic Constitution, Act 108 of 1996, and specifically Chapter 2, sought to guarantee the rights of all citizens, including workers. It accorded a set of rights which cannot be tampered with unless through a set of constitutional amendments. Constitutionally, general rights afforded to citizens apply equally to workers.
Decent work is critical for all employees and, more importantly, for those who are vulnerable. Decent work is the cornerstone of human rights. Human rights are both the means and the end to achieve better work that has a human face. This is preferable to thinking of workers as just a mere commodity.
The Decent Work Agenda for all workers and their protection are realised through the introduction and enforcement of our progressive labour laws in the country.
Decent work is broadly defined by the International Labour Organisation, ILO, as work that provides for workers' rights, adequate protection by legislation, and access to social security and social dialogue.
I conclude by saying that there is absolutely no dignity for workers without decent work. I repeat - there is absolutely no dignity for workers without decent work. Decent work is the foundation of the fight against poverty and inequality, and its promotion should be the cornerstone of all our efforts.
The ANC supports Budget Vote No 18. [Applause.]