Thank you, hon member. Hon members, proceedings will now be suspended for 10 minutes to allow members a comfort break. Bells will be rung to alert members to the commencement of proceedings.
Business suspended at 16:20 and resumed at 16:33.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: The economy shed 179 000 jobs in the first quarter. The second quarter is likely to be as bad. This is indeed not a good time to be elected as a President.
Why, in these difficult times, are there so many workers striking and threatening to bring the country to a stop economically? Surely the medical doctors and some workers have good reasons to be unhappy. But in contrast, other workers are striking, from my point of view, to abuse the Confederations Cup tournament or the 2010 Soccer World Cup for their own selfish interests.
In Beijing, there were 100 000 volunteer workers during the Beijing Olympic Games who did not receive any remuneration. They explained how privileged they felt to make a patriotic contribution as proud Chinese people. Do we have such people? I do believe so.
The South African workers on the building projects for the 2010 World Cup are striking, knowing that the strikes could result in the projects not being completed before the World Cup. They are not concerned - as long as they profit from it. During the Confederations Cup soccer game between Italy and the USA in Pretoria, tournament officials went on strike over salaries. The police had to check the tickets at the gates. What image does this create of South African workers?
Met die ekonomiese krisis en die houding van hierdie stakende werkers aan die eenkant en die vyf miljoen Suid-Afrikaners wat wil werk en nie werk kan kry nie, aan die ander kant, regverdig dit 'n nuwe debat oor ons arbeidswetgewing. 'n Jong entrepreneur verduidelik aan my dat hy 10 werksgeleenthede kan skep, maar dat die arbeidswetgewing maak dat hy eerder masjiene gaan invoer en outomatiseer, ongeag my argumente.
Is arbeidswetgewing een van die redes waarom ons sukkel om genoeg werksgeleenthede te skep of nie? Dis die debat. Kom ons eksperimenteer. Wat van belastingverligting en arbeidsregulasievrystellings in 'n deel van 'n provinsie, byvoorbeeld in 'n spesiale ekonomiese sone naby 'n hawe of in 'n landelike gebied wat baie onderontwikkel en arm is. Dan meet ons die resultate. Hoeveel werkgeleenthede is geskep? Wat het dit gekos? As dit slaag, kan dit uitgebrei word. As dit misluk dan stop ons dadelik daarmee. Dit sluit, wat my betref, ook eksperimentering met regstellende aksie in, wat tans baie jongmense landuit dryf.
Ek glo die huidige krisis regverdig dit. Die regering se openbare werkeprogram is belangrik en dit gaan beslis werk skep, maar dit is nie voltydse permanente werk met volle voordele nie. Regerings kan moeilik sulke werk skep. Uiteindelik is dit die private sektor wat sulke werk kan skep, as die regering dit vir hulle moontlik en maklik maak. Ek glo in hierdie rigting kan daar dalk oplossings vir ons wees. Ek dank u. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[We have the economic crisis and the attitude of these striking workers on the one hand and the five million South Africans who want to work, but are unable to find work, on the other. Therefore, a new debate regarding our labour legislation is justified. A young entrepreneur, regardless of my arguments, explained to me that he can create 10 job opportunities, but due to the labour legislation he will rather import machinery and automatise his business.
Is labour legislation one of the reasons why we are struggling to create sufficient job opportunities or not? That is the debate. What about tax relief and labour regulation exemptions in a part of a province, for example in a special economic zone close to a harbour, or in a rural area that is very underdeveloped and poor? Thereafter we can evaluate the results. What did it cost? How many job opportunities were created? If it succeeds, it might be extended. If it fails, we then end it immediately. In my opinion this also includes the experiment of affirmative action, which is driving many young people from this country.
I believe that the current crisis justifies this step. The Public Works Programme of the government is important and it will definitely create jobs, but it is not full-time, permanent work with full benefits. Governments find it difficult to create such jobs. Ultimately, the private sector will create such jobs, if the government makes it possible and easy for them. I believe there might be solutions for us in this regard. I thank you. [Applause.]]