Angibonge Sihlalo, mhlonishwa Ngqongqoshe namalunga ahloniphekile. [Thank you Chairperson, hon Minister and hon members.]
It is heartening to know that there is an agreement between government and labour on how to deal with retrenchment. The National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac, has to create a platform where labour will be able to negotiate while employers accommodate those negotiations. It is imperative that it is not only the government that has to create work, but that the private sector does its share. The skilling of workers has to be done in such a way that employers can absorb them. It will be useless to skill people in order for them to stay at home doing nothing. Skilled workers should use their skills to establish a small business and not only look for work.
Government must create an environment conducive to starting a small business. Red tape must be minimised. Small development agencies must actively assist those workers, who want to start businesses, financially and otherwise.
The Department of Labour must limit the use of labour brokers and allow employers to employ people without using a middle person.
Yini kube nomsindo omningi kangaka, ngikhuluma? [Why is there a lot of noise while I am talking? [Interjections.]]