Business Day
*Jobs before debate over ‘decent work’ — minister* /Unionists dismayed as Oliphant confirms new employment focus/ *Alistair Anderson, Business Day, Johannesburg, 25 January 2011*THE government wants to focus on job creation, not spend time debating whether it is worthwhile creating jobs that do not meet certain standards, says Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant .
Her comments reinforce those last week of African National Congress secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, who said demanding that new jobs should be decent was "putting the cart before the horse" — a departure from President Jacob Zuma ’s promise in 2009 that the "creation of decent work will be at the centre of our economic policies".
Ms Oliphant told the department’s annual labour conference outside Pretoria yesterday the issue of decent work should not cloud a strategic plan which delegates had gathered to discuss. This drew sharp rebukes from invited trade unionists.
"Some may want to argue that our priority should be decent work — that we should not focus on jobs only, at the expense of security of employment in acceptable conditions of employment. Let us not get into an either/or debate. We want jobs, and we must strive for decent work," Ms Oliphant said.
She conceded that a contention in the department’s five- year strategy plan would centre on whether SA should pursue general job creation or jobs that met certain idealistic requirements — but said it was an argument she believed would be best avoided.
"Decent employment can only be successful when all stakeholders constantly keep in mind the context of the South African and global economies, (and) social realities such as poverty, inequality and education levels," she said.
Analysts say "decent work" is a vague concept that undermines state policy . "Along the lines of a developmental state, it has no clear economic definition," economist Tony Twine said yesterday.
Government officials use an International Labour Organisation definition , "productive work for women and men in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity". Unions argue this suggest s new jobs should be permanent, with employee benefits .
Mr Twine said he welcomed the state’s shift away from an unnecessary, qualitative debate. "Work is the priority. We need to create work and then jobs will follow from that, that’s it," he said.
Union representatives were not impressed by Ms Oliphant’s decision not to engage in debate .
Affiliates of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), the Federation of Unions of SA and the National Council of Trade Unions questioned why the government was changing its stance on decent work ; and whether labour broking should be banned or regulated.
They also asked Ms Oliphant why it was taking so long to implement proposed changes to SA’s labour legislation.
After a period of questioning by the union representatives , the media were asked to leave. They missed speeches by Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel and Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies .
Ms Oliphant told the conference her department had adopted eight strategic objectives to guide its plans and activities over the next five years, starting this year.
She said the department should contribute to employment creation; review amendments to labour laws; promote equity in the labour market; protect vulnerable workers; strengthen social protection; promote sound labour relations; strengthen the capacity of labour market institutions and strengthen institutional capacity .
The department would also aim to create a policy framework to promote decent work, and another for the provision of public employment services, she said.
*[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>* *From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=132326* ** ** ** -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
<<image/gif>>
