Despite his wanting to speak off the record there wasnt much to record from Tito Mbowenis speech in parliament this week, writes Chris Louw
LABOUR Minister Tito Mboweni surprised journalists this week when he insisted that his address to the parliamentary labour select committee was off the record. All parliamentary committees were opened to the media in line with the ANCs policy of transparency.
Mboweni, speaking before the committee on Tuesday, twice warned media representatives not to report on what he said. Everything is off the record and I have witnesses to confirm it.
The reason for the sudden secrecy is not clear. In his off-the-record address Mboweni said he wanted to develop a labour market policy in line with the reconstruction and development programme.
He hinted that a five-year plan — which he emphasised was not based on Soviet-style central planning — would be announced in due course.
A task group would be appointed to investigate labour relations in foreign countries. The International Labour Organisation was initially approached to help draft new labour legislation. The group would also consider trends in each South African labour market sector by sector.
Labour legislation, Mboweni said, couldnt be passed until they returned.
However, he said areas where changes were needed were improving the rights of pregnant women in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
He also envisaged changes to the Insolvency Act where workers received some compensation when companies were declared insolvent.
Welcoming the imminent demise of the National Economic Forum and the development of a new National Economic Development and Labour Council, he said it would represent four main interests — finance, trade and industry, labour and the reconstruction and development programme.
This council will meet in plenary session twice a year and will be chaired by deputy president Thabo Mbeki. It will have a secretariat as well.
Referring to strikes, Mboweni said they had been unremarkable and followed the normal pattern of strikes during wage-bargaining periods — there were only two major strike actions except for truckers.
Asked by a journalist after the meeting why he had insisted on not being quoted, Mboweni said the information was privileged.