THURSDAY, 9.00PM:
THE National Assembly has approved the controversial employment Bill after almost a year of controversy, by 228 votes to 78. Inkatha and the Pan Africanist Congress joined the ANC in supporting the bill, opposed by the other parties.
Cosatu has raised objections that its 49 proposed amendments to the bill, agreed to with the ANC members of the parliamentary committee, have not been included. labour Minister Tito Mboweni said there had not been enough time to consider changes, and that amendments were possible early next year.
The bill is to be referred to the National Council of Provinces, where there are likely to be further demands for amendments, before being taken back to parliament later this month.
THURSDAY, 5.00PM:
The path was cleared on Thursday afternoon for the passage of the controversial Basic Conditions of Employment Bill when the parliamentary Labour Portfolio Committee rejected changes proposed by the Democratic Party.
A vote expected in the National Assembly on Wednesday was delayed when the DP flooded the order paper with amendments, as it had earlier warned it would.
African National Congress MP Jonathan Arendse said any further amendments should be dealt with when the Bill is referred to the National Council of Provinces. The Bill’s provision for a 45-hour working week has been strongly opposed by organised business, which claims such a measure will lay a heavy burden on employers and raise unemployment figures.
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