The ruling African National Congress’s (ANC) policy-making conference has agreed that a further “look” at the labour market in South Africa is necessary, says President Thabo Mbeki.
In an interview on South African Broadcasting Corporation television — broadcast on Sunday night — Mbeki was asked why his labour-market reform did not get the nod at his party’s national general council, the ANC’s policy-making body.
Mbeki disagreed, saying: “What the discussion paper said … we need to look at this question of greater labour absorption and therefore look at labour-market policy to see whether there was anything that needs to change. The basic structure of the labour relations system is fine. We need to look at the various issues and see what else can be done.”
He said there was reference to a two-tier system — with one form of labour absorption making it easier to hire and fire. The council commissions decided to forget this concept and instead discussed “the substance”.
Mbeki — who was seen to be defeated over his role to appoint premiers and mayors, as well as on this issue, by the broad left movement in his party — said the matter has not been on any drawing board.
“There was no detailed plan. The [council] document said we have to look at this matter. The national general council has agreed.”
In one commission that discussed the matter, Mbeki said it was suggested that in order to create employment, one worker should work a half-day and a new worker should work the other half. He said there were practical suggestions on how to respond to the challenge of unemployment in South Africa.
He dismissed suggestions that the discussion over labour-market policies is “an ideological debate”. He said everyone at the council was “extremely practical”, and that mineworkers in some cases are already working flexible hours. — I-Net Bridge