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Cosatu's program of action against labour brokers today is a signal that the union is slowly but surely losing the argument. As the evidence mounts against their cause, Cosatu is wilfully avoiding the real issues - like the fact that their ridiculous suggestion of banning labour brokers would place 500,000 jobs in jeopardy. Instead, they would rather force their members to participate in insipid activities that will not change anything or help anyone.

Cosatu should also be cognisant of the fact that, besides putting half a million people out of work, the outlawing of labour brokers would impact severely on the ability of government to perform its duties. In a reply to a parliamentary question submitted by the DA, the Minister of Agriculture admitted to using labour brokers because "the Department of Agriculture requires the services of temporary employees from time to time due to operational requirements".

The DoA has paid R 10.5 million in the 2008/09 financial year in order to employ 62 temporary placed employees - or 2.3% of the department's staff complement.

This is the third government department to have admitted to using labour brokers, after Public Enterprises and Communications.

The DA believes that the problems facing the labour broking industry must be solved, but that improving regulations can help to dramatically reduce the extent of worker exploitation that is taking place on the fringes of the industry. The adoption of the Democratic Alliance and Congress of the People joint proposal would enable the industry to coordinate efforts with the Department of Labour (DoL), which has thus far not done its job in enforcing labour regulations.

Question 1176 for Written Reply, National Assembly: Dr. L.L. Bosman (DA) to ask the Minister of Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
(1) Whether her department uses temporary employment services and/or labour brokers; if so, (a) why, (b) how many positions have been filled by temporary employment services in the (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09 financial years, (c) what percentage of the total staff complement did temporary employment services contribute in each of these years and (d) how much money has been spent on temporary employment services in each year? NW1511E
REPLY:

(1) Yes, the Department of Agricuture does use temporary employment services.

(1)(a) The Department of Agriculture requires the services of temporary employees from time to time due to operational requirements.

(1)(b) This question is answered in table format below.

(1)(b)(i) Refer to (1)(b).

(1)(b)(ii) Refer to (1)(b).

(1)(b)(iii) Refer to (1)(b).

(1)(c) Refer to (1)(b).

(1)(d) Refer to (1)(b).


STATISTICS FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Period of service (b) Number of positions been filled by temporary employment services (c) Percentage of the total staff complimented by temporary employment services (d) Money been spent on temporary employment services (expenditure)
(1)(b)(i) 2006-07 40 1.53% R6 528 000.00
(1)(b)(ii) 2007-08 32 1.21% R10 572 000.00
(1)(b)(iii) 2008-09 62 2.28% R10 575 000.00