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Today I will give notice of my intention to move that Parliament debates the continued delay in the implementation of the Youth Wage Subsidy.

The Youth Wage Subsidy was announced by President Zuma in his State of the Nation Address in 2010 and was accordingly budgeted for by the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan the following year during his budget speech.

Its delay in implementation, as a result of COSATU’s continued and stubborn opposition to the policy at NEDLAC, has already cost more than 300,000 young South Africans the opportunity to benefit from the subsidy.

Parliament represents all South Africans, including the small percentage that belongs to the trade unions. Once it has debated an issue, it is either, passed as legislation, introduced through regulation or implemented by a government department.

Regardless of the fact that this process has been executed in full, COSATU has delayed the implementation of the youth wage subsidy for two years.

Until such time as COSATU obtains a full electoral mandate, the elected representatives of the people of South Africa must act in the best interests of all young, unemployed citizens.
Parliament must do everything possible to ensure that this policy which has already been passed and for which funds have been voted to the government for, is implemented without delay.