Deputy Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister Pieter Mulder on Wednesday lamented workers striking in these difficult economic times and called for labour legislation to be amended.

Speaking in the National Assembly during debate on President Jacob Zuma's budget vote, the Freedom Front Plus leader said the economy shed 179 000 jobs in the first quarter and the second quarter was likely to be as bad.

"Why, in these difficult times are there many workers striking and threatening to bring the country economically to a stop?" he asked.

The medical doctors and some workers had good reasons to be unhappy.

In contrast, other workers were striking to abuse the Confederations Cup tournament or the 2010 FIFA World Cup for selfish interests.

In Beijing, China, there were 100 000 volunteer workers during the Beijing Olympic Games who did not receive any remuneration.

They explained how privileged they felt to make a patriotic contribution as proud Chinese people.

"Apparently, South Africa does not have such people."

The South African workers on the building projects for the 2010 FIFA World Cup were striking, knowing their actions could result in the projects not being completed before the World Cup - just as long as they profited from it.

During the Confederations Soccer Cup game between Italy and the US in Pretoria, the tournament officials were striking about salaries.

"The police had to check the tickets at the gates. What image does it create of South African workers? Is there no pride and patriotism left? Is everyone just looking after themselves?" Mulder said.

With the economic crisis and the attitude of these striking workers on the one hand and the five-million South Africans who wanted to work and could not find work on the other hand, it justified a new debate about labour legislation.

"A young entrepreneur explained to me that he could create ten job opportunities, but owing to labour legislation he will rather import machinery and automate his business.

"Is labour legislation one of the reasons why we are struggling to create enough job opportunities? Let us experiment," he said.

"What about tax relief and exemption from labour regulations in part of a province - for example in a specialised economic zone close to a harbour or in a rural area which is very underdeveloped and poor.

"Then, we measure the results. How many job opportunities were created? What did it cost? If it succeeds, it can be extended.

"If it fails it is stopped. It includes experimentation with affirmative action which is at present forcing a lot of young people out of the country. The current crisis justifies it," he said.

The government's public works programme would create jobs, but these were not full-time permanent jobs with benefits.

"Governments can only with difficulty create such jobs. It is the private sector that could create such jobs if a government makes it possible and easy for them," Mulder said.