Date: 08/07/2003
Source: Department of Labour
Title: Mdladlana: Limpopo Imbizo: Nkowankowa Stadium
ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF LABOUR, MMS MDLADLANA, MP, DURING THE IMBIZO OUTREACH PROGRAMME (LIMPOPO), Nkowankowa Stadium, 8 July 2003
The Executive Mayor of Mopani
Mayor of Tzaneen
Councillors
Representatives of Government Departments
Leaders of Civil society organisations
Comrades
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is indeed a pleasure and honour to be here with you today, to meet with you, citizens of our beautiful country, Umzantsi Africa. I am deeply moved that we are able to meet as this is a rare opportunity and I believe that we shall all do what we have to do, to contribute to a common cause of ensuring that working conditions of our people are changed for the better.
I believe that you are all aware that since the dawn and advent of democracy in South Africa, as mandated by all peace loving citizens, government committed itself to the task of 'pushing back the frontiers of poverty' and underdevelopment. The Department of Labour on whose shoulder heavily rests an enormous task of transforming the labour market, also committed itself and its resources to the tune of R65 512 039 for skills training in the Limpopo province during the period 1999 to 2002.
In that regard, I am particularly pleased to report that, indeed we have achieved a lot and no one will stop us now. In close cooperation with social partners, we created a labour market framework based on respect for human dignity, free from oppression and systematic discrimination.
The vision of the Department of Labour states that we will strive for a labour market which is conducive to economic growth, investment and employment creation and is characterised by rising skills, equity, sound labour relations, respect for employment standards and worker rights.
In order to achieve economic growth, employment and rising skills, close collaboration with stakeholders is key. One of our most important stakeholders in terms of skills development for social development projects is the Department of Health and Welfare. This role-player has played a prominent role in the Tzaneen, Mopani district regarding funding of projects. The assistance the projects derive from Health and Welfare helps them to reach a stage of implementation. Thereafter, it is the role of the Department of Labour to fund the skills development component.
The Tzaneen Labour Centre also shares a close relationship with the Greater Letaba Municipality. The Municipality takes an active role in funding projects. The Tzaneen area in Mopani is famous for its contribution to the agricultural sector, with its abundance of fruit and tea. The condition of the land is also to the advantage of the community in that many social development projects in this area are agriculturally inclined.
In 1999, R3 388 709 was spent on skills development in this area. Skills imparted included agriculture, business skills, construction, manufacture of clothes, finance and management and entrepreneurship. Most of the training took place in the agricultural sector, as agriculture is most prevalent in this part of the province. Business skills and management courses were integrated to assist projects to develop themselves into profitable businesses.
In the year 2000, the focus was on business skills, construction and motor mechanics. R873 458 of the National Skills Fund (NSF) was spent in the region. These trainees were individual members of the community who used the skills acquired to secure employment in the formal sector. Business skills were profitable to project members, as they run businesses from home and from the project site.
During 2001 - 2002, the focus moved to social development projects. R451 682 was spent on textile manufacture and design, weaving, construction, agriculture, livestock rearing and childcare. There is a 100% placement rate, as all project members are employed in the projects. The projects service the local communities.
The labour market framework and policies are based on principles of justice and human rights. We reflected appropriate modifications to accommodate, among others, the needs of small, medium and macro enterprises, labour intensive industries, youth, women and people with disabilities. We formulated effective labour market policies that provide a supporting and enabling environment for job creation.
Programme Director, the protection of vulnerable workers has always been placed high on the agenda of government and in particular the Department of Labour. In that regard we promulgated a number of sectoral determinations but prominent amongst them are those for the domestic and agricultural sectors. The sectoral determinations prescribe minimum wages and regulate conditions of employment for a particular economic sector. In the case of both domestic and agricultural sectors, we prescribed a minimum wage of R650,00 per month in the Limpopo Province.
This intervention though, does not and should not make me the chief shop steward in South African shop floors.
While the responsibility of protecting vulnerable workers and to ensure that they have the same basic rights as all others who work, rests with the State, it is equally the responsibility of unions and employers to negotiate wages and conditions of employment. It is in that respect that I want to publicly call upon unions to organise workers in their respective sectors. I also call upon all employers to afford their workers respect and dignity - anyone who subjects workers to exploitation is as good as practicing slavery in a subtle way. I hope you are not just listening but you hear, I am not a chief shop steward.
However, I am equally pleased by the enthusiasm all South Africans had and continue to cherish in the effective implementation of the sectoral determinations.
Indeed the tide has turned
Two weeks ago, we conducted blitz inspections in the agricultural sector. The labour inspectors were particularly encouraged by the level of compliance with the provisions of the sectoral determination by farmers throughout South Africa. The attitude of farmers towards the determination and labour inspectors assisted a great deal to ensure that they conduct inspections to the very best of their ability.
The preliminary report on the blitz inspections in the Limpopo Province indicated that out of a total of 234 farms visited, at least 213 farms were found to be complying with the minimum wages as stipulated in the Sectoral Determination for Agriculture. Only 21 farms, including 2 that applied for variation of wages, were found not complying. This means that 91% of farms were found to be complying.
On the way from Ga-Modjadji, I stopped to congratulate one of those who deserve to be congratulated for making every effort to comply with legislation. The owner of Westvalia farm represents all those farmers who have understood our call for the protection of vulnerable workers and ensure that the people they employ receive nothing less than the minimum wage.
Programme Director.
In conclusion, may I take this opportunity to invite you, all of you, to help make proposals for consideration in ensuring that we deliver the services of the Department of Labour in the true spirit of Batho Pele. Tell us how we can improve on the implementation of the National Skills Development Strategy. We refer particularly to the Social Development Funding Window of the National Skills Fund that is administered by our Provincial Office.
May I also remind you that in the true spirit of integrated corporate governance, our partner, the Department of Home Affairs, has made a special arrangement to bring their mobile unit to all the areas I will be visiting this week in order to provide their services at your doorstep. Today, you can apply for your ID documents outside this tent.
Ndza Khensa
Source: Department of Labour (http://www.labour.gov.za)
Source: Department of Labour
Title: Mdladlana: Limpopo Imbizo: Nkowankowa Stadium
ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF LABOUR, MMS MDLADLANA, MP, DURING THE IMBIZO OUTREACH PROGRAMME (LIMPOPO), Nkowankowa Stadium, 8 July 2003
The Executive Mayor of Mopani
Mayor of Tzaneen
Councillors
Representatives of Government Departments
Leaders of Civil society organisations
Comrades
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is indeed a pleasure and honour to be here with you today, to meet with you, citizens of our beautiful country, Umzantsi Africa. I am deeply moved that we are able to meet as this is a rare opportunity and I believe that we shall all do what we have to do, to contribute to a common cause of ensuring that working conditions of our people are changed for the better.
I believe that you are all aware that since the dawn and advent of democracy in South Africa, as mandated by all peace loving citizens, government committed itself to the task of 'pushing back the frontiers of poverty' and underdevelopment. The Department of Labour on whose shoulder heavily rests an enormous task of transforming the labour market, also committed itself and its resources to the tune of R65 512 039 for skills training in the Limpopo province during the period 1999 to 2002.
In that regard, I am particularly pleased to report that, indeed we have achieved a lot and no one will stop us now. In close cooperation with social partners, we created a labour market framework based on respect for human dignity, free from oppression and systematic discrimination.
The vision of the Department of Labour states that we will strive for a labour market which is conducive to economic growth, investment and employment creation and is characterised by rising skills, equity, sound labour relations, respect for employment standards and worker rights.
In order to achieve economic growth, employment and rising skills, close collaboration with stakeholders is key. One of our most important stakeholders in terms of skills development for social development projects is the Department of Health and Welfare. This role-player has played a prominent role in the Tzaneen, Mopani district regarding funding of projects. The assistance the projects derive from Health and Welfare helps them to reach a stage of implementation. Thereafter, it is the role of the Department of Labour to fund the skills development component.
The Tzaneen Labour Centre also shares a close relationship with the Greater Letaba Municipality. The Municipality takes an active role in funding projects. The Tzaneen area in Mopani is famous for its contribution to the agricultural sector, with its abundance of fruit and tea. The condition of the land is also to the advantage of the community in that many social development projects in this area are agriculturally inclined.
In 1999, R3 388 709 was spent on skills development in this area. Skills imparted included agriculture, business skills, construction, manufacture of clothes, finance and management and entrepreneurship. Most of the training took place in the agricultural sector, as agriculture is most prevalent in this part of the province. Business skills and management courses were integrated to assist projects to develop themselves into profitable businesses.
In the year 2000, the focus was on business skills, construction and motor mechanics. R873 458 of the National Skills Fund (NSF) was spent in the region. These trainees were individual members of the community who used the skills acquired to secure employment in the formal sector. Business skills were profitable to project members, as they run businesses from home and from the project site.
During 2001 - 2002, the focus moved to social development projects. R451 682 was spent on textile manufacture and design, weaving, construction, agriculture, livestock rearing and childcare. There is a 100% placement rate, as all project members are employed in the projects. The projects service the local communities.
The labour market framework and policies are based on principles of justice and human rights. We reflected appropriate modifications to accommodate, among others, the needs of small, medium and macro enterprises, labour intensive industries, youth, women and people with disabilities. We formulated effective labour market policies that provide a supporting and enabling environment for job creation.
Programme Director, the protection of vulnerable workers has always been placed high on the agenda of government and in particular the Department of Labour. In that regard we promulgated a number of sectoral determinations but prominent amongst them are those for the domestic and agricultural sectors. The sectoral determinations prescribe minimum wages and regulate conditions of employment for a particular economic sector. In the case of both domestic and agricultural sectors, we prescribed a minimum wage of R650,00 per month in the Limpopo Province.
This intervention though, does not and should not make me the chief shop steward in South African shop floors.
While the responsibility of protecting vulnerable workers and to ensure that they have the same basic rights as all others who work, rests with the State, it is equally the responsibility of unions and employers to negotiate wages and conditions of employment. It is in that respect that I want to publicly call upon unions to organise workers in their respective sectors. I also call upon all employers to afford their workers respect and dignity - anyone who subjects workers to exploitation is as good as practicing slavery in a subtle way. I hope you are not just listening but you hear, I am not a chief shop steward.
However, I am equally pleased by the enthusiasm all South Africans had and continue to cherish in the effective implementation of the sectoral determinations.
Indeed the tide has turned
Two weeks ago, we conducted blitz inspections in the agricultural sector. The labour inspectors were particularly encouraged by the level of compliance with the provisions of the sectoral determination by farmers throughout South Africa. The attitude of farmers towards the determination and labour inspectors assisted a great deal to ensure that they conduct inspections to the very best of their ability.
The preliminary report on the blitz inspections in the Limpopo Province indicated that out of a total of 234 farms visited, at least 213 farms were found to be complying with the minimum wages as stipulated in the Sectoral Determination for Agriculture. Only 21 farms, including 2 that applied for variation of wages, were found not complying. This means that 91% of farms were found to be complying.
On the way from Ga-Modjadji, I stopped to congratulate one of those who deserve to be congratulated for making every effort to comply with legislation. The owner of Westvalia farm represents all those farmers who have understood our call for the protection of vulnerable workers and ensure that the people they employ receive nothing less than the minimum wage.
Programme Director.
In conclusion, may I take this opportunity to invite you, all of you, to help make proposals for consideration in ensuring that we deliver the services of the Department of Labour in the true spirit of Batho Pele. Tell us how we can improve on the implementation of the National Skills Development Strategy. We refer particularly to the Social Development Funding Window of the National Skills Fund that is administered by our Provincial Office.
May I also remind you that in the true spirit of integrated corporate governance, our partner, the Department of Home Affairs, has made a special arrangement to bring their mobile unit to all the areas I will be visiting this week in order to provide their services at your doorstep. Today, you can apply for your ID documents outside this tent.
Ndza Khensa
Source: Department of Labour (http://www.labour.gov.za)
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