The celebration of Workers’ Day and workers’ rights comes four days
after our celebration of Freedom Day. It is an eternal reminder on our
calendar that our political freedoms and our economic realities cannot
be separated from one another.

As politicians, we often use Workers’ Day to reflect on the economic
reality of unemployment. Indeed we need to build an economic
environment that can stimulate the creation of decent jobs that offer
our people a living wage. We need to reaffirm and resolve employment
equity to all our people irrespective of race colour or gender also to
address these discriminatory practices that still exist today

It’s time that we eradicate inequality and discrimination and ensure
that workers develop skills. Inasmuch as we need to investigate ways
to reduce unemployment, we also have a responsibility to those who are
currently employed. We don’t just need an economy that can create
jobs; we also need safe and productive workplace that protects the
rights of both employer and employee.

Both employers and employees should clearly understand that we have
the right to equality, human dignity and freedom of expression.

We should end the unfair and abusive labour practices that humiliate
our mothers and young women in the remotest wine areas of our
province.

However, it’s vitally important that all labourers must have the right
to decent wages and fair working hours.

The Democratic Alliance is a firm supporter of workers’ rights to
organise and to participate in the activities of a trade union.
However, this must not affect service delivery nor must it have an
impact on our children.

It’s evident that we still have a long road ahead of us in achieving
the objectives in the work place as well as in government.

Indeed we celebrate the freedom that workers will have on May Day, but
let us remind ourselves of those who still need to enjoy these basic
conditions.

 

Issued by DA