Speech by Dr Pieter Mulder MP, Freedom Front Plus leader, in the debate on the presidency's budget vote, parliament, June 24 2009

The economy shed 179 000 jobs in the first quarter. The second quarter is likely to be as bad.

Indeed not a good time to be elected as a president.

Why in these difficult times are there many workers striking and threatening to bring the country economically to a stop? The medical doctors and some workers have good reasons to be unhappy. In contrast, other workers are striking to abuse the Confederations Cup Tournament or the 2010 Soccer 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 World Cup are striking, knowing that the strikes could result in the projects not being completed before the World Cup - just as long as they profit from it.

During the Confederations Soccer Cup game between Italy and the USA 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? (Are there no pride and patriotism left? Is everyone just looking after themselves?)

With the economic crisis and the attitude of these striking workers one the one hand and the 5 million South Africans who want to work and cannot find work on the other hand, it justifies a new debate about our labour legislation.

A young entrepreneur explained to me that he could create 10 job opportunities but due to labour legislation he will rather be importing machinery and automatise his business.

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

What about tax relief and exemption from labour regulations in part of a province - for example in a specialized economic zone close to a harbour or in a rural area which is very under-developed 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. The government's public works program will create jobs, but it is not full-time permanent jobs with benefits.

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

Source: Freedom Front Plus

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