The word “dispute” must be removed from the vocabulary in labour-related matters, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday.<\/p>\n
“Let us remove the word ‘dispute’ from our vocabulary and replace it with the word ‘negotiate’.<\/p>\n
“Dialogue has become an important way of addressing our challenges,” he said.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa was speaking at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) annual summit in Illovo, north of Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
He said Nedlac reminded him of the days when he was general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers where negotiating was the main form of solving labour-related problems in the sector.<\/p>\n
South Africans were beginning to question which direction the country was currently headed.<\/p>\n
“I always derive joy and strength from the fact that… we’ve got a very strong and firm foundation. We achieved a great deal. Many nations envy the great results we have achieved in our country.”<\/p>\n
He said poverty, unemployment and inequality were massive problems and mountains which still needed to be overcome.<\/p>\n
“Inequality is the Mount Everest for us.”<\/p>\n
An institution such as Nedlac was one of the country’s successes for its role in bringing business, labour and civil organisations to the table.<\/p>\n
“It was established on the back of a difficult negotiated transition and has played a critical role in meeting the challenge of social development and economic growth.<\/p>\n
“On Nedlac’s shoulders is the responsibility to address some of the challenges in this country.”<\/p>\n
Problems would not be solved if people looked at isolated departments and organisations.<\/p>\n
“Many other countries don’t have a structure like [Nedlac]… even more developed economies come here to learn how we put it together.”<\/p>\n
He said any legislation which had a socio-economic impact on the country went through Nedlac to be discussed or negotiated.<\/p>\n
But the forum did have its weakness, Ramaphosa said.<\/p>\n
“It has had mixed success. There have been weakness and challenges it faced. Our task is far from complete.”<\/p>\n
Growth was a necessity for social progress and South Africans wanted growth they could touch and feel, he said.<\/p>\n
“We need to confront the monster of poverty and inequality. Inequality is an affront to the new democratic order.”<\/p>\n
He said forums such as Nedlac were responsible for providing South Africans with good and better opportunities.<\/p>\n
“No social partner can be left behind. We succeed or we fail, together.”<\/p>\n
The country’s growth prospects were hindered by the state of the global economy and a number of local factors including low investments, low savings, weak domestic demand, energy constraints and issues in the labour market.<\/p>\n
He said infrastructure and production programmes would help boost the country’s economy.<\/p>\n
“If President Jacob Zuma was deployed to the infrastructure department only, for the year, he would open [a new building or road] every week because the infrastructure programme is under way as we speak.”<\/p>\n
The implementation of a minimum wage was a matter which also needed to be addressed.<\/p>\n
“What we need to do is move forward in dealing with the modalities of introducing and implementing a national minimum wage.<\/p>\n
“We’ve got to move in unison as a nation, while we must proceed with urgency.”<\/p>\n
The matter would be discussed more broadly at the labour indaba hosted by government in November, Ramaphosa said.<\/p>\n
“At the November Labour Relations Indaba, all social partners are expected to present their proposals so that we can thoroughly and thoughtfully engage on this national minimum wage issue.”<\/p>\n
R6.7 billion in wages lost to SA strikes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n