Pretoria – Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant says it is crucial for labour negotiators to talk in good faith and to find one another as swiftly as possible, so that the country’s economy does not suffer unnecessarily due to the lack of productivity arising from labour strife.
As the country enters what has been termed ‘strike season’, Oliphant said it was equally important that workers should also not suffer as a result of drawn out negotiations.
“Wage negotiations should not necessarily result in a strike. Even when a strike is called, at the end of the day, the parties have to find a way resolving the outstanding matters around the table.
“To all negotiators, I know that you are busy with the negotiations. I wish that you will find one another (employers and unions) sooner rather than later, and come to an agreement as swiftly as possible.
“We are still reeling from the world economic meltdown and we need to get the country working as smoothly as possible to be able to get the economy to create the jobs we so desperately need,” she said.
Wage strikes have hit South Africa, with the gold mines being the most affected. The construction sector has also been affected by protests, as the strike by construction workers enters its second week.
The matric trial exams were also disrupted on Monday in KwaZulu-Natal, as teachers went on a go-slow called by the South African Democratic Teachers Union.
Johannesburg residents have been left in the dark as employees of Johannesburg City Power went on a strike on Wednesday afternoon. – SAnews.gov.za
