Joseph Maqhekeni, NACTU President, Addressing 7th NACTU
National Congress, 24 April 2006, Kopanong Conference Centre, Benoni,
Gauteng, South Africa.
Programme Director, Deputy President of NACTU Puseletso Tsukulu -
Motsohi, the Leadership of NACTU – Secretariat and National Office
Bearers, Minister of Public Enterprises, The Honourable Minister Alec
Erwin, ICFTU General Secretary – Guy Ryder, ICFTU- AFRO General
Secretary – Andrew Kailembo, SATUCC Executive Secretary – Moses Kachima,
All Parkistan Federation of Unions delegation, All China Federation of
Trade Unions delegation, Fedusa Leadership, Consawu Leadership,
Representatives of Solidarity Centre, Representatives of ILO,
Representatives of IFBWW, Cresentia Mofokeng welcome home, Mohau Pheko
from Motheo Mokhantso Innovators and all our Sponsors and delegates from
all our Affiliates, I welcome you all in this NACTU National Congress
2006
Unemployment
The high rate of unemployment and poverty are clouding South Africa’s
economic gains since the fall of apartheid in 1994 and these are cited
as the reasons behind a host of social evils such as a rampant crime
rate and low levels of investments.
Unemployment is officially estimated at 26,7% but the number rises to 39
and 41% if people whose hopes of finding work have been dashed and have
given up looking for jobs, are included.
We also take note of the statistics S.A reported economic upswing
at a rate of 4,9% in 2005 as compared to 2004 growth.
It has been reported that this economic growth has created 2, 2%
or 156 000 new jobs in the formal non-farming sector.
Government plans to spend over R320 billion on infrastructures
over the next few years and hope this will contribute to more economic
growth. Also be reminded
that the manufacturing and mining sectors could put a damper on this
optimism, both these sectors are quite exposed to the global economic
cycles.
I must also warn optimists and economists that the suggestions that the
economy has graduated from jobless growth may be hollow if one compares
2, 2% employment as created versus over 39% unemployment rate.
The Plight of People living with disabilities.
It makes business sense to employ people with disabilities.
More than 99% of people with disabilities re excluded from
employment in the open market.
This to a large extent is due to societal ignorance and disdain.
People with disabilities have not been given the opportunities to
demonstrate their talents and abilities.
We need, in my view, to jointly focus on disabled persons and match them
with suitable positions across all industries and professions.
By implementing rehabilitation and realignment strategies at all
workplaces we can facilitate the process if accommodating disabled
persons. How many
affiliates have amongst them, people with disabilities. We must support
the open day dedicated to people with disabilities coming early in May.
Improved working conditions of vulnerable workers
The Sectoral Determination initiatives by the Minister of labour are
most welcomed. The Domestic
workers and agricultural sectoral determination, just to mention a few,
were worst forms of exploitations occured, have brought some relief to
these poorly unionised sectors.
We are looking forward to making contribution when the Hospitality and
the security sectoral determination are handled in the near future.
We are appealing to the Ministers of Labour to move faster in particular
when we assess the mayhem and the damages caused by the recent security
industry industrial action.
We are willing to assist our Unions in the hospitality and security
sectors to be more organised in these vulnerable industries.
We must express our strong opposition at attempts by some business to
deny workers rights through manipulating the employment contract in the
form of casualisation, contract work, labour broking and informalisation
Retirement Funds
Pension funds adjudicator, Mr. Vuyani Ngalana, after various awards in
favour of retirement funds members against financial services companies,
has made numerous calls to government.
These very loud calls led government to conclude an agreement, with
insurance houses, of over R3 billion compensation for early termination
of policies and the reduction of premiums.
We are also encouraged by the financial advisory and
intermediately services (fais) by taking up complaints from consumers
against insurance brokers and other financial advisors engaged in
dubious practices.
Mr. Charles Pillai, fais ombudsman need to market his office and
activities more vigorously.
Many pensions and provident funds have not complied with the Pension
Fund Surplus appointment.
Billions of Rands belonging to members have not been distributed.
More pressure needs to be exerted by the Financial Services board
(FSB)
Fraud and Corruption in the Retirement Industry
Mr. Peter Ghavalas, an Australian citizen, has not been successful
against the law. Peter Ghavalas’ involvement in the R213 Billion pension
fund fraud is set for the 1st August 2006 at the Commercial
Crime Court at 64 Eloff Street, Johannesburg.
A big march is being organised by the 3 Federations NACTU, Fedusa
and Cosatu when Peter Ghavalas appears in court this day.
Recently FSD Deputy Registrar, Mr. Dube Tshidi has disclosed that some
fund administrators have bulked fund monies without disclosing to the
funds, and negotiate with banks for higher interest rates and pocketed
these benefits.
Bulking is an illegal act and these administrators must be prosecuted
soon. If some trustees of
funds are involved in these corrupt acts the law must take its course.
We will never defend or condone those actions.
Nepad and APRM – The African Agenda
NACTU fully participates in the Nepad processes – Nepad is an African
Union, a home grown development programme that endeavours to emphasize
ownership of development processes and emphasize ownership of
development processes and increased self reliance.
NACTU has fully participated
at the Nepad National Strategy workshop on 19-21 April 2006 and
our views will be incorporated in the final documents which will be used
at the June 2006 Nepad vision review.
Our impact was focussed at ensuring that Nepad programmes and
engagements are taken to Provincial levels and locals so that South
Africans become part of the African Agendas.
The APRM Review Mechanism which is a voluntary self assessment by
African Countries is in full swing in South Africa.
NACTU participated in September 2005 consultation conference and
is represented in the Governing Body Structure.
It is in APRM Review exercise that NACTU has taken a leading role
in ensuring that our inputs are really from the worker grassroots.
We have held National and Provincial workshops and we have submitted our
inputs / reports in time.
Although only 26 African Countries (Ghana and Burundi) have done the
exercise of self assessment.
South Africa as I have already indicated is in the same process.
ASGISA. Accelerated and Slared Growth Initiative of S.A
Asgisa Task force led by Deputy President Mlambo –Ngcuka has consulted
with a range of stakeholders.
NACTU was no exception in this consultation.
Through these interactions all stakeholders are convinced that
South Africa is ready for Asgida to be a national shared growth
initiative rather than merely a government programme.
As Asgisa programmes unfold various challenges and opportunities have
been identified. Finding
constraints, infrastructure investment, sector strategies, education and
skills development, eliminating second economy, Macro – economic issues
and governance and institutional interventions have been identified if
we are to move from mediocre to success NACTU is well positioned to
tackle these challenges and grab opportunities for the benefit if the
working people of our country.
Trade Union Unity against Globalisation
In pursuant of:
NACTU founding preambles – “a belief in workers uniting and developing
themselves so that they can control their own destiny and take their
historic role in the eradication oppression, exploitation and
discrimination”. In the
past three years we have taken these initiatives.
Mergers and consolidation
We have had strategic sessions with all affiliates and their leaders
with the intention to strengthen our unions.
Thereafter we had started one on one session with individual
unions checking strength and weakness and used our own resources to
capacitate and grow them.
Deputy NACTU General Secretary has been championing this process.
The Secretary has been championing this process.
The intention is to help and not to criticise and destroy.
We have also persuaded mergers between unions in the same sectors.
We have paired our unions in hospitality, food and agriculture,
transport, local government and public services.
Our previous experiences have taught us not to rush this sensitive
exercise. The process must
be acceptable to membership and leadership of unions.
We hope that even if it takes longer the merger or co-operation
must be sustainable.
We need to be persuasive and encourage them to see the need to share
resources for the benefit of workers and their organisations.
We believe our next steps should be to co-ordinate our unions in
the same bargaining councils; same seta’s and in same companies where
more than one NACTU affiliate exists.
There must be one voice of NACTU unions in all these activities.
We should avoid in future what happened in the recent security
negotiations where some NACTU affiliates signed the 8, 33% and others
were locked out as that approached has strengthened the employers at the
expense of the workers.
This paradigm shift will need our secretariat and elected leadership to
move out of their Ivory Towers Offices to the field work to implement
these initiatives of NACTU is to grow.
We must ensure that NACTU affiliates are self sustainable through
workers subscriptions not investments or grants / resources.
Provinces and Regions
NACTU has 4 Provincial Offices-
Gauteng – Limpopo – Western Cape and KZN and these Provinces have
provincial and regional structures in place and there is good
co-ordination between affiliates.
NACTU is growing very fast in the Eastern Cape and if this trend
continues we may open a Provincial Office in this province.
The team of Organisers co-ordinated by Provincial Coordinators
should continue as is happening in Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
As these programmes unfold we are to ensure that affiliates hold their
Congress at the right time according to their constitutions so that they
comply with the labour relations act as required.
We better have a thin / lean federation that supports complying
unions and providing quality service than multitude of affiliates that
do not sustain themselves and the federation.
NACTU Staff
We are very impressed by the motivation of NACTU staff across the
country and the improved relations between NACTU and affiliates staff.
This can lead to massive NACTU growth.
Keep it up comrades.
The quality service that you provide to this federation is not
unnoticed.
Merger – NACTU, Fedusa and Consawu
In pursuant also of NACTU also of NACTU founding principles and
objectives;
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To strive for the building of a united worker movement in our country.
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To promote the principle of independent and democratic unionism……in a
manner consistent with the preamble and to ensure permanent co-operation
to achieve common goals
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To advance the economic well-being, social interests and working
conditions of all workers!!
We have seriously engaged Fedusa and Consawu with the intention to merge
these 3 federations before the end of October 2006. Various joint
committees have been established to look at issues like constitution,
policies and resolutions and finance and administration.
There is already a proposed constitution which will be tabled to the
joint presidential committee soon.
We are all very optimistic about these developments.
This will bring a bigger voice for all independent federation.
Our intention is not to compete with any one or bigger than any
one. We have initiated an
opportunity for all unions cherish the independence of the trade union
movement from any affiliation or alliance of any political ideology.
We are inviting all unions to join us as we march towards a New
Realignment of forces. It is our view that we have created a home for
all worker organisations to join us.
We have also been encouraged by the announcement that ICFTU and WCL will
have merger congress before the end of 2006 and we intend beating them
by merging before that time.
The Global unions have also taken the same view of merging and
sharing resources and skills for better solidarity and unity against
Globalisation.
We are aware that these initiatives come with challenges which we are
ready to confront without fear or hesitation.
I have noticed various unions’ resolution in support of the
merger with Fedusa and Consawu.
Conclusion
The leadership that will emerge from this Congress must have the
carriage to take process forward.
Backward Never – Forward Ever!
This may be the last congress of the National Council of Trade
Unions which was a merger between Cusa and Azactu in 1986.
I hope our Guests will enjoy their stay in South Africa and network
freely. We are a free
country.
I therefore officially declare the 2006 National Congress of NACTU
opened.
Amandla!!!!!!!!!