Pretoria - The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) has commended Mineral Resources Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi for setting up the intergovernmental technical team to resolve the strike in the platinum industry.
“Government has an important role to play in facilitating social dialogue and resolving disputes between social partners, and SACCI is thankful for this initiative taken by Minister Ramatlhodi.
“South Africa needs creative and practical approaches to solve our deep-seated problems,” said SACCI CEO Neren Rau on Thursday.
Rau said the minister’s actions were a means to voluntary dispute resolution, as opposed to intervening in business decisions.
“SACCI wishes the team success in its important and challenging work.”
However, SACCI said it remained concerned over reports of inter-union violence and worker intimidation. It said high priority must be given to protecting all workers by the South African Police Service.
Minister Ramatlhodi established the inter-governmental technical team to work with labour and business after a protracted wage dispute that lasted for over four months, slowing productivity and denting the country’s economic growth.
Minister Ramatlhodi, who was sworn into office on Monday, said the technical team will include officials from the Departments of Mineral Resources, Labour and National Treasury. The team was scheduled to meet at an undisclosed location today -- supported by representatives from the platinum companies, as well as labour union AMCU (the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union).
“The mandate of the technical team is to broaden the approach and explore all possibilities for a resolution to the problem. They will interrogate all the information (including the figures) provided by both parties, and report back by the end of the day on what is possible,” Minister Ramatlhodi said on Wednesday.
SACCI said it looked forward to progress by the technical task team, but remained convinced that government, business and labour still needed to discuss fundamental changes to labour market regulations to prevent similar disruptions from occurring, and address the causes of the violence and intimidation being experienced. – SAnews.gov.za
