Assessment of the Public Hearings on Labour Broking in the provinces

Meeting report

The Chairperson asked the Committee to reflect on the public hearings on labour brokering that were conducted in the four provinces thus far. Members had to indicate what improvements could be made to the process going forward.

Discussion
Mr E Nyekembe (ANC) suggested the hearings should be taken to other provinces, but cited the unavailability of funds as the impediment. The idea of extending the hearings stemmed from the submissions that the different industrial sectors had made. He asked the Chairperson to request for additional funding from the authorities.

Ms F Khumalo (ANC) supported the idea of extending the hearings to other provinces.

Ms A Rantsolase (ANC) suggested that the Committee follow two processes. Firstly, the Committee should evaluate what happened at the hearings. Secondly, it should focus on the steps that needed to be taken moving forward.

Mr A Louw (DA) reminded the Committee that the rationale for the hearings was for Members to hear directly from the affected people. Instead, the people who made presentations were trade union leaders. In future, representations by trade union leaders should be kept to a minimal, and people directly affected should take centre stage.

Mr I Ollis (DA) asked the Chairperson if she could provide the Members with information regarding the draft legislation that will be out soon regarding labour issues. He supported Mr Louw’s position that the Committee should hear from affected parties, not trade unions and organised labour and business.

The Chairperson reminded Mr Ollis that the public is consulted before any law is amended. As legislators, the Members would have a central role to play regarding the final output of any legislation.

Ms Rantsolase noted that the Committee’s main task was to decide whether to ban or retain labour brokering. Based on her perception, the majority of people that attended the hearings, black and white, were in favour of banning labour brokers.

Mr A Trollip (DA) supported the idea of holding further public hearings. The issue of banning or not banning labour brokers needed to be thoroughly debated.

The Chairperson asked the Committee to suggest provinces that needed to be visited.

Members decided that priority must be given to the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.

The Chairperson indicated that the Office of the House Chair would look at the funding issue. She suggested that the Committee make use of the current recess period to conduct the public hearings so that by January next year they could start working on legislation.

The meeting was adjourned.