Speech by Joan Fubbs during the debate on 'Fighting unemployment and the creation of decent work through building local industries
Speech by Joan Fubbs during the debate on 'Fighting unemployment and the creation of decent work through building local industries'
17 February 2009
It is only in a developmental State that we can confidently deliver in our commitment to provide decent work for our people
1. Madam Speaker, Honourable Colleagues, Comrades, and our fellow South Africans men and women.
2. Decent work is what we all ask for …each one of us sitting in this House in Parliament. I believe and I know there is no one on these benches who would oppose the principle of decent work for themselves, their families so surely not for fellow South Africans.
3. Surely we cannot stand here and demand for ourselves what we are not prepared to demand and ensure through active implementation for all the people of South Africa.
4. The commitment to the provision of decent work is not simply a new ANC slogan it can be traced to the Freedom Charter, which is embraces the principle of sharing,
5. It is within this environment that the ANC government has over the years, the decades created the conditions in which a Developmental State is being built. This kind of state recognizes that people are its greatest and most essential asset which is why we do not simply talk of but are committed to bring about people centered sustainable solutions.
6. Such solutions are not simply eurocentric, or afrocentric but acknowledges the universal humanity of people and is therefore able confidently to sustain people centered development.
7. When the emphasis then shifts its locus it is only then that we can develop policies, programmes and measures. Indeed instruments that can tackle which perceived through any other paradigm prism would effectively imprison our capacity to respond responsibly and deliver services effectively
8. These include a clear focus on rural poverty and will be and is addressed through the ANC programme for land, agrarian reform, food security and rural development.
9. In this regard the ANC 2009 Elections Manifesto speak to the need to ensure," implementation of special sector programmes embracing industrial, trade and other measures backed by adequate resources". These special sector programmes will "strengthen the manufacturing, mining and other vulnerable sectors". The ultimate aim of these special programmes is to further ensure that jobs are saved and increased especially in such sectors as the clothing and textiles, automobile and components as well as the food industry.
10. Part of building local industries is to ensure that the primary sectors go beyond simply producing goods for export markets that are not value added. At the centre of this is to build downstream industries through beneficiation and ensure broad participation in the economy.
11. This is why the ANC argues for "a comprehensive package of measures to be introduced to promote beneficiation programmes, thus ensuring that the natural wealth of the country is shared, and developed locally". The spin-off from this will be the creation of decent work opportunities in both the manufacturing and services sectors.
12. As we build viable local industries we know that there is also a need to widen the scope of enterprising by also investing in other forms of enterprises such as cooperatives. In this regard the ANC through its 2009 Elections Manifesto has committed to "engage the private sector for the purpose of facilitating its transformation and diversification including the development of the cooperative financial institutions as well as ensuring that the sector contributes to investment and developmental priorities of the country".
13. Fighting unemployment and creating decent through building, nurturing and protecting sectors that both have a potential to create labour intensive jobs and with a high multiplier effect on eradicating poverty is the nerve centre of a National Democratic Society (NDS) as envisioned by the ANC. Accordingly, the ANC argues that: "a National Democratic Society should be founded on a thriving economy the structure of which should reflect the natural endowments of the country and the creativity that a skilled population can offer.
14. "It should be an economy in which cutting edge technology, labour-absorbing industrial development, a thriving small business and cooperative sector, utilization of information and communication technologies and efficient forms of production and management all combine to ensure national prosperity" This is no dream it is indeed what internationally recognized economists now acknowledge.
15. Fighting unemployment will include having to facilitate and ensure an environment conducive for job seeking through provision of other social benefits through social transfers. This is important to ensure stability in society and in particular in households while job searching. To address this, the ANC has called for "a national democratic society that should use the redistributive mechanism of the fiscus to provide a safety net for the poor. As such, built into its social policy should be a comprehensive social security system which includes various elements of the social wage such as social grants, transport and basic accommodation"
16. Critical to ensuring the protection and building of key industries with potential to make a dent on poverty lies at the heart achieving social cohesion and maintaining social stability. In this regard the State also has to make decisive interventions such as the "implementation of integrated anti-poverty programmes geared towards not only social assistance but also the sustainable integration of communities into economic activity".
17. The ANC manifesto is an achievable plan based on principles experience and commitment. Many economists and international financial and political leaders throughout the world are now accepting and acknowledging that an free market system, an unregulated economy, a government that is committed to no intervention and that relies on market forces to correct dangerous economic trajectories, are now finally speechless.
18. Nobel prize economist Joseph Stiglitz reiterated recently that any response should be based on social justice and solidarity that goes beyond national boundaries. He stressed the need to reflect on the role of financial markets in the economy, said they should be evaluated on how they serve citizens and added that they were not an end in themselves - they were a means to economic growth and prosperity for all, including homeowners, ordinary people and the poor. He explained that the underlying doctrine of the current system is flawed and said that this was the root cause of the problem.
19. Pertinent to this issue of decent work and enterprise that benefits the people are the lessons to be learned from the current free global crisis which at its heart is the flawed capacity to market system regarding its capacity to distinguish between "enterprise" and "speculation" and consequently the tendency to become dominated by speculators. These are the get rich quick investors.
20. Instead the commitment of the ANC for decades has been the comprehensive "socialization" of investment, whereby the State, acting on behalf of society, transforms the State and ensures that investment, capital, improves the lives of all our people. Yes provides decent work so that our people can help develop our economy with dignity, dedication and consequently productivity. Economic growth will follow.
21. No This ANC government and the next one coming in this year will not and is not prepared to allow economic growth fueled by unbridled greed and a new breed of unprincipled predators.
22. Instead we will ensure employment creation through state-led development interventions
23. Provide decent work opportunities for all: Yes working together we can do more. Viva ANC Viva the people of South Africa Yes we can do more and we will do more.
Keywords - Joan Fubbs, ANC, ANC manifesto, fighting unemployment, creation of decent work, cutting edge technology, people centered development, unemployment