Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
Divorce, Maintenance, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence
The latest employment figures indicated, when one looks at the total number of people who could be working but are not, that 35,6% of people in South Africa are unemployed. The lower figure, which is often quoted, of 25,6% excludes people who have given up on trying to find a job.
In other words, 10% of the population has basically given up on ever finding a job and in the circumstances, although they are unemployed, they are not included in the unemployment statistics that is usually quoted! The real figure is thus the figure of 35,6% and it was reported that in the second quarter 93,000 jobs were lost in manufacturing. One wonders how the ANC is going to meet their target of 6 million new jobs, given that the very first quarter since the election has already seen a 93,000 jobs lots – so now they need to create 6 093 000 jobs to make their target. Until such time as we see overseas investor confidence in South Africa we will not get more money in and that will require the continuous strikes to be resolved, and it will require labour laws that allow companies to fire and hire people more easily so that companies are not worried about all the expenses involved with hearings and attorneys, etc before they can get rid of somebody who is wasting time. Even when you catch somebody who is on probation, stealing from you, you still need to have a hearing and with respect, that is just absolute nonsense. It should not be that even a thief can approach the CCMA unless you take each step carefully and with legal consideration. Good workers have never had a problem finding and keeping employment and quite honestly it is just the lazy and the incompetent who are so insistent on making people dot the i’s and cross the t’s and do everything before they can get rid of somebody who is not performing.
Ultimately, of course, there will be many who disagree with me, and my only hope for them is that they have jobs so that they can pay the additional taxes that ultimately this will lead to, because if you want all of these benefits and all of these safeguards, in a country with an unemployment rate of 35,6%, you must surely expect to pay for it somewhere along the line - so don’t complain when tax rates increase!
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Tuesday 26-Aug-14
Post a Comment
Comments
Henrietta said:
on Friday 29-Aug-14 04:36 PM
Jobs are really scarce and you should look after your job not all people will be happy at a job but at the end of the day be thankful you got one. It's really scary how many people actually depends on ANC and every vote time its always the same party winning.... I think it time people realize that the ANC just makes more and more promises that cant be kept and next time voting come think about all the false promises... Good luck to those out there
Jade said:
on Thursday 28-Aug-14 04:27 PM
I understand your points and I suppose to a large extent they are valid, but one must keep in mind previous atrocities vulnerable employees have suffered at the hands of less than caring employers who only have their own greedy interests at heart. Those safeguards are in place to ensure that workers' human rights are upheld. Something that is undeniably important in a country that yearned for these laws for years.
And yes, perhaps stringent labour laws whereby someone who is proven to be a thief or a wholly incompetent worker cannot lose their job, should be looked at and amended. The laws of striking as is mentioned below in the comments are also in desperate need of change.
I don't think it boils down to just the laws. I think similiar labour laws have worked in countries that have a better economy for example in european countries. There are a myriad of things that we need to look at for example:
1. the lack of education that people have from a basic level which would give more South Africans the skills to start their own businesses and pave the way for a stronger entrepreneurial sphere.
2. A need to eradicate a believe that we are entitled to everything, and that the government must provide it. Free housing & land must be given etc. but we must learn to work for it as well. I think that this links to the fact that so many unemployed people have given up on searching for jobs. We need a better work ethic as a country.
3. Government spending should also be spent on things other than Nkandla and boosting the economic power of government friends, but rather should be spent on giving people skills, on uplifting SA business, on improving on socio-economic problems that may give rise to this lack of work ethic and sense of entitlement.
I could go on for days.
Lourien said:
on Thursday 28-Aug-14 03:30 PM
The only problem is that people still do not understand the impact of strikes, these damages caused by strikes are catastrophic to our economy, it increasing unemployment because the more you have to pay workers the fewer workers you can employee, and this is what the strikers are forgetting.
Any organisations has a maximum capacity and to reach this you need to employ a certain amount of employees to obtain the exact performance and capacity required and also looking at the cost that needs to be covered. As soon as the organisational costs become too high they will need to cut back where needed, and normally starts at cutting back on employees costs which is actually the problem.
lucretia said:
on Wednesday 27-Aug-14 01:04 PM
I just wish that the government would open their eyes now and educate their people that the more strike there are, the more the unemployment rate grows. We have recently had our ground staff at our complex, some 12 people, go to the CCMA because they did not like their increase, despite the fact that they have free lodging on the premises, lights and water are also paid for them. The CCMA fought for a better increase, so they were given the bigger increase but had to start paying rent, lights and water. Now they are crying they get out less disposable income. With the result, they have all resigned. 12 more people unemployed. As David says, "viva ANC, viva".
Marisa said:
on Wednesday 27-Aug-14 12:58 PM
The ANC wil never stand by their promises..
Mathilda said:
on Wednesday 27-Aug-14 12:56 PM
FIRST OF ALL THE ANC DID NOT DELIVER LAST YEAR WHY WOULD THIS YEAR BE ANY DIFFERENT THEY MAKE THE SAME PROMISES EACH YEAR BUT IN REALITY WERE ARE THEY GOING TO GREAT THE JOBS , 6 MILLION IS A BIT FAR FETCHED. THEY CANT EVEN DO THEIR WORK KNOW THEY WANT TO GREAT JOBS THAT THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ITS JUST SOMETHING TO SAY TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE.
Nikita said:
on Wednesday 27-Aug-14 10:06 AM
The "right to strike" is going to bring our country to it's knees. Not only because of the loss of production but more importantly the way in which they do it. The chaos and destruction it brings about is just ridiculous. I understand the desperation for more money and less exploitation but it actually just makes everything worse.
Angelique said:
on Wednesday 27-Aug-14 09:16 AM
6 million jobs? from where? from who? Perhaps if money wasn't selfishly used and the high salaries that government pay themselves there could be job creation. I can understand how someone can get tired of looking for a job but the truth is you can't completely give up - how do they suppose they are able to live or get a better life? I'd advice people who don't have employment to continue getting up in the morning looking for a job, any job and just earn a living. Either that or look for bursaries and further your education or training in anything! Ask the same government for a job, beg and plead them and claim your 1 job out of the 6 million.
Elektra said:
on Tuesday 26-Aug-14 02:00 PM
This was quite evident from the get go, there is just no way the ANC could ever bring to the table 6 million jobs. Yet again the ANC fails to deliver.
Melissa said:
on Tuesday 26-Aug-14 01:35 PM
Lets wait and see if they come to the party and if something is going to happen
Monique said:
on Tuesday 26-Aug-14 11:45 AM
I'd love to see the ANC create 6 093 000 jobs to make their target. Empty promises. However, viva ANC, Viva, like David said! Lol.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
