Media release

Government commemorates Workers Day

02 May 2013

2 May 2013

As we commemorate Workers’ Day, Government expresses its appreciation to all workers for contributing to the development of a growing South African economy. The freedom of rights as citizens and rights as workers in South Africa should be celebrated, as our history has made them inseparable.
 
Workers should continue to strive to bring the remembrance of the historical struggle to achieve fair employment conditions. Reformed laws have opened the way for improvements in working conditions, for example in health and safety in the work-place and in wage related matters.
 
Acting GCIS CEO, Phumla Williams, said “South African workers, trade unions and other progressive movements fought so that we all can benefit from  a free society which together with Government is continually changing the lives of our people for the better.” 
 
“As we commemorate Workers’ Day, we all should strive to address challenges in the employment sector that we are facing by implementing and embracing the vision of the National Development Plan (NDP) amongst other key government policies. For example, the NDP aims to, amongst others, eliminate poverty and reduce inequality, which is achievable by raising levels of employment and, through productivity growth, the earnings of working people”.
 
Williams, also said that “Freedom also comes with rights and responsibilities and in this regard, Government calls on all workers to engage employers in any dispute in an amicable manner and refrain from violent protests. All protests should be done within the confinement of the law and uphold the rights of all citizens as envisaged by the Constitution”.
 
Government calls on all South Africans to work together to uphold and recognize the rights of workers on this Workers’ Day and also calls on workers to recognize and take their rightful place in developing an economically viable South Africa.
 
Working Together We Can Do More.
 
Enquiries:
Phumla Williams
Cell: 083 501 0139
 
Issued by Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)

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