A Provincial Government’s Message
of Support by Hon. Premier TSP Makwetla at the May Day Celebrations
Bethal
Stadium
1 May 2008,
Programme Director,
The Provincial Leadership from all political parties here present,
Our public representatives from all levels,
Distinguished Leaders of the Labour Movement,
Our dignatories,
Members of our labour movement in all its glorious formations,
Comrades, Combatants and Friends.
On behalf of the Provincial Government I would like to express our support and solidarity with the workers in celebrating many victories and contribution to advancing the rights of workers. As government, we share common goals with the labour movement in the fight against unemployment and poverty.
We are committed to implementing programmes to grow the provincial economy to ensure that we reduce unemployment and bring about sustained improvement in the standard of living and the quality of life of workers. As we celebrate May Day, we should join hands and foster partnerships to create decent work opportunities so that we address unemployment challenges.
On Sunday we celebrated Freedom Day to mark the 14th anniversary of our freedom and democracy. As we celebrate May Day today, we must be inspired by the contributions and sacrifices of workers in the struggle for freedom and democratisation of our country. The 1959 potato boycott, led by Gert Sibande, epitomised commitment to fighting against harsh and inhumane conditions which the farm workers were subjected to on the farms here in Bethal. Therefore, it is significant that the celebrations today pay tribute to Gert Sibande and other struggle heroes for their contribution towards the attainment of the democratic rights that workers enjoy today. We must be constantly reminded of the need to ensure that we entrench the rights of farm workers and eliminate the repulsive gross human rights violations to which many of our farm workers are still subjected.
In advancing the struggle for democracy and worker rights, we must continue to entrench the rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining, and create space for organised labour to contribute meaningfully to public policy formulation, development and service delivery improvement initiatives by government. We should also work together to raise the skills levels of workers in different sectors of our economy so that we ensure that we create a large skills base in the provincial economy.
Let us unite and work together to create decent work opportunities and create a better life for all workers in our Province.
“Workers of the World Unite, You have nothing to loose but your Chains”
Enjoy May Day
I Thank You.
Issued by: Office of the Premier,