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,