BLSA ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE ECONOMIC STATE OF THE NATION
BLSA is adamant that the country can make major strides in 2017 to address the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. But this is only possible if we build on our successful cooperation in 2016 and work together.
At the start of 2016 South Africa was in a perilous state. Under the auspices of the State President; the Deputy President and Finance Minister worked with business and labour leaders to make real, substantive progress in some key areas. They include the introduction of a National Minimum Wage to improve the lives of the working poor, the introduction of labour reforms to help stabilise the labour environment and promote investor confidence, the establishment of a R1.5bn small business fund to promote small businesses and create jobs, and the planning of the ambitious private sector Youth Employment Services (YES) campaign to give 1 million economically marginalised young people job experience.
Government, business and labour leaders embarked on global roadshows and meetings with investors and ratings agencies to build confidence and encourage investment.
Business, labour and civil society are also working closely in the National Education Collaboration Trust to find joint solutions to improve basic education, and in the National Education Crisis Forum to find a resolution to the universities crisis.
This is not to disregard real differences and indeed conflicts that exist between the sectors of our society on many issues. BLSA has been vocal on some of these issues, including the governance of SOEs, the need for certainty and confidence in the mining sector, and the need to sign the FICA amendment into law. On these and other issues there will continue to be robust public and private debate and engagement. This is healthy in a constitutional democracy.