Labour boss links 'moral degeneration' to SA's wealth gap
Moses Mdewu Mackay
05 April 2007 at 11h00
Poverty versus wealth and the widening wage gap between workers and bosses have been cited as some of the reasons for the moral degeneration of South African society.
This was the word from Vanguard Mkosana, director-general of the department of labour, when he addressed about 250 delegates at a two-day conference staged at UCT on Tuesday.
The conference, on ethical leadership, is focusing on how existing labour practices and initiatives in the labour movement can contribute to the moral renewal of society.
Mkosana said a combination of factors could result in moral regeneration, including narrowing the gap between the rich and poor.
"The more we distribute wealth the more we can reduce poverty and other social ills in our society," he said.
Speaking during a question-and-answer session, Mkosana said he agreed with some delegates that there was "colonisation" of a special type in South Africa and that it was wrong that the rich were getting richer while the poor were becoming poorer and poorer.
A shop steward for the Chemical Energy Paper Printing Wood and Allied Workers Union (Ceppwawu), Lennox Notwabaza, said many workers were still facing exploitation in the workplace after 13 years of democracy. He said many employees were being dismissed because of their HIV or Aids status, while many companies had failed to implement an Aids policy for their workers.
SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) genera secretary Randall Howard said although much had been achieved since 1994, there were also some limitations, such as macro-economic policies, which had not benefited the majority of South Africans.
"Yes, the economy is growing but there are problems such as job losses, housing backlogs, the casualisation of workers and other challenges," Howard said.
He said that many young people felt hopeless and had been marginalised, and that it was important that programmes be set up to improve their lives.
Howard also lashed out at MPs, other parliamentarians and the private sector for abusing their positions of power, highlighted in scandals such as Travelgate and Fidentia.
He proposed that politicians only serve their constituencies and not have business interests in the private sector.
Howard also urged the country to play a key role in the advancement of Nepad, but said South Africa should refrain from being "like America" and "being an imperialist on the African continent".
