The tug of war between the government and Cosatu on labour broking is set to continue after Cabinet approved two key labour bills without ceding to the union federation's demand for a ban on the practice.
Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant told a post-Cabinet briefing that the Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill and the Labour Relations Amendment Bill would now go to Parliament and become the subject of public hearings.
Oliphant said the government had implemented the ANC's resolutions on labour broking in the bills, and
not those of its ally Cosatu.
She said the legislation, therefore, rather sought to prevent the abuses that had been associated with labour broking, and did so in part by limiting temporary employment to six months.
Cosatu has indicated that it will continue to push for an outright ban on labour broking.
