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Johannesburg - The government urged workers on Wednesday to embrace the National Development Plan (NDP).
"As we commemorate Workers' Day, we all should strive to address challenges in the employment sector that we are facing by implementing and embracing the vision of the National Development Plan amongst other key government policies," said government spokesperson Phumla Williams.
"The NDP aims to, amongst others, eliminate poverty and reduce inequality, which is achievable by raising levels of employment and, through productivity growth, the earnings of working people," said Williams.
She also acknowledged the role of trade unions in the country.
"Trade unions and other progressive movements fought so that we all can benefit from a free society which together with government is continually changing the lives of our people for the better."
Meanwhile, the SA Communist Party (SACP) said in their Workers' Day statement that the NDP was a flawed concept with "important positive features".
"In truth, what we have in the NDP is not a “plan” but rather a broad 20 year vision. Within this... vision there are both problematic and progressive proposals."
The party called on the ruling African National Party to establish a planning commission and to be more decisive.
"We need a... commission whose planning functions are linked to the many planning functions and responsibilities of the state... to key national plans like the New Growth Path, the Industrial Policy Plan, and the Presidential, Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission’s long-term infrastructure plan.
