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Johannesburg - Collective bargaining in the country is under stress, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday.
"Settlement agreements take longer to conclude, strike action has increased, shop floor labour relations have weakened and, in some instances, confidence in trade unions has eroded," he told a labour relations indaba at Emperors Palace on Johannesburg's East Rand.
"Persistent inequality, weak economic performance, high unemployment and other socio-economic factors place pressure on the parties to collective bargaining and strain our labour relations regime."
Labour market vulnerability and job insecurity added to these pressures and there was a risk of labour relations in the country gravely weakening, Ramaphosa said.
The labour relations indaba was expected to discuss the implementations of a national minimum wage and income inequality and the causes of the country's prevailing labour relations environment.
Delegates from government, labour, business, and community organisations were attending the indaba.
Ramaphosa said more concrete proposals on promoting labour market stability and income inequality were needed.
"These two challenges are both urgent and critical.
"Effectively addressed, they will expand the capacity of our economy and improve the livelihoods of millions of our people," he said.
"We need to find common solutions to common problems that we face."
Ramaphosa said he could "smell an agreement" on many of the issues and urged delegates to reach those agreements.
