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Bell notes that one of his favourite statements (attributed to American author, Mark Twain) is that there are “lies, damned lies and then statistics”. This statement, he says, should be borne in mind whenever declarations of supposed fact are made by interested parties (implying that he includes himself). But this should apply particularly to governments - and he gives the unemployment statistics as an example.
According to Bell, a close interrogation of the unemployment statistics provided by Stats SA will reveal that the rate of unemployment in the country is “worryingly” more than is officially claimed. However, he maintains that the “lies, damned lies” aphorism goes beyond figures and numbers. It is, he says, a warning to all of us to apply critical analysis to everything.
Simply put: there is no absolute truth known to us. So he makes a plea for a critical, analytical approach to be applied to his Inside Labour column this week (published tomorrow). It will, he says, deal with the demand for a decent, national minimum wage, something he supports.
Watch:
He argues that, on the bases of available evidence, a minimum wage is not only a fundamental human right, it also makes economic sense. However, not as a policy in isolation from others.
He also concedes that he may be wrong; that other evidence may yet emerge to the contrary. However, on the basis of previous experience, he expects “knee-jerk reactions” from both supporters and opponents of the minimum wage demand who will take the demand “out of context”.
There will also, as in the past, probably be some puerile and abusive comments that merely reveal “how far we still have to go”. But clear thinking, he maintains, is a cure for prejudice. And debate on platforms such as Fin24 is a possible vehicle for this.
Now read:
- No strike is illegal statement challenged
- CCMA - for or against employers?
- Breaking free from labour laws
* Add your voice to the labour debate or ask Terry a labour-related question.
Terry Bell is a political, economic and labour analyst. Views expressed are his own. Follow him on twitter @telbelsa.
