'Turbulent' times ahead for labour: Oliphant

Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant on Tuesday warned of turbulence in the labour market.  "Recent developments in the labour front signify a turbulent period ahead, but I still believe that it is incumbent upon me to extend best wishes to you all for 2014," she said at a National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) conference in Pretoria.  On Monday, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) announced it would strike in both the platinum and gold sectors from Thursday.  Job growth was "the most important challenge" for 2014, Oliphant said at the conference.  "We also hope that this year will buck the trend of 2013 that saw a higher number of new contract jobs or short-duration jobs than permanent jobs."  She noted criticism of labour legislation and the labour dispensation, particularly from some international bodies, as well as from local business and the media, but said she certainly did not think labour legislation was too restrictive or that the labour market was over-regulated.  Oliphant indicated that her department was prioritising the promulgation and implementation of the labour bills currently before Parliament.