Government needs to use regulation as a toolbox for good rather than a straitjacket
[{“type”:”text”,”content”:”A standout example is the impact of onerous labour regulations on the sectoru2019s ability to expand employment opportunities. The agricultural sector directly employs more than 800,000 people and indirectly supports millions more. These jobs provide an essential economic lifeline in South Africau2019s rural communities. nnLabour policy should be geared toward maintaining these jobs and expanding opportunities in the sector. We need innovative legislators who understand that accelerating inclusivity requires tailored solutions for South Africau2019s diverse sectors.nnLoosening regulation would unleash the power of business to create economic growth and new opportunities to bring more people into the economy. This shift would be a game-changer, giving employers incentive to hire more people without the threat of the tortuous regulatory compliance requirements to maintain or expand their workforces.nnSimilarly, more attention needs to be paid to the economic consequences of the evermore complex AgriBEE sector code. The current regime is so convoluted that it has created a whole new industry just to help businesses to understand the regulations. This in turn has discouraged engagement with this important project, especially by small businesses. Here again a process of simplification rather than expansion would be a boon to both compliance and the underlying objective: greater sector inclusivity.nnIn more immediate terms, economies across the world are feeling the impact of the Ukraine crisis. In particular, the agricultural sector was affected by Russiau2019s invasion of Ukraine. Russia produces significant quantities of fertilizer, and both Russia and Ukraine are some of the worldu2019s biggest producers of wheat and gas. Commodity prices have thus skyrocketed.”,”position”:0,”id”:”36AsJZQIAKHCH7LU”}]