Some 60,000 South Africans filled Absa Stadium in East London on 10 January for unveiling of the African National Congress’s (ANC) 2009 election manifesto. And one of the main pieces of that five-year legislative plan – contained within a pledge to expand employment – is regulating the burgeoning number of labour brokers in the country.

The manifesto cites an ANC mandate now to better regulate labour-hire agencies and short-term contract work. It states, “to avoid exploitation of workers and ensure decent work for all workers as well as to protect the employment relationship, (the ANC will) introduce laws to regulate contract work, subcontracting, and outsourcing, address the problem of labour brokering, and prohibit certain abusive practices.”

The ANC’s election platform is strong on labour and work rights, and clearly reflects the influence of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). The platform aims to generate jobs through creation of more labour-intensive production methods, as well as procurement policies that support local jobs.

The ANC intends to make the creation of decent work the central focus in all of the party’s economic policies. The central points contained in the manifesto call for more public investment in infrastructure projects; expanding public employment; establishing assistance programmes in the fight against poverty; and introduction of a state-funded health insurance system.

The manifesto was unveiled by ANC President Jacob Zuma, who called it a product of 15 years of ANC experience in governing South Africa. Zuma told those assembled in the stadium that South Africa would work earnestly to find solutions to the African continent’s major flashpoints, from Zimbabwe to Somalia to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Parliamentarian elections in South Africa must be held by April, although no date has yet been set.