VOA慢速英语2013 经济报道 - 南非劳动法过于严格（在线收听）

Economics Report - South African Labor Laws Are Too Restrictive

经济报道 - 南非劳动法过于严格

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。

South Africa's rate of unemployment is about 25%. Some businesses and economists say South African labor laws are too restrictive. They say this keeps the jobless rate too high. 

南非的失业率为25%左右。一些企业和经济学家表示，南非的劳动法过于严格，这使得失业率过高。

Business leaders are especially concerned about laws on employing and dismissing workers. For example, Simon Arcus dismissed an employee who stepped in another worker. The employee took the businessman to labor court. Mr. Arcus spent 7,000 dollars in court before he reached the settlement with the employee.

企业领导人尤为关注雇佣和解雇员工的法律。例如，西蒙·阿克斯（Simon Arcus）解雇了一名干预其他同事的员工。该员工将阿克斯告上劳动法庭。阿克斯先生在法庭花了7000美元才和这名员工达成和解。

"I really shouldn't be in that position, to have had to spent anything, and the actual money part didn't bug me as much as the fact that I have to give up my time and other staff members, and go to considerable expense when in my opinion it was opening an closed case."

“我本不该站上被告席，不该花一分钱。花钱没什么，但这事很烦。我必须浪费时间和人力并花费相当大的代价。而在我看来，这是在开启一桩结案。”

Business owners like Simon Acus believe it should be easier to dismiss an employee. Now, owners must give an employee a warning in person and then two separate written warnings. Then comes a hearing where employees can defend their actions. Only after that, can employees be dismissed. 

像阿克斯这样的企业主认为，解雇员工应该变得更为容易。目前，企业主必须亲自给员工一个警告，然后分别给两次书面警告，然后举行听证会让员工为自己的行为辩护。只有经过这样才能解雇员工。

However, the employee can dispute the dismissal in labor court. Lawyer Shamima Gaibie works closely with Labor Unions. She says workers need to be protected by the law. 

然而，员工可以就解雇向法庭提出异议。Shamima Gaibie律师与工会合作密切。她说，员工需要受到法律保护。

"Given the imbalances, and I think given the past, and given the issues that have arisen from that past. I think that for the first time in this country, I think employees have the basic rights, which I think all the employees should have on the world."

她说，考虑到（企业和员工之间的）不平衡和过去出现的问题，我认为我国的员工有这样的基本权利，全世界的员工都有这样的权利。”

She notes the case of striking mine workers in the town of Marikana as an example of the need for strong labor laws in South Africa. Police shooting-killed 34 miners there last year when the strike turned violent.

她以南非马里卡纳镇矿工罢工案件为例来说明南非需要有更给力的劳动法。去年当这起罢工演变为暴力冲突后，警察射杀了34名矿工。

"I think that until and unless the employers and the trade unions achieve an amicable relationship that generates trust and almost generates an atmosphere of working together, I think for the moment, and maybe for the foreseeable future, I think legislation is needed."

她说，“我认为只有雇主和工会达成友好关系，才能产生信任和合作氛围。我认为在当前和可预见的未来，立法是有必要的。”

Another lawyer Nick Robb says South Africa's Labor Relations Act was one of the most important laws past after the end of white minority rule.

另一位律师尼克·罗伯（Nick Robb)表示，南非的劳动关系法是结束白人少数族群统治后通过的最重要的法律。

"The first piece of legislation which they dealt with was the labor relations act, which wasn't surprising-I mean, it made complete sense. They actually installed it as a very important piece of legislation. It ranked second only to the constitution among all statutes in this country."

他说，“他们处理的第一项立法就是劳动关系法，这并不奇怪。我的意思是，这项立法极具意义。他们把它作为非常重要的立法，在我国所有法规中仅次于宪法。”

Last year more than half of those living in South Africa's cities said the country's labor loss are slowing grow. South Africa was rated next to last in hiring and firing practices in a report from the World Economic Forum. 

去年，南非半数以上的城市居民表示，南非的劳动力流失正在缓慢提高。在世界经济论坛的一份报告中，南非在雇佣和解雇做法上去年被评为倒数第二。

Lucy Holborn is with the South Africa Institute for Race Relations. She says the country's businesses are being pressured to help in poverty and in equality. And the government expects them to create jobs.

露西·霍尔（Lucy Holborn）就职于南非种族关系研究所。她说，该国的企业被施以帮助贫困和平等的压力，政府希望他们能创造就业岗位。

And that's the Economics Report. I'm Milagros Ardin.