Miayicmuant. ~ 154%
Ben Bella's, radio and television spa:ch of March 29th, announcing the two-part decree anithe taking over of the so-called “vacated properties" contained many interesting references to workers' mamagement. We sare, therefore, reproducing extracts. It mst be noted that the speech dealt with many other matters in addition to this issue. Ia particular, there Was an explanation of the rersonswhich prompted the Algerian Government to take the steps it did, and also some important references to the national furfis. We hope to be able to make the full text of the speech available in some other form, The extracts are as follows :
",eeeeeeAlmost everywhere, they (the Algerian Working Masses) organised themselves spontaneously and moved in to replace the absconding exploiters , In this respect the decrees of October 2@and and November 23rd 1962, loft them the possibility of returning and even of being re-instated in their enterprises, These decreos did no more than ratify a state of affairs which the working masses hed created throughout the country by their own efforts,
"From now on we will not speak any more of 'vacatea properties' but of enterprises and undertakings of self-management. Once defined as 'yacoted', once determined =s the key sector of the Algerian economy, we must turn seriously to the problem of the management of this. sector which we wish to use as a 'pilot! for our socialism, Two solutions are offroad Should we place management in the State ? ‘Should we placa it with the workers ? In fact,no hesitation is possible, The principle of self-management of the enterprises by the workers has already been inscribed in the moality of the Algerian Revolution, by the spontaneous, conscious action of the labouring masses, The powerful movement of the Management Committees which multiplied throughout the country, awaited simply legislation in its revolutionary extension,
“It is the workers, in their General Assemblies, who will decide on the plan of development for their enterprises, within the framework of the National Plan, It is they, the workers, who will establish, examine and adept tha book-keeping accounts. It is thoy who will determine bonuses for output. It is they who will harvest the fruit of thsir labour. They will participate in the management of the National Funds for investment and the balamcing of employment. Working men and women of Algeria, I would like to stress the national funds for balancing employment.
“Saeeeel Would also like to speak about the director who const itutes one of the instruments of your solf-Management. This director will be selected on a moral and professional level. He will be nominated by the State bt this nomination will be submitted to your approval. Because it is necessary that within your enterprises of seli-managemont someone should represent the natinoml collectivity to which you belong and safeguard its interests, it is necessary thet within your enterprises there should be someone who can serve as a transmission bolt betweun our enterprises and the State, someone responsible for the National Plan of devalopmentescessss eee this director is a worker like you and willshare yur troubles and joys and participate, with you, in the socialist construction of your country. Make his task aay. Help him, Protect him like one of your own, Working mon and women of Algeria, it is up to mou and only you to prove to the world that the Algerian Revolution wants to be and can be in the vanguard of the Socialist experience of our times, Close your ranks, demonstrate to the world that you are masters of your own destiny, united, vigilant and consc— ious of your duties and .-sur rightsg organise yoursglves so that everywhere, over the whole Adgerian territory, the Goneral Assemblies of the Workers—.... can harness thamsplves to the tagk of socialist constructionss..."