Ian Ollis

Ian Ollis
MP
Shadow Minister of Labour
Incumbent
Assumed office
2014
Leader Helen Zille
Preceded by Kenneth Mubu
Shadow Minister of Transport
In office
2009–2014
Preceded by Stuart Farrow
Succeeded by Manny de Freitas
Member of Parliament
for Sandton/Alexandra, Gauteng
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 May 2009
Personal details
Born Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality South African
Political party Democratic Alliance
Residence Sandton, South Africa
Website ianollis.com

Ian Ollis (born 1970) is a South African politician who serves in the National Assembly of South Africa. A member of the Democratic Alliance, he is the current Shadow Minister of Labour.

Early life and education

Ollis was born in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa in 1970 and matriculated at the Cambridge High School. He completed his education through the Baptist Theological College, University of Zululand and his Master of Arts degree at Wits University in Johannesburg.[1]

Having completed four years in seminary, Ollis was ordained and served in the Christian ministry in Johannesburg for six years before becoming an estate agent. He has worked as a sessional lecturer at the Wits College of Education, and has trained staff of real estate companies, political formations and religious institutions.

Ollis is openly gay.[2]

Political life

Ollis joined the Democratic Alliance in 1998 and served in its various formations, including the 1999 parliamentary election campaign, before being elected to the City Council of Johannesburg in 2005 and then re-elected as a ward councillor in 2006. He has worked in the fundraising department of the Democratic Alliance and served on the Gauteng South Regional executive. In 2009, Ollis was elected a member of Parliament and currently serves as the party's Shadow Minister of Labour, the political head of the Sandton Constituency and as Deputy Chairman of the Gauteng Executive of the Democratic Alliance.

In October 2010, Ollis submitted a Private Members' Bill that would hold unions accountable for violence and damage to property caused during strikes. On 15 November 2011, the Department of Labour announced that amendments would be made to the corresponding Act, in a proposal similar to the DA's.[3]

Throughout his term as Shadow Labour Minister, Ollis has been at the forefront of the quest to reduce endemic unemployment in South Africa.

In February 2011, Ollis issued a statement on the proposed amendments to the Employment Equity Act, citing that that the legislative changes would be unconstitutional and create "massive problems" if implemented.

In October 2011, Ollis submitted a private member's bill to amend the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act to expand the Compensation Fund's coverage to include domestic workers.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Ian Ollis".
  2. ↑ "DA ‘young gun’ throws hat into the race for Gauteng". The Star. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  3. ↑ "Department of Labour endorses DA position on strike violence". DA. 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  4. ↑ "DA launches plan for domestics". News24. 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2012-01-23.

Offices held

Political offices
Preceded by
??		 Shadow Minister of Labour
2009–present 		Incumbent