In his historic presentation to the ILO’s Working Party on Social Dimension of Globalisation in Geneva yesterday, Mr Manuel stressed the importance of multilateralism in addressing the challenges of globalisation.
He also discussed globalisation, distribution and the role of the state during the 286th Session of ILO’s governing body, which is the organisation’s executive body that makes decisions on ILO policy.
‘On both international and domestic levels of operation, states and governments need to be more proactive in putting in place socially-beneficial policy and regulation to ensure that the social dimensions of globalisation becomes one of integration and community rather than one of division and marginalisation,’ minister Manuel said.
He pointed out that it was critically important that multilateralism be revived.
‘Alternative conceptions of just political order is a value to the world, societies can and do adjust over time to incorporate the lessons of value in given time.’
He warned, however that the current international institutions were not effective for bringing multilateral discussions and agreement between states.
ILO’s Director General Juan Somavia, said the policy areas of finance, labour and social development needed to play an equal and mutually supportive part in order to achieve coherence.
Mr Somavia also highlighted the key role that Mr Manuel had played in international forums, particularly his inputs on financing for development.
During question time, South Africa’s worker representative Ebrahim Patel emphasised the way in which South Africa had entrenched international labour rights in the Bill of Rights, tri-partitism in law and the legislative process.
Mr Patel also noted the importance of the concept of decent work and the way in which legislation around minimum wages was part of the process of incorporating this in labour markets in South Africa.
Labour minister Membathisi Mdladlana is representing South Africa in this session after the country was elected a titular member last year. It will hold this position for three years.
Meanwhile, President Thabo Mbeki has been invited to address an ILO meeting in June. – BuaNews
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