Source: Ministry of Finance
Title: Manuel: Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the African Union
Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the African Union address by Trevor Manuel, MP, Minister of Finance, Republic of South Africa, Johannesburg
Chairperson
African Ministers of Labour
African Ministers of Social Development
African Union Commissioners for Social Affairs
Representatives of Workers
Representatives of Employers
Representatives of the ILO
Introduction
Over the last 20 years, vast regions of the developing world have negotiated the perils of globalization to reap its attendant benefits. Technological advance, the growth of new industries, and a new way of thinking about government policies has resulted in a steady rise in economic growth rates and decline in poverty. The Millennium Development Goals, which the international community has set as a measure of our progress in economic development, will be reviewed later this year. Much of the world has progressed. Africa, however, has made only halting advances.
Many of Africa's advances are significant, and we have every reason to be proud of them. The development of our collective institutions, especially the African Union and NEPAD, has been robust. We are strengthening our regional economic institutions to fulfil the role assigned to them in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and by the African Union. The macroeconomic environment of the continent is far more stable. We have fewer civil and political conflicts and more stable political systems than ever before.
But the Millennium Development Goals remain a distant dream, and it is to this dream that we must now address ourselves.
The risks of not succeeding in achieving the MDGs are substantial
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
