Date: 25/04/2006
Source: Department of Labour
Title: Mdladlana: Fourth Session of AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission
Chairman’s remarks by Mr M Mdladlana: Minister of Labour of the Republic of South Africa on the occasion of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the African Union (AU): Cairo, Egypt
Excellencies,
Commissioner for Social Affairs, Advocate Gawanas
Distinguished Representatives from Governments, Social Partners and non-governmental organisations,
Regional Director of the ILO,
Ladies and gentlemen
I would like to thank the Government and people of Egypt for making it possible for us to meet here and for the warm hospitality extended since our arrival in this beautiful city of Cairo. I also want to thank the Commission for their efforts in preparing for this meeting and most importantly the member states for making time to attend this fourth Session of the AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission so as to discuss important issues placed on the agenda.
I must also say that it was a great honour for the people of South Africa and more specifically the South African Government to be afforded the privilege of having hosted the third Session of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the Africa Union.
I would like to express my gratitude to Adv Gawanas, Commissioner for the Social Affairs of the Commission of the African Union and you the Excellencies present here, for your support and the trust you have bestowed upon the Government of South Africa.
May I assure you that it is both in my personal interest and the interest of my Government that the outcome of the third Session of the Commission should have a decisive impact on the deliberations of this meeting?
During the third Session, we as Ministers and social partners deliberated on issues pertaining to, amongst others:
* The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
* Outcome of the Extraordinary Summit on Employment and Poverty Alleviation in Africa
* The Draft Social Policy Framework for Africa
* The Draft Strategy Framework for a Policy on Migration in Africa
Since then, the Bureau met twice, once on the side of the ILC in 2005 and again in Addis Ababa in September, when we reviewed implementation of the decisions. Members of the Bureau also attended the Consultative meeting on Employment and Poverty Alleviation that was a joint initiative by the AU Commission and the ILO, aimed at strengthening and enhancing cooperation between the African Union Commission and the Regional Economic Communities on the outcome of the Ouagadougou Summit of Heads of State and Government on Employment and Poverty Alleviation.
It is my sincere hope that this session will successfully deal with outstanding matters and move forward concretely on those currently on our agenda. We owe it to the people of the continent to demonstrate real implementation of the issues that we deal with in order to change their lives.
We should also recommit ourselves to expedite the process of implementing the decisions of the September 2004 Ouagadougou Summit as these address the two important issues that are affecting our continent, that is, unemployment and poverty.
Excellencies, as Ministers of Labour, together with our social partners we need to ensure the development of policies that will allow for investment growth in our countries. Without massive investments in infrastructure, information and communication technology (ICT) and other sectors, employment creation will always remain a pipe dream that will not be achieved.
We need to develop progressive policies, in consultation with organised labour and business as they are and will remain our partners in the process of economic development.
In order to ensure the creation of sustainable jobs, we as Members of the States have to find ways of working together at regional level to harmonise our labour laws and policies. This calls for greater involvement and cooperation with our Regional Economic Communities.
To this end, Ministers of Labour in Southern African Development Community (SADC) have resolved to resuscitate the Employment and Labour Sector as one of the vehicles to achieve this cooperation. We have already met with the SADC Executive Secretary Honourable Salomao and agreed that the next session will be held in February 2007 at a venue that will be decided in consultation with countries in the region during the International Labour Conference in June 2006.
It is also my sincere hope that the outcome of this fourth Session of the Commission should have a profound impact on the deliberations of the 95th Session (June 2006) of the International Labour Conference.
As we know, the standard setting activities of the ILO have always been the cornerstone of its activities. They continue to inspire the domestic, social and labour legislation in many of our countries.
Let us also not forget, that the role of the social partners is essential, as they can assist by ensuring that the implementation of standards are actively pursued by Government through continuous tripartite consultations fostering an open and productive relationship between Government and its social partners. Standards can only become realistic and appropriate to actual working conditions and requirements if social partners are prepared to work together to create a better working environment. Among the important matters for debate are: the Employment Relationship, the Role of the ILO in Technical Cooperation and a Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health.
Allow me to conclude these remarks by emphasising the need for Africa to speak with one voice and a common African position at the forthcoming International Labour Conference. These meetings present us with a unique opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue and discussion on issues at hand.
The Labour and Social Affairs Commission as headed by Advocate Gawanas, has a huge responsibility to all member states and it is my view that there is a great need to develop the capacity of the Commission.
This could be done through the deployment, by member states of additional and skilled personnel to the Commission. This would go a long way in ensuring that the Commission is able to deliver effectively on its mandate.
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates Allow me to express my gratitude to the Commissioner, the Bureau, and also to the Members of the Commission for their work and efforts in preparing this session of the Commission. I wish you success in the deliberations. I firmly believe that this session will be fruitful and will reflect the goals, ambitions, and efforts of this African Tripartite Body.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Labour
25 April 2006
Source: Department of Labour
Title: Mdladlana: Fourth Session of AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission
Chairman’s remarks by Mr M Mdladlana: Minister of Labour of the Republic of South Africa on the occasion of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the African Union (AU): Cairo, Egypt
Excellencies,
Commissioner for Social Affairs, Advocate Gawanas
Distinguished Representatives from Governments, Social Partners and non-governmental organisations,
Regional Director of the ILO,
Ladies and gentlemen
I would like to thank the Government and people of Egypt for making it possible for us to meet here and for the warm hospitality extended since our arrival in this beautiful city of Cairo. I also want to thank the Commission for their efforts in preparing for this meeting and most importantly the member states for making time to attend this fourth Session of the AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission so as to discuss important issues placed on the agenda.
I must also say that it was a great honour for the people of South Africa and more specifically the South African Government to be afforded the privilege of having hosted the third Session of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the Africa Union.
I would like to express my gratitude to Adv Gawanas, Commissioner for the Social Affairs of the Commission of the African Union and you the Excellencies present here, for your support and the trust you have bestowed upon the Government of South Africa.
May I assure you that it is both in my personal interest and the interest of my Government that the outcome of the third Session of the Commission should have a decisive impact on the deliberations of this meeting?
During the third Session, we as Ministers and social partners deliberated on issues pertaining to, amongst others:
* The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
* Outcome of the Extraordinary Summit on Employment and Poverty Alleviation in Africa
* The Draft Social Policy Framework for Africa
* The Draft Strategy Framework for a Policy on Migration in Africa
Since then, the Bureau met twice, once on the side of the ILC in 2005 and again in Addis Ababa in September, when we reviewed implementation of the decisions. Members of the Bureau also attended the Consultative meeting on Employment and Poverty Alleviation that was a joint initiative by the AU Commission and the ILO, aimed at strengthening and enhancing cooperation between the African Union Commission and the Regional Economic Communities on the outcome of the Ouagadougou Summit of Heads of State and Government on Employment and Poverty Alleviation.
It is my sincere hope that this session will successfully deal with outstanding matters and move forward concretely on those currently on our agenda. We owe it to the people of the continent to demonstrate real implementation of the issues that we deal with in order to change their lives.
We should also recommit ourselves to expedite the process of implementing the decisions of the September 2004 Ouagadougou Summit as these address the two important issues that are affecting our continent, that is, unemployment and poverty.
Excellencies, as Ministers of Labour, together with our social partners we need to ensure the development of policies that will allow for investment growth in our countries. Without massive investments in infrastructure, information and communication technology (ICT) and other sectors, employment creation will always remain a pipe dream that will not be achieved.
We need to develop progressive policies, in consultation with organised labour and business as they are and will remain our partners in the process of economic development.
In order to ensure the creation of sustainable jobs, we as Members of the States have to find ways of working together at regional level to harmonise our labour laws and policies. This calls for greater involvement and cooperation with our Regional Economic Communities.
To this end, Ministers of Labour in Southern African Development Community (SADC) have resolved to resuscitate the Employment and Labour Sector as one of the vehicles to achieve this cooperation. We have already met with the SADC Executive Secretary Honourable Salomao and agreed that the next session will be held in February 2007 at a venue that will be decided in consultation with countries in the region during the International Labour Conference in June 2006.
It is also my sincere hope that the outcome of this fourth Session of the Commission should have a profound impact on the deliberations of the 95th Session (June 2006) of the International Labour Conference.
As we know, the standard setting activities of the ILO have always been the cornerstone of its activities. They continue to inspire the domestic, social and labour legislation in many of our countries.
Let us also not forget, that the role of the social partners is essential, as they can assist by ensuring that the implementation of standards are actively pursued by Government through continuous tripartite consultations fostering an open and productive relationship between Government and its social partners. Standards can only become realistic and appropriate to actual working conditions and requirements if social partners are prepared to work together to create a better working environment. Among the important matters for debate are: the Employment Relationship, the Role of the ILO in Technical Cooperation and a Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health.
Allow me to conclude these remarks by emphasising the need for Africa to speak with one voice and a common African position at the forthcoming International Labour Conference. These meetings present us with a unique opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue and discussion on issues at hand.
The Labour and Social Affairs Commission as headed by Advocate Gawanas, has a huge responsibility to all member states and it is my view that there is a great need to develop the capacity of the Commission.
This could be done through the deployment, by member states of additional and skilled personnel to the Commission. This would go a long way in ensuring that the Commission is able to deliver effectively on its mandate.
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates Allow me to express my gratitude to the Commissioner, the Bureau, and also to the Members of the Commission for their work and efforts in preparing this session of the Commission. I wish you success in the deliberations. I firmly believe that this session will be fruitful and will reflect the goals, ambitions, and efforts of this African Tripartite Body.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Labour
25 April 2006
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