Date: 08/06/2004
Source: Department of Labour
Title: M Mdladlana: International Labour Conference
SPEECH BY MINISTER MMS MDLADLANA, MINISTER OF LABOUR OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, ON THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S REPORT AT THE 92nd SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE, 8 June 2004
Thank you, Mr President.
This year the South African nation celebrated three important milestones - the 92nd Anniversary of the African National Congress, one of Africa's oldest liberation movements, the 10th Anniversary of our Democracy and finally, the successful staging of our country's third democratic election.
The nature of these events indicates why each of them is intrinsically a cause for celebration, but their significance also relates directly to our participation in this great multilateral forum - the International Labour Conference.
Throughout the years of its existence the African National Congress has sought a society where the importance of people and their human rights were central.
This is the vision that sustained the South African people during our darkest days, and ten years ago this is the vision that the people of South Africa voted for. Two short months ago, this is the vision that was given a ringing endorsement, when the ANC was re-elected with its largest majority yet.
A people-centred society encompasses far more than merely the right to vote. It is based on the premise that people come before profits, that people have certain inalienable rights beyond the right to free speech, the right to associate freely and the like, but they also have rights located in the economic and social spheres.
It is within the framework of a deep-seated commitment to a people centred society, informed by an understanding of empowerment and equality, that I would like to comment on a number of issues that face this session of the ILC.
The greatest challenge facing the global community is the chasm between the developing and the developed world. The current amoral manifestation of globalisation is deepening this chasm, with the entrenchment of the super-exploitative relationship between the developed north and developing south.
In its present guise, globalisation has seen jobs disappearing, trade talks deadlock, and a continuation of financial instability. Clearly the benefits of globalisation are out of reach of far too many people, it is a situation that is not only ethically unacceptable - as noted in the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation's report - but politically unsustainable.
As the report also notes, globalisation is not inherently bad, it can provide us with the tools to challenge, and overcome, the very crisis which it is currently deepening. There are no simple solutions, but we agree with the call made in the report for a focus on people, the strengthening of the democratic state, and the importance of sustainable development, equitable markets and greater accountability. We also back the notions of fair rules, solidarity, strengthening partnerships and effective UN.
Mr President, the Director General has requested the support of member states for the vision presented by the Commission for a process of globalisation with a strong social dimension based on universally shared values and respect for human rights and individual dignity; one that is fair, inclusive, democratically governed and provides opportunities with tangible benefits for all countries and people. Mr President, I can assure the Director-General of our unwavering support.
But it is not only through the actionable outcomes high-lighted in the Commission's report that the battle against what our President HE Thabo Mbeki refers to as Global Poverty, but also through the Decent Work Agenda.
I wish to commend the ILO for its report on the road travelled in the period 2002-2003 in assisting the countries to work out of global poverty. I concur that Decent Work is a strategic tool for fighting global poverty and I believe that employment remains a critical socio-economic tool to bringing dignity and prosperity to the poor. In this regard, the future strategic policy framework should be flexible, responsive to the challenges and priorities of the time. Furthermore, resource mobilisation, effective country programmes, capacitating social partners and governments, strengthening of Area Offices and MDT's should take priority in assisting with implementing the Decent Work Agenda at country level. This, in our view will go a long way in fighting global poverty. The challenge for ILO is to actualise Decent Work into a tool for maximizing the gains of globalisation.
Mr President, I further want to thank the Director-General for availing the services of the ILO for assisting my country in building the capacity of the Roads Authority of Limpopo (South Africa) to recruit and train road construction and rehabilitation contractors. As mentioned in the report on page 34 that "To date the Authority has rehabilitated 90 km of roads and created 266,818 workdays. Of the 54 contractors trained, 90 percent are women. The Authority has retained all women trained in this new field of work. The South African Government has acknowledged the success of the project (it was a runner-up in a construction awards competition), and the project approach is now being replicated and expanded as part of the Government's Expanded Public Works Programme".
The President has now launched the EPWP in the same province on 18 May of this year. These launches by the President in all provinces of the Republic of South Africa will be completed in September 2004.
Mr President, Africa remains marginalised, underdeveloped, under resourced, highly indebted, and inflicted with diseases and the Activities Report of the Director-General observes the same trend. In this regard, technical cooperation should be stepped up with a view to assist Africa to deal with the challenges of achieving decent work for all. Secondly, we applaud the ILO for its effort in contribution to the NEPAD processes and their support in preparation for the forthcoming African Union Extra-Ordinary Summit on Employment.
We urge the ILO to use its expertise and influence in assisting regional structures such as the African Union and the Southern African Developing Community (SADC) to strengthen, enhance, and maintain the tripartite structures in these organisations.
The human resources situation in the African Regional Office, Area Offices, and MDTs deserves more attention, in particular, the appointment of Africans in senior management positions and the challenge faced by the region because of the retirements of senior Africans. We believe that more needs to be done in order to implement successive planning strategies, which would ensure that Africans are not marginalised in the ILO.
Mr President, We would be failing, if we did not remark about the plight of the Workers in the occupied Arab Territories.
Discrimination on grounds of race, and gender and religion, mobility restrictions, curfews imposed in the occupied Arab territories are the key stumbling blocks to achieving a just peace in the Middle East. The solution to this crisis lies not in the destruction of homes, nor does it lie with the building of walls - but through dialogue.
Until a resolution to this crisis is achieved, the plight of workers in the occupied territories will never be relieved.
Mr President, the celebrations to which I referred to earlier that are taking place in my country, are in essence the celebration of a vision of society free of oppression and exploitation. This is a vision that is not unique to our people, but is a global vision which can be achieved - in part - by the activities of multi-lateral bodies such as this one.
Finally, Mr President, I would like to congratulate you and your deputies on your election.
Congratulations and I thank you.
Enquiries: Monwabisi Maclean
Cell: 082 809 3195
Issued by: Department of Labour
8 June 2004
Source: Department of Labour
Title: M Mdladlana: International Labour Conference
SPEECH BY MINISTER MMS MDLADLANA, MINISTER OF LABOUR OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, ON THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S REPORT AT THE 92nd SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE, 8 June 2004
Thank you, Mr President.
This year the South African nation celebrated three important milestones - the 92nd Anniversary of the African National Congress, one of Africa's oldest liberation movements, the 10th Anniversary of our Democracy and finally, the successful staging of our country's third democratic election.
The nature of these events indicates why each of them is intrinsically a cause for celebration, but their significance also relates directly to our participation in this great multilateral forum - the International Labour Conference.
Throughout the years of its existence the African National Congress has sought a society where the importance of people and their human rights were central.
This is the vision that sustained the South African people during our darkest days, and ten years ago this is the vision that the people of South Africa voted for. Two short months ago, this is the vision that was given a ringing endorsement, when the ANC was re-elected with its largest majority yet.
A people-centred society encompasses far more than merely the right to vote. It is based on the premise that people come before profits, that people have certain inalienable rights beyond the right to free speech, the right to associate freely and the like, but they also have rights located in the economic and social spheres.
It is within the framework of a deep-seated commitment to a people centred society, informed by an understanding of empowerment and equality, that I would like to comment on a number of issues that face this session of the ILC.
The greatest challenge facing the global community is the chasm between the developing and the developed world. The current amoral manifestation of globalisation is deepening this chasm, with the entrenchment of the super-exploitative relationship between the developed north and developing south.
In its present guise, globalisation has seen jobs disappearing, trade talks deadlock, and a continuation of financial instability. Clearly the benefits of globalisation are out of reach of far too many people, it is a situation that is not only ethically unacceptable - as noted in the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation's report - but politically unsustainable.
As the report also notes, globalisation is not inherently bad, it can provide us with the tools to challenge, and overcome, the very crisis which it is currently deepening. There are no simple solutions, but we agree with the call made in the report for a focus on people, the strengthening of the democratic state, and the importance of sustainable development, equitable markets and greater accountability. We also back the notions of fair rules, solidarity, strengthening partnerships and effective UN.
Mr President, the Director General has requested the support of member states for the vision presented by the Commission for a process of globalisation with a strong social dimension based on universally shared values and respect for human rights and individual dignity; one that is fair, inclusive, democratically governed and provides opportunities with tangible benefits for all countries and people. Mr President, I can assure the Director-General of our unwavering support.
But it is not only through the actionable outcomes high-lighted in the Commission's report that the battle against what our President HE Thabo Mbeki refers to as Global Poverty, but also through the Decent Work Agenda.
I wish to commend the ILO for its report on the road travelled in the period 2002-2003 in assisting the countries to work out of global poverty. I concur that Decent Work is a strategic tool for fighting global poverty and I believe that employment remains a critical socio-economic tool to bringing dignity and prosperity to the poor. In this regard, the future strategic policy framework should be flexible, responsive to the challenges and priorities of the time. Furthermore, resource mobilisation, effective country programmes, capacitating social partners and governments, strengthening of Area Offices and MDT's should take priority in assisting with implementing the Decent Work Agenda at country level. This, in our view will go a long way in fighting global poverty. The challenge for ILO is to actualise Decent Work into a tool for maximizing the gains of globalisation.
Mr President, I further want to thank the Director-General for availing the services of the ILO for assisting my country in building the capacity of the Roads Authority of Limpopo (South Africa) to recruit and train road construction and rehabilitation contractors. As mentioned in the report on page 34 that "To date the Authority has rehabilitated 90 km of roads and created 266,818 workdays. Of the 54 contractors trained, 90 percent are women. The Authority has retained all women trained in this new field of work. The South African Government has acknowledged the success of the project (it was a runner-up in a construction awards competition), and the project approach is now being replicated and expanded as part of the Government's Expanded Public Works Programme".
The President has now launched the EPWP in the same province on 18 May of this year. These launches by the President in all provinces of the Republic of South Africa will be completed in September 2004.
Mr President, Africa remains marginalised, underdeveloped, under resourced, highly indebted, and inflicted with diseases and the Activities Report of the Director-General observes the same trend. In this regard, technical cooperation should be stepped up with a view to assist Africa to deal with the challenges of achieving decent work for all. Secondly, we applaud the ILO for its effort in contribution to the NEPAD processes and their support in preparation for the forthcoming African Union Extra-Ordinary Summit on Employment.
We urge the ILO to use its expertise and influence in assisting regional structures such as the African Union and the Southern African Developing Community (SADC) to strengthen, enhance, and maintain the tripartite structures in these organisations.
The human resources situation in the African Regional Office, Area Offices, and MDTs deserves more attention, in particular, the appointment of Africans in senior management positions and the challenge faced by the region because of the retirements of senior Africans. We believe that more needs to be done in order to implement successive planning strategies, which would ensure that Africans are not marginalised in the ILO.
Mr President, We would be failing, if we did not remark about the plight of the Workers in the occupied Arab Territories.
Discrimination on grounds of race, and gender and religion, mobility restrictions, curfews imposed in the occupied Arab territories are the key stumbling blocks to achieving a just peace in the Middle East. The solution to this crisis lies not in the destruction of homes, nor does it lie with the building of walls - but through dialogue.
Until a resolution to this crisis is achieved, the plight of workers in the occupied territories will never be relieved.
Mr President, the celebrations to which I referred to earlier that are taking place in my country, are in essence the celebration of a vision of society free of oppression and exploitation. This is a vision that is not unique to our people, but is a global vision which can be achieved - in part - by the activities of multi-lateral bodies such as this one.
Finally, Mr President, I would like to congratulate you and your deputies on your election.
Congratulations and I thank you.
Enquiries: Monwabisi Maclean
Cell: 082 809 3195
Issued by: Department of Labour
8 June 2004
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