I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you the Honourable Acting Minister and delegation from the Ministry of Labour and Public Service and Human Resource Development to the Republic of South Africa.
I would also like to congratulate South Sudan for having joined the family of nations recently and furthermore, would like to assure you that this country stands shoulder to shoulder with your peoples to help build the capacity of state thus giving full effect to a reality of nationhood and entrench democracy in the continent.
Background to the 2008 study visit
A delegation from South Sudan visited the Department in 2008, with the view of forging relations between the two ministries. South Sudan was still going through the process of gaining independence from North Sudan. South Africa presented them with a draft Memorandum of Understanding on Labour. The main areas of interest as presented by South Africa were:
- Dispute prevention and resolution
- Social Dialogue
- Social Welfare
Unfortunately no communication between the two Ministries took place since the request was made. It is interesting to note that South Sudan still has the same interests regarding pursuing best practice in Social Dialogue and Labour dispute resolution mechanisms.
Background on the current visit
Recently a request was received through the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Pretoria Office to facilitate a study visit and courtesy visit to the Minister’s office to expose the Ministers from Sudan to social dialogue best practices. The ILO office also requested that the delegation be afforded exposure to Labour dispute resolution mechanisms (CCMA experience)
South Africa would like to commend you on the recently held National Labour and Employment Tripartite Conference which mainly focused on the Decent Work Programme and operational capacity building needs to meet the demands of your new country. It is my fervent hope that South Sudan would work towards the implementation of the resolutions adopted during the conference.
I would urge to bring unity of purpose to everything that you do. That is what separates winning countries – the ability to define and work on common issues bringing together all role players in the social and economic sector. Implementing a tripartite approach would ensure that the country maintains stability in the labour market by addressing its problems through the social dialogue mechanisms.
Seventeen years into the democracry, we are still on the learning curve. Just because we have NEDLAC and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) does not mean we know everything. We are also committed to continue developing policies and implement the conventions as required by the ILO.
This visit is just the beginning of the long term relations between our departments. We need to collaborate and work together towards the peaceful, secure and prosperous Africa that ensures that workers and employers rights are protected through the social dialogue structures.
In conclusion, I would like to wish the Honourable Acting Minister and delegation all the success during this visit. I sincerely hope that you will have fruitful engagements with all the institutions you will be visiting. In terms of the programme, my Director-General and senior managers will make presentation to you on the functioning of my Department.
I thank you.
