Deputy Minister of Labour, Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa weighs in on the Decent Work Agenda and Job security in Geneva and London respectively
Addressing the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governing Body in Geneva on Wednesday, under the theme of “Decent Work for Sustainable Development” the Deputy Minister of Labour, Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa was emphatic that “the 2030 development agenda remains key in the discussions of the nexus between employment and poverty eradication.”
The ILO Governing Body made up of 112 member states sits annually and amongst its main objectives in 2017 is to consider major policy challenges in the world of work informed by the ILO strategic plan 2018-21 adopted in November 2016. At the heart of the ILO strategy is the drive to promote social justice through the Decent Work Agenda, with the mutually supportive objectives of employment, social protection, social dialogue and tripartism as well as the fundamental principles and rights at work.
Holomisa made reference to statistics on sub-Sahara Africa indicating that approximately 6 out of 10 workers are expected to be living in poverty in 2018. He called on the ILO Governing Body to continue in its quest for a shared future for human dignity and advancement. “As we gather here, we are spurred on by our conviction of employment playing a mediation role between economic growth and poverty, sustainable employment being the most optimal and viable route out of poverty”
The Deputy Minister also took the opportunity to reiterate South Africa’s support to the introduction of a rights-focussed approach to decent work in agriculture and rural economies. In this regard he expressed his grave concern that “again 6 out of 10 men and women working in this sector live in extreme or moderate poverty”.
He concluded his address by highlighting some notable accomplishments and advances in the different fields of social security leading towards a universal coverage. A social protection floor is essential in order to secure basic human rights, such as access to health care and education, decent old age living conditions, protection against work injuries or illnesses and provisions in case of unemployment and other precarious situations. At national level we have just agreed broadly with our social partners on a national minimum wage which is primarily aimed at improving the lives of workers and their families.”
En route to ILO meeting in Geneva, Deputy Minister Holomisa stopped over in London to share his views on Shaping the future of work in a Digital World. Giving a South African perspective at the Conference, he started by expressing his ambivalence at the pace of the technological advancements. “On the one hand, I am optimistic because the technological revolution brings with it the promise of us creating new jobs for the millions of unemployed, most of them youth that have never been in a formal job. On the other hand I am pessimistic because the technological changes have the potential to undo some of the gains in sectors which have created jobs”
In his address he emphasised the need for a balancing act for policy makers as they navigate the challenges posed by automation and digital technological advances, “the challenge for us as policy makers is to be aggressive in undertaking programmes that make existing workers adapt to the changing demands of the work place, at the same time should prepare the new work force to take up the new technology-biased jobs, through appropriate education and skills programmes.
Holomisa rounded off his address by indicating that this is a global phenomenon that all governments and stakeholders need to grapple with and that South Africa is no exception. Labour markets are experiencing a great paradox in that even though technology is simplifying the lives of workers as they adapt to new forms of work and become creative, workers are still worse off, due to shrinking job opportunities. South Africa, through the National Development Plan Vision 2030, attempts to create an environment of lifelong learning to help workers remain relevant in times of rapid change.
The Deputy Minister in both these platforms leads a South African delegation that includes the Director General of Labour, Thobile Lamati.
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