Address by the Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant on the occasion of the launch of “What works in HIV and Aids and the World of Work in South Africa Research study" GIZ-funded HSRC
Program Director;
Representative of GIZ;
Chief Executive Officer of the Human Sciences Research Council; Prof Crain Soudien;
Professor Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya;
Leaders of our Esteemed Social Partners;
Members of the Project Steering Committee;
Members of the Media;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen.
Good Morning, Guten Tag.
Labour Policy and the Industrial Relations remain an extremely contested and dynamic terrain in South Africa. Whilst we have, in the 21 years of our democracy, managed to put in place world class labour policies, we need from time to time to examine what works in general and whether or not we are getting the desired impact.
It is said that South Africans are sometimes too hard to themselves and place too much emphasis on the negatives neglecting to celebrate some of the great achievements of our collective efforts.
As we shift into evidence-based policy considerations, it is important that we apply the same evidence-based principles in assessing what works. This is precisely the basis on which this new project is premised; to demonstrate using verifiable evidence, what works and what works well.
This project Ladies and Gentlemen, is an extension of the ILO Multi-Country Study Report entitled “Effective Responses to HIV and AIDS at Work – A Multi-Country Study in Africa that I launched in 24 April 2015.
The study that we are launching this morning, “What Works in HIV and AIDS and the World of Work in South Africa” is aimed at obtaining documented evidence of effective responses among diverse workplaces in South Africa.
Through this initiative, which GIZ is gladly supporting, is the drive of the Department of Labour to determine effective responses to HIV and AIDS in South African workplaces. The study will involve obtaining documented evidence of effective responses from 50 workplaces which will be collated for analysis as to which interventions have had the greatest impact resulting in game-changing outcomes. Obtaining documented evidence of what impact these have had on among other things;
- increasing knowledge of HIV and AIDS,
- encouraging growing commitment to voluntary counselling, testing and changing risky behaviours,
- reduction in stigma and discrimination, as well as,
- Increasing uptake on anti-retroviral treatment.
Programme Director; I am very grateful to the German Government’s technical Development Agency, (GIZ) for their commitment to fund this study, so soon after the April 2015 ILO, Department of Labour, HSRC multi-country Report. I am also very pleased to express my support for the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and Professor Phaswana–Mafuya as the Principal Investigator in this project.
I will be co-championing the study with Prof Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya and her team ensuring workplace cooperation, buy-in and uptake of study’s results while she and her team will provide scientific leadership. In all, a business case for the strengthening HIV and AIDS programmes in South African workplaces will be made through the compilation of solid quantifiable measurable evidence, as well as through interviews with our key stakeholders in selected workplaces.
I have no doubt that we can count on your support for this initiative as it will identify, analyse and document those successful and replicable programmes and policies that can benefit small and large workplaces across all economic sectors in South Africa.
I have given my full support to the Department in setting up a Project Steering Committee, a Project Reference Group and we will ensure effective dissemination of the project’s outputs and the uptake of the results and recommendations.
We are confident that under the scientific leadership of the HSRC’s research team headed by Prof Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya, Mr Martin Weihs and Dr Dimitri and the HSRC CEO, Prof Crain Soudien giving the much needed guidance and oversight will enhance the study outcomes. The benefit from the collaborative partnership with the Department’s staff will bring along with it, enhanced internal research capacity under the leadership of the Director General.
The evidence obtained from the study will also inform steps to be taken in order to enhance policy and best practices in dealing with the challenge of HIV and AIDS in the workplace.
This project will contribute towards profiling the work of the Ministry of Labour by describing workplaces with good practices.
The findings of the study can contribute towards improvement of the code of good practice and the ILO Recommendation 200. The outcomes of the study carry a real potential to propel other workplaces to replicate the lessons learnt.
The most salient benefits foreseen by the DoL are that;
- the research will acknowledge those South African workplaces where the prevention of HIV infection and the treatment and care of those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS are seen as an integral part of their contribution the South African economy and the promotion of the well-being of all its citizens;
- the research will also lift important lessons and best practices that could be a source of inspiration for others to follow;
- the research will provide an excellent platform for our own researchers to expand their knowledge.
Programme Director; Not only does the launch of this important project have my full support but I wish the HSRC’s research team, The Project Steering Committee and the reference teams well and look forward to hosting, alongside GIZ and our social partners, the launch of the final report on “What works in HIV and AIDS and the world of work in South Africa” in 2017.
As Professor Phaswana has explained some of the finer details of the project, it is needless to emphasise that the success of this project will depend on unqualified support from all of you gathered here this morning.
Goal 3 of the 17 recently adopted United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, calls on member states to end the epidemics of Aids, tuberculosis, malaria … and other communicable diseases by 2030.
I can say, without fear of contradiction that this project will contribute immensely towards achieving this important goal.
We should be proud that even before the UN decided on Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals; we had already identified it as worthy of being a priority for the nation’s good and wellness.
As we gather here this morning I would like to recall the preamble the United Nations leaders Declaration adopted on 26 September 2015 on Partnership and propose that it becomes the motto that guides this project, and I paraphrase; “We are determined to mobilize every means required to implement this agenda through a revitalised partnership based on the spirit of solidarity, focused in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable with participation of all stakeholders”.
I appeal to all the leaders in this room to live the spirit embodied in this preamble to support this noble initiative. Open your doors to our researchers when they knock on your doors.
Share with the nation your own experiences for the public good.
Thank you to all our social partners for participating in this launch, the continuation of an important journey that started with the launch of ILO, Department of Labour, and HSRC Africa’s Multi-country report in April 2015. This journey we must undertake together.
I thank you!
