work environment
26 April 2006
Sound working relations between governments and their social partners
remained the cornerstone of high standards for any country.
This was said today (Wednesday) by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana
during his address of the African Unionâs (AU) Labour and Social Affairs
Commission in Cairo, Egypt.
Speaking on his capacity as the outgoing chairman of the commission, which
is holding its Fourth Ordinary Session, Minister Mdladlana said the role of
social partners in any government was to ensuring the maintenance of standards
on issues including occupational health and safety.
âStandards 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,â Minister Mdladlana said.
He said the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and its standards
setting activities had always inspired the domestic, social and labour
legislation of many countries.
The gathering takes place ahead of the ILO Conference in Geneva in June
where issues such as employment relationship, the role of the ILO in technical
cooperation and a promotional framework for occupational safety and health will
be debated at length.
Emphasising the need for African states to speak with one voice and a common
African position in the upcoming ILO Conference Minister Mdladlana urged
delegates to use the AU gathering as a forum to thrash out issues
fruitfully.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 082 808 2168
Issued by: Department of Labour
26 April 2006
