M Mdladlana: Fourth Session of AU Labour and Social Affairs
Commission

25 April 2006

Excellencies,
Commissioner for Social Affairs, Advocate Gawanas
Distinguished Representatives from Governments, Social Partners and
non-governmental organisations,
Regional Director of the ILO,
Ladies and gentlemen

I would like to thank the Government and people of Egypt for making it
possible for us to meet here and for the warm hospitality extended since our
arrival in this beautiful city of Cairo. I also want to thank the Commission
for their efforts in preparing for this meeting and most importantly the member
states for making time to attend this fourth Session of the AU Labour and
Social Affairs Commission so as to discuss important issues placed on the
agenda.

I must also say that it was a great honour for the people of South Africa
and more specifically the South African Government to be afforded the privilege
of having hosted the third Session of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission
of the Africa Union.

I would like to express my gratitude to Adv Gawanas, Commissioner for the
Social Affairs of the Commission of the African Union and you the Excellencies
present here, for your support and the trust you have bestowed upon the
Government of South Africa.

May I assure you that it is both in my personal interest and the interest of
my Government that the outcome of the third Session of the Commission should
have a decisive impact on the deliberations of this meeting?

During the third Session, we as Ministers and social partners deliberated on
issues pertaining to, amongst others:

* The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
* Outcome of the Extraordinary Summit on Employment and Poverty Alleviation in
Africa
* The Draft Social Policy Framework for Africa
* The Draft Strategy Framework for a Policy on Migration in Africa

Since then, the Bureau met twice, once on the side of the ILC in 2005 and
again in Addis Ababa in September, when we reviewed implementation of the
decisions. Members of the Bureau also attended the Consultative meeting on
Employment and Poverty Alleviation that was a joint initiative by the AU
Commission and the ILO, aimed at strengthening and enhancing cooperation
between the African Union Commission and the Regional Economic Communities on
the outcome of the Ouagadougou Summit of Heads of State and Government on
Employment and Poverty Alleviation.

It is my sincere hope that this session will successfully deal with
outstanding matters and move forward concretely on those currently on our
agenda. We owe it to the people of the continent to demonstrate real
implementation of the issues that we deal with in order to change their
lives.

We should also recommit ourselves to expedite the process of implementing
the decisions of the September 2004 Ouagadougou Summit as these address the two
important issues that are affecting our continent, that is, unemployment and
poverty.

Excellencies, as Ministers of Labour, together with our social partners we
need to ensure the development of policies that will allow for investment
growth in our countries. Without massive investments in infrastructure,
information and communication technology (ICT) and other sectors, employment
creation will always remain a pipe dream that will not be achieved.

We need to develop progressive policies, in consultation with organised
labour and business as they are and will remain our partners in the process of
economic development.

In order to ensure the creation of sustainable jobs, we as Members of the
States have to find ways of working together at regional level to harmonise our
labour laws and policies. This calls for greater involvement and cooperation
with our Regional Economic Communities.

To this end, Ministers of Labour in Southern African Development Community
(SADC) have resolved to resuscitate the Employment and Labour Sector as one of
the vehicles to achieve this cooperation. We have already met with the SADC
Executive Secretary Honourable Salomao and agreed that the next session will be
held in February 2007 at a venue that will be decided in consultation with
countries in the region during the International Labour Conference in June
2006.

It is also my sincere hope that the outcome of this fourth Session of the
Commission should have a profound impact on the deliberations of the 95th
Session (June 2006) of the International Labour Conference.

As we know, the standard setting activities of the ILO have always been the
cornerstone of its activities. They continue to inspire the domestic, social
and labour legislation in many of our countries.

Let us also not forget, that the role of the social partners is essential,
as they can assist by ensuring that the implementation of standards are
actively pursued by Government through continuous tripartite consultations
fostering an open and productive relationship between Government and its social
partners. Standards 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. Among the important matters for debate
are: the Employment Relationship, the Role of the ILO in Technical Cooperation
and a Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health.

Allow me to conclude these remarks by emphasising the need for Africa to
speak with one voice and a common African position at the forthcoming
International Labour Conference. These meetings present us with a unique
opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue and discussion on issues at
hand.

The Labour and Social Affairs Commission as headed by Advocate Gawanas, has
a huge responsibility to all member states and it is my view that there is a
great need to develop the capacity of the Commission.

This could be done through the deployment, by member states of additional
and skilled personnel to the Commission. This would go a long way in ensuring
that the Commission is able to deliver effectively on its mandate.

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates
Allow me to express my gratitude to the Commissioner, the Bureau, and also to
the Members of the Commission for their work and efforts in preparing this
session of the Commission. I wish you success in the deliberations. I firmly
believe that this session will be fruitful and will reflect the goals,
ambitions, and efforts of this African Tripartite Body.

I thank you

Issued by: Department of Labour
25 April 2006