20 March 2007
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has urged Nedlac social partners from
government, labour, business and the community to commemorate the 47th
anniversary of the Sharpeville shootings by ensuring that workers enjoy all
basic rights enacted since the dawn of the New Dispensation.
In his message issued from Geneva, where he is currently chairing an
International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governing Body meeting, Minister
Mdladlana said: "In this month of March, we need to urge our social partners to
emphasise the link between workers' rights and human rights. The ILO is correct
in saying 'worker rights are human rights.'
He said in pursuing the Decent Work Agenda, "We want to ensure that terrible
practices of child labour are eliminated. Equally, we want to ensure that the
most vulnerable workers in the agricultural industries, domestic workers and
forestry workers enjoy the basic human rights."
On this very important day, we wish to remind fellow South Africans that
this is going to be the year of inspection and enforcement. We therefore call
on employers to put their houses in order.
To those employers who abide by the law, whether it is health and safety, or
employment equity, we encourage them to keep up the good work.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
Issued by: Department of Labour
20 March 2007
