South Africa’s Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant will be leading a delegation to the 334th Session of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governing Body, to be held at the ILO headquarters, in Geneva.
The session is scheduled to take place from 25th October to the 8th November 2018.
South Africa is expected to participate and add input to several key issues of importance to Africa, which include amongst others, the decent work deficits in the tobacco sector, update from the Governing Body and ILO Director-General on issues relating to the review of the post adjustment system by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), which caused a huge mayhem in the March 2018 Session of the Governing Body, way forward on process to reform the United Nations, evaluation of decent work country programmes and, a follow-up to the strategy for indigenous people’s rights for inclusive and sustainable development.
Department of Labour head of delegation Director-General: Thobile Lamati says, “South Africa is looking forward to insightful update on the key issues mentioned but, of critical importance is the Tobacco issue and the immediate impact it will have on the livelihoods of the African countries affected. This is so as there is no clearly defined path to ameliorate the impact,” says Lamati.
He adds that, critically to the Tobacco issue, will also be its impact in the sovereignty of the ILO Governing Body in decision making.
Also expected on the agenda is South Africa’s position and implementation step to the ratification progress on the ILO Convention 169, which seeks to address challenges faced by indigenous people globally. South Africa is one of the countries that have not yet ratified the convention.
Members of the media who wish to make correspondence with the Minister and her delegation as the session unfolds are advised to please contact:
Enquiries:
Mapula Tloubatla
Departmental Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 060 989 7509
Email: mapula.tloubatla@labour.gov.za
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 697 0694
