President Jacob Zuma today, 30 March 2011, met with the General Secretary of the International Trade Unions Confederation (ITUC), Ms Sharan Burrow, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
During the meeting the ITUC requested President Zuma to use South Africa’s position in COP 17, United Nations (UN) High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability and the G20 to ensure that issues affecting workers are part of the agenda in the three forums.
South Africa is hosting the COP 17 in December this year, and is a member of the G20. President Zuma co-chairs the High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability with Finnish President Tarja Halonen. Issues of concern that were discussed included job creation, social protection, unemployment, health insurance, education, green jobs, green economy, sanitation as well as housing.
It was further suggested that measures be taken for the recovery of the global economy and the role of the international trade union movement in supporting the developmental agenda.
“I’m very pleased to have met labour on these matters, and interaction must continue so that we can move forward together to promote a better life for workers and the poor,” President Zuma said.
All parties appreciated the meeting and agreed on the pivotal role of regular interaction pertaining to the discussed issues.
President Zuma was accompanied by the Minister of Labour, Ms Mildred Oliphant; and Ms Burrow was accompanied by the leadership of Cosatu including President Sdumo Dlamini and General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
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Source: The Presidency
