Minister Mildred Oliphant has called for sharpening of negotiation skills of all parties engaged in the labour relations space, so as to avoid unnecessary and elaborate industrial actions that cause harm to the economy. Oliphant also lamented the steep rise in unprotected strikes saying that social dialogue between all parties remains the only way to deal with this gulf between employers and employees.
“The rise in unprotected strikes means, that, we need to go back to the drawing back and revisit the collective bargaining framework and engage in tough questions!” Oliphant said. She said business and labour needed to ask why was it, that for negotiations to conclude there needed to be a deadlock, followed by a strike before the negotiations could be finalized, Oliphant said : “I wonder why do we allow that?”
She was speaking at the opening of the 18th Annual Summit of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) today (September 20) at the Wanderers Conference Centre which is held under the theme: “Tilling the Soil Strengthening Social Dialogue to address Unemployment, Poverty and Inequality”.
Oliphant said both labour and business should shoulder the blame for the prevailing labour relations’ situation. The Minister said after the end of the gathering once discussions have been completed all parties need to reflect as to why Nedlac had been established and explore ways of strengthening the organisation.
Nedlac was established on February 1995 as a vehicle to bring business, government, labour and social partners to engage and find solutions on socio-economic and related problems facing the country.She said social dialogue has saved South Africa from the chaos, “that we see in other parts of the world”.
According to Oliphant social dialogue will always remain a key tool of industrial relations in the country as it seeks to chart steps towards prosperity. “Although the country still faces challenges in the labour relations and labour market, there was no need for despondency nor should we lose sight of the importance of social dialogue as a means to achieve social and economic progress.
“Let us acknowledge our progress and working together to deal with challenges. Today about celebrating another year and sowing the seeds to developing a sustained social dialogue,” she said.
Nedlac Executive Director: Alistair Smith called for the strengthening of the secretariat of Nedlac. Smith argued that Nedlac need not be treated as a stepchild, but has to be supported through injection of resources like it happens with other social institutions. Smith acknowledged that Nedlac needed to review its mandate; however, “I am not convinced that, we need to reshape the Act that led to the establishment of the organization”.
According to Smith Nedlac should pride itself for initiating dialogue on various legislations that were currently in Parliament for review. He made a clarion call of a need to strengthen social compact. “How do we work together to toil the soil for a strong and sustained social compact that we built in 1994,” he said that Nedlac has a critical role to play in that regard.Smith said going forward Nedlac would push ahead with strengthening social dialogue to deal with turbulence in the labour market.
