It was critical for the new South Sudan state to bring together government, labour and business to work together and ensure economic growth as it seeks to define what kind of labour dispensation it wants.
This was said by the South African Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant when she hosted the South Sudan labour delegation that is on a study visit to this country.
The delegation, which is funded by the International Labour Organisations is interested in issues of dispute prevention and resolution, social dialogue as well as social welfare and will be visiting Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), Nedlac as well as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Pretoria office.
“I would like to urge to bring unity of purpose to everything that you do. That is what separates winning countries – the ability to define and work on common issues bringing together all role players in the social and economic sector. Implementing a tripartite approach would ensure that the country maintains stability in the labour market by addressing its problems through the social dialogue mechanisms,” she said.
The South Sudan delegation of twelve men and women is being led by the Acting and deputy National Minister of Labour Kwong Danhier Gatluak. It also includes labour ministers from the different states that make up South Sudan.
The country is the latest addition to the community of nations having gained its independence on July 9 this year.
The leader of the delegation, Mr Gatluak thanked ‘the country of Madiba and other heroes’ for the role South Africa has played and continues to play in country and hoped the two countries will sign – and implement – a memorandum of understanding.
“We are particularly grateful to President Zuma for allowing the former president Thabo Mbeki to continue with the mediation efforts which have resulted in the new state being born.”
He added that the Sudan’s relations with the ANC were cemented in the 80s in Cuba and he acknowledged the ‘crucial’ role played by the ANC which resulted in the peace agreements.
“We have come to realise that implementation is the hardest part. Right now we are still on shuttle diplomacy and need to deal with outstanding issues like borders and capacitating the state.
“Our coming here is a learning process. As a child you have to learn to walk and to talk. Right now we are putting together the structure of ur government and recruiting manpower,” he said.
This is not the first time that the Sudanese have visited this country for best practice in labour matters. A delegation came to South Africa in 2008 but nothing came of the memorandum of understanding as South Sudan was still going through the process of gaining independence from North Sudan.
Minister Oliphant also commended South Sudan for recently hosting the “National Labour and Employment Tripartite Conference which mainly focused on the Decent Work Programme and operational capacity building needs to meet the demands of your new country. It is my fervent hope that South Sudan would work towards the implementation of the resolutions adopted during the conference,” she said.
Enquiries:
Musa Zondi
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Cell: 0829018081
South Sudanese visits South Africa for best practice in labour matters
