DWS and NEHAWU commit themselves to hasten the implementation of a labour agreement
The Department of Water and Sanitation met with NEHAWU officials yesterday in order to strengthen its working relations with the trade union. This meeting was necessitated by the view to improving the conditions of the workers, as per the agreement that was reached between the parties.
The meeting of 20 August 2018 was a continuation of the engagement between the two parties to implement clauses of the signed agreement following a labour strike earlier in the year. The department’s delegation was led by Acting Director-General, Deborah Mochotlhi, while NEHAWU was led by its General Secretary, Zola Saphetha.
The two parties agreed to the speedy implementation of the agreement in the interest of both parties. Furthermore, there was agreement that the agreed to Task Team should rather be reduced in size to three members per side. The Task Team will then take forward the outstanding work, including issues surrounding the workers in Kakamas, and reconvene with the bigger team in two weeks for an update.
In her closing remarks the Acting Director-General (ADG) appreciated the cordial discussions during the meeting, and was encouraged by the NEHAWU General Secretary’s sense of direction so far as what needed to be done going forward, particularly that the teams will work together to shape and steer DWS in the preferred direction.
What was also emphasised was that the DWS is central to the basic needs of South Africans, thus it needs to do more to stimulate the economy and create jobs. The country could fail if DWS does not deliver on its mandate. In the same vein, the participation of the youth and women remains critical.
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