Opening remarks by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa at Nedlac Committee of Principals Meeting, Nedlac House, Johannesburg
I wish to welcome all our constituency leaders and representatives to this meeting of the Committee of Principals.
This meeting takes place at a time when there is a great deal of discussion in our country and elsewhere about the state of the global economy and the South African economy.
Earlier this week, in his mid-year report, President Jacob Zuma outlined the concern of government about the difficulties facing our economy.
More importantly, the President outlined some of the measures government is taking in partnership with labour, the private sector and communities to stimulate employment and growth in our economy.
Nedlac is an inclusive institution where government, labour, business and community are able to grapple with issues confronting our economy and society. And Nedlac is a platform where we pursue consensus on these issues and seek to accommodate the diverse interests of the constituencies.
In this spirit, the Committee of Principals will today consider a report from the Labour Relations and Wage Inequality Technical Task Teams on progress in discussions among Nedlac partners on a range of issues to secure a labour relations environment and practices that will develop our economy and society.
These discussions have focused on issues such as the following:
1. Measures that can be used to achieve inclusive, fair and just economic growth which contributes to greater equality and promotes more decent and productive jobs;
2. Measures that can be used to proactively and constructively resolve a dispute prior to strike action and to explore all genuine options to resolve a dispute as speedily as possible, while recognising that the Constitutional right to strike is a legitimate exercise of power to pursue demands;
3. What measures can be used to ensure that strike action is peaceful, free of intimidation and violence while not undermining the ability of workers to embark on procedural strike action, and
We will also consider legal opinion on balloting provisions, its implications for the right strike and the recourse to lock-out.
This meeting also follows the Nedlac International National Minimum Wage Conference held on June 20 at Gallagher Estate.
Today we will hear how discussions on a National Minimum Wage are progressing, following agreement among NEDLAC partners on the definition of such a wage.
This Committee is a forum where we consider issues that are being discussed in the Technical Task Teams and to provide guidance where this is required.
From all accounts, the task teams are making significant progress.
The constituencies have found each other on a range of critical issues.
They have also managed to isolate those issues which require more engagement and consultation. There is a firm commitment from all stakeholders to find agreement on outstanding matters.
I am pleased that we are dealing with substantive issues whose resolution should make a difference to our labour relations culture and practices, and which should ultimately support the development objectives of the National Development Plan.
This is, in my view, one of the best forums where key stakeholders can get together and deal with difficult issues, all hoping and intending to reach agreement so that we can get our country to move forward.
The issues we have been given to address by our President are issues on which we are reaching agreement.
We are edging towards agreement.
Let me compliment all the Task Team members for remaining committed.
The level of agreement in those task teams have been solid, and that bodes well for reaching agreement on all the matters to which the President has asked us to attend.
It is our intention to report to the President by the end of the year. But if we did miss that deadline, there will still be a lot on which to report to the President.
Areas where we have reached agreement form strong pillars on which we can reach final agreement.
I hope today's meeting will yield further good and positive results that will take us forward and imbue the Task Teams with further energy.
I thank you.
