Day: May 17, 2022

Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi says the fight against child labour is about social justice, creating a prosperous future and hope for children.

Minister Nxesi told delegates at the 5th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour that South Africa as a long-standing member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) had always stood for global social justice.

“But, in South Africa we also share the vision of the ILO and that of its member states – that of transforming the labour market and developing a decent world of work,” he said.

Nxesi was speaking during a high level panel discussion on the topic of child labour in the midst of the deficits in decent work and youth employment, identifying pressing global challenges, and priorities for the global community.

“South Africa takes the issue of child labour very seriously. The country subscribes on the centenary declaration on the future of work that is premised on human-centred approach. The conference gives us an opportunity to show our commitment to eliminating child labour,” Nxesi said.

Meanwhile, International Labour Organization Director-General, Guy Ryder, said the fight against the elimination of child labour has been characterised by “a go back – to go forward”.

“My impression over the last 20 years is that we got a little bit complacent. We were making really good progress until the last 10 years. Things have started to slow down. We stopped making child labour and its elimination a key policy objective – nationally and internationally. We talk a lot about child labour and have a lot of programmes against child labour. We need a political push against this campaign.

“We have the global architecture. Nationally we also have commitments and thirdly, we need to bring in all the stakeholders,” he said.

Ryder said that there is a need to bring in the global elements and the national elements into the mix to regain the momentum quickly – which has somewhat dissipated.

“Let us not be distracted by the very real broad of challenges in the labour market – such as youth unemployment and others. Let us make sure that child labour features in all the approaches – explicitly,” he said.

The conference continues today with discussions on:

• teachers and their unions in successful mobilisation to bring children back to school post COVID;

• case studies on child labour;

• reducing child labour and forced labour through skills development;

• responding to child labour in times of crisis;

• the role of education;

• policy priorities to end child labour in Africa; and

• scaling-up business due diligence on child labour.

The Global Conference held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Conference Centre (ICC) in Durban will during its duration include 28 side events, one-hour sessions that will allow delegates to further share knowledge and experiences related to the main topics addressed in the event.

The conference is expected to end on Friday.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The NDP may not be perfect, but it continues to be a guide in our vision to tackle poverty, inequality and unemployment, writes Phumla Williams.

Oliver Dickson’s lopsided view of our country’s investment prospects cannot be left unchallenged lest it misleads Business Day’s readers.

For starters, Dickson should be reminded that when this democratic government appointed a panel of eminent persons to contribute towards the development of the National Development Plan: Vision 2030 (NDP) it did so fully cognisant of the enormous challenges it will face as it reconstructs our country in line with the constitution.

For more than 300 years, SA was ruled by a racially exclusive, discriminatory and exploitive system. The majority of the citizens — in particular Africans — were completely excluded from any economic development of this country. Undoing this was never to be as easy as some may want us to believe.

His myopic assertion that our country is a poor investment destination rings hollow and fails to appreciate what the government has done over this short democratic period and what it continues to do in taking the country forward.

Dickson’s view that our “poor investability lies in the fact that we have no clear political and economic vision for the country” is unfortunate. SA has a road map spelt out in the NDP. It may not be perfect, but it continues to be a guide in our vision to tackle the triple challenges facing the country — poverty, inequality and unemployment.

Under the stewardship of President Cyril Ramaphosa, his R1.2 trillion investment drive announced four years ago has reached an impressive 95% of this ambitious target. Both domestic and foreign investors continue to see SA as an investment destination. Numbers do not lie.

From the first SA Investment Conference in 2018 to the fourth earlier in 2022, the country has attracted over R1.14 trillion in commitments across a wide range of economic sectors. These investments are deliberate and calculated decisions by investors. They continue to view SA as a potential investment destination. The incoming investors display a strong vote of confidence in our ability to overcome our most pressing challenges, some of which are linked to the legacy of apartheid.

When engaging with potential investors the government has never extenuated the existing socioeconomic and political problems affecting the country. It openly and unstintingly acknowledges that it is gradually emerging out of a very difficult period where policy missteps and the unfortunate ruinous effects of state capture have retarded its progress.

The ambitious investment efforts are emboldened by the high-profile political mandate, led by President Ramaphosa and his executive, to unequivocally build investor confidence and create a business-friendly environment. The President continues to lead this drive with honesty and keeping to his word in navigating through these challenges towards growing the economy and creating the much-needed jobs.

As an economic hub and gateway for potential investors and tourists SA has unveiled the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) to mitigate the socioeconomic setbacks that were aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ERRP remains our immediate common programme to rebuild the economy, sustain economic growth and create enough jobs to reduce poverty and inequality. Operation Vulindlela is an innovative intervention led by the presidency and the Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms and support economic recovery. It aims to modernise and transform network industries including electricity, water, transport and digital communications, which are key sectors in driving economic growth.

The government remains steadfast in dealing with the constrained electricity supply. It has since undertaken several new energy generation projects, which will eventually end the intermittent load-shedding in the country. Such interventions in the energy sector include unbundling Eskom into three entities — transmission; distribution and generation. Tackling other constraints such as corruption, strengthening governance, improving revenue collection and creating a safe and secure environment remains part of the government intervention measures.

As investments translate into new factories and jobs in communities, greater economic activity around the country will begin to reignite economic growth and boost confidence in post-COVID-19 economic recovery.

The responsibility to create a conducive environment that attracts inward investment does not rely on the government alone. South Africans have a vested interest in promoting the country in a globally competitive environment. Dickson may be reminded that this shared responsibility is out there for everyone to see and commend the patriotism we continue to see.

Let me commend communities who continue to work with law-enforcement agencies to expose those who continue to vandalise our economic infrastructure; communities that continue to pay for the services they are provided and rally others to do so; investigative journalists who continue to expose acts of corruption in both the private and public sectors; nongovernmental organisations that continue to intervene in communities and build the so much need social cohesion.

Lastly, let me commend the men and women who continue to harness our young democracy by exercising their democratic right to go out every five years to vote for the government of their choice; the men and women who hold public servants accountable for delivering on what they are being paid for.

The situation may appear dire to Dickson, but significant inroads continue to be made by government, business, civil society, the media and patriotic citizens. This augurs well for the better future we envisage for us and future generations.

Phumla Williams is Director-General of the Government Communication and Information System.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Ronald Lamola, has congratulated leading civil society organisations, Gender Dynamix and IRANTI, for securing the rights to host the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA) World Conference.

The conference will be held in Cape Town in 2024 and represents the world’s largest gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer, intersex and asexual+ (LGBTQIA+) persons.

The conference was last held on African soil at least 25 years ago in Johannesburg.

The Minister said this was a significant move towards furthering inclusivity in South Africa.

“With help from civil society organisations such as Gender Dynamix and IRANTI we are constructing a truly inclusive society – one which not only accepts, but celebrates diversity, where people can be themselves no matter what their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics may be and where everyone has the same enjoyment of their human rights,” Lamola said.

The department said the bid is indicative that the country still “has much work to do” to protect and promote the rights of LGBTQIA+ persons in communities.

“Despite our progressive laws and legislation, discrimination, prejudice, and violence on the basis of a person’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics still exists.

“We have no doubt that this platform will enable us as society to heighten our institutional mechanisms and to address societal attitudes so as to prevent homophobia, transphobia, and the general violation of human rights in our communities,” the department said in a statement on Tuesday.

This as the world today marks International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), the department called on communities to respect the rights of LGBTQIA+ persons.

“IDAHOT commemorates the World Health Organisation’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder [and] the Minister…encourages our communities to protect and promote the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons and to remember and honour those who have been attacked and killed as a result of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and sex characteristics,” the department said.

Source: South African Government News Agency