Lavinia Mahlangu
12 June 2006
South Africa's Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has been unanimously elected as the new governing body chairperson of the United Nations affiliated International Labour Organisation (ILO).
"I am humbled by the honour bestowed on me and will do my level best to carry out the mandate," Mdladlana said in accepting the position in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday.
"This position adds more responsibilities on my shoulders, which means that it's not going to be a honeymoon.''
Annual conference
Mdladlana is attending the ILO's annual conference and leads the South African delegation consisting of government, business and labour representatives.
He said his appointment highlighted the role President Thabo Mbeki was playing in the international arena, which translated into recognition for South Africa.
"The biggest challenge in the labour market remains the creation of a working environment that ensures that all employees work in conditions of decency and dignity. Unemployment and poverty are the biggest threat to peace and security," he said.
Challenges
Mdladlana said challenges he was facing in his new position included issues of forced labour in Myanmar, the plight of the Palestinian workers in occupied Arab territories and employment relations in various countries.
In South Africa, the challenges centered on identifying scarce skills and halving unemployment by 2014.
"These form part of the development of the decent work agenda of the ILO.''
His duties include leading the ILO on major global forums along with the Director-General Juan Somavia. The minister is to lead a high-powered ILO delegation to forums including meetings on decent work at the UN General Assembly.
"His is a big responsibility. We hope to allow him do what's required for ILO without impacting on his other life as minister,'' said ILO senior official, Steve Marshall.
Mdladlana will also be expected to chair ILO Governing Body meetings in November and March and June, where issues such as finance and administration of the organisation are discussed.
Equally important for Mdladlana is to ensure that resolutions reached at this year's 95th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva are implemented.
'Great honour'
The minister was not only congratulated by the ILO members, but also by members of his delegation who viewed his appointment as an opportunity to turn the spotlight on Africa.
"The appointment is a great honour for our country and in particular the minister... It reflects positively not only on the individual, but on South Africa being able to provide leadership at international level," said Vic van Vuuren, Business Unity South Africa's chief operations officer.
"As employers, we look forward to supporting the minister during his tenure and have no doubt that he will fulfill a successful term of office.
"It shows that the world is looking upon us for direction, leadership and way in which we do things," he said.
Dennis George, general secretary of the Federation of Unions of South Africa said: "South Africa has always played a leading role on the international arena and we welcome the opportunity given to the minister to lead the ILO for the year 2006/7.
"We trust that the appointment will advance and promote the decent work agenda not only in the ILO but also in the programme framework of the United Nations system.''
Source: BuaNews
