Protocol:
It is with great pleasure and a profound sense of purpose that I stand before you today, as we gather for the IX (9th) BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting and the Employment Working Group – taking place in the vibrant City of eThekwini.
As we gather here today, we do so with a profound sense of responsibility and optimism. This meeting marks a significant landmark in our collective pursuit of a world where every individual enjoys decent work, dignity and respect.
Hence, the theme of the IX (9th) BRICS LEMM is: 'Ensuring Decent Work, Dignity and Respect for All'.
As Chinua Achebe wisely noted, 'Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.' Our theme, therefore, is not a mere slogan -but a call to action — a pledge to be the historians of our labour and employment journey.
It is my pleasure to extend my warmest welcome to each of you, distinguished representatives from our BRICS member countries and esteemed guest countries, as well as those representatives of Social Partners and organisations in our midst today.
Your presence here is a testament to the commitment we share in shaping the future of labour and employment, not only within our borders but across the world.
Furthermore, the presence of development finance institutions, in particular, is a significant breakthrough for the BRICS LEMM. It underscores the importance of socio-economic issues and projects in our overall development finance objectives.
Significantly, we must also congratulate the unsung heroes—the BRICS Employment Working Group, under the stalwart leadership of Mr Thobile Lamati, Director-General of the Department. Their dedication and expertise have been the bedrock of this meeting's success.
As Aristotle once said, 'Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.' This tireless Working Group has played a pivotal role in facilitating fruitful discussions, sparking innovative solutions and nurturing a sense of unity among the BRICS Partners.
Their commitment to the well-being and prosperity of our citizens is evident in the tangible outcomes we now hold in our hands, most notably, the eThekwini Declaration.
Their exemplary efforts serve as a testament to the spirit of cooperation that defines our alliance, and we owe them our sincere gratitude for their invaluable contributions to our agenda.
Honourable Ministers and Distinguished Guests,
This BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting immediately follows the BRICS Leaders' Summit, where our leaders welcomed six more countries into the BRICS family.
Starting next year, we will be joined by the Argentine Republic, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
This expansion of our partnership is a cause for celebration. It signals a broader horizon for our collaboration, one that invites us to jointly confront the challenges and opportunities in the realms of labour and employment. It is an honour for us, South Africa, that this historic decision was made on our soil.
The expansion of our group rejuvenates our hopes and strengthens our determination to amplify our collective efforts on various international platforms, leaving an indelible mark.
Thus far, we have not optimised our collective strength in bodies such as the ILO and the G20, where we remain rather quiescent and not aggressively staking our claim.
BRICS has been a sleeping giant on these platforms.
We therefore need to wake it from its slumber and actively coordinate our common positions and all issues of mutual interest. This is becoming more urgent, as we are now eleven states and growing. We must actively participate in the context all aspects of the labour and employment sector.
In the face of the ever-evolving global landscape, characterised by geopolitical changes and unprecedented challenges, we must stand united more than ever before. Furthermore, we must recognise that our shared destiny calls for concerted action on the global stage.
Therefore, we must commit to intensifying our efforts within various international bodies to shape global labour market policies and agendas.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Our journey toward ensuring decent work, dignity, and respect for all focused on the following four key priorities.
The BRICS nations are not immune to the transformative forces shaping the future of work (FoW), from technological advancements, digital transformation to climate change. In light of these challenges, we must reaffirm our commitment to respecting, promoting and realising fundamental principles and rights at work.
Our aim must always be focused towards providing decent work for all and achieving social justice by reducing informal work, expanding social protection, eliminating discrimination in employment, raising wages and enhancing job security.
This may prove extremely difficult without the realisation that access to social protection is a human right, and we are committed to integrating universal access within our national frameworks.
Guided by international labour standards, we must seek to close coverage gaps, ensure sustainability and equity, and provide at least a basic level of income security for all through nationally defined social protection floors.
Recognising that a significant portion of our workforce operates in the informal economy, we need to commit ourselves to closing the skills gap to enhance the transition to the formal economy. Skills development systems and lifelong learning must be at the forefront of our efforts, as we attempt to prepare workers for the future that remains largely unknown to us.
Albert Einstein wisely noted, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
This means we must, therefore, always aim to align training with labour market demand, improve access to relevant and quality skills training for workers in the informal economy and harness technology for skills development, reskill and upskill.
Some of our countries struggle with a combination of low growth, unemployment, informality and low productivity. Several ILO reports have correctly identified the creation of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) as one important intervention to address some of these challenges.
Furthermore, sustainable enterprises and enhanced productivity are intrinsically linked to decent work. It is for that reason BRICS Partners are determined to create policy environments that promote productivity across different types of enterprises and sectors, with a focus on SMMEs and the informal economy.
According to business strategist Peter Drucker, “The best way to predict the future is to create it."
By prioritising policies and initiatives that enhance productivity, improve working conditions and promote employment creation, we should be able to foster inclusive and sustainable economic development as well as decent work.
In addition to these priorities, we must continue to sponsor innovative initiatives such as the establishment of a BRICS Productivity Ecosystem for Decent Work Platform.
This collaborative initiative will serve as a catalyst for coherent, inclusive and sustainable policies that enhance productivity, improve working conditions and create productive employment. It also aligns with our shared vision of a human-centred recovery and the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As we move forward, let us remember that our actions here will serve as a reference point for our countries to work together towards stronger, healthier, and more sustainable global development.
We extend our appreciation to our social partners for their invaluable contributions and pledge to strengthen social dialogue and inclusivity in our labour market policies.
The BRICS Trade Union Forum took place this week and made commitments, that we should also embrace as we try to forge closer collaboration with social partners.
I would also like to express our gratitude to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Social Security Association (ISSA) for their technical support, which has been instrumental in shaping our policies and initiatives.
In conclusion, let us never lose sight of the profound impact of our efforts. As we march towards the goal of decent work, dignity and respect, we extend a hand of cooperation to our new BRICS partners and the entire global community.
Marcus Garvey profoundly stated, “We must give up the silly idea of folding our hands and waiting on God to do everything for us. If God had intended for that, then he would not have given us a mind."
Together, we will craft a future where every individual, regardless of their social or economic status, will have access to comprehensive and adequate social security systems.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the South African Government and its people for allowing us to orchestrate this and other important meetings throughout this year.
We eagerly anticipate our next gathering in 2024, under the leadership of the Russian Federation. We wish Russia the best of luck in this endeavour!
With unity, determination, and an unwavering commitment, we shall mould a brighter future for labour and employment, not merely within our BRICS nations but for the entire world.
It is my sincerest hope that the next two days will deliver the best outcomes and also look forward to the discussions.
Thank you, and may our endeavours bear fruit, in abundance.
© 2019 - The South African Department of Employment & Labour
