Programme Director, Ms Lebogang Litha
His Excellency, the Deputy President, Mr. Paul Mashatile
Deputy Ministers Jomo Sibiya and Nemadzinga Tshabalala
MEC Present
Members of Parliament
Acting Director General, Ms Jacky Molisane and Senior Executive Officials Present from Government and Entities
Executive Director NEDLAC Mr Makhukhu Mampuru
Tripartite partners from the continent
Representatives of Organised labour, business, and civil society
International partners and distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Good morning! Sanibonani! Goei more! Dumelang!
It is with great honour that I stand to address this esteemed gathering this morning. We gather here today for the 30th Annual Summit of NEDLAC, which is a vital expression of our democracy, where social partners deliberate on the most pressing challenges of our economy and labour market. Coincidentally, when the government recently hosted the National Dialogue NEDLAC was appointed as the Secretariat. You are a beacon of hope for the country.
Let me congratulate you on the exceptional work already done in preparing for the first National Dialogue convention in just less than a month after they were appointed. Our mission is to bridge lessons from the past with future policy pathways toward 2055.
This year, we meet under the theme: “Advancing Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability in the Economy and the Labour Market." A theme so timely, aligning with the G20 South African Presidency theme. This is just not just the presidency of South Africa but of the continent. It reminds us that building a fair and resilient society requires collective effort, justice, and long-term vision.
NEDLAC is a domestic success as a model of tripartism and multi-stakeholder engagement and continues to serve as a global beacon of hope. In 2024, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) hosted a pan-African Social Dialogue Symposium under NEDLAC's banner, sharing its tripartite model and governance innovations with institutions across the continent. Let me applaud NEDLAC in this regard because its impact in shaping the socio-economic landscape in South Africa and beyond is evident. Indeed, other nations aim to emulate our model of inclusive policymaking.
Over the past two days, as a precursor to this Summit, Nedlac, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Labour Research Service (LRS), convened two social dialogue Symposia that brought together over fifteen countries from across the continent. This event coincides and commemorates the 30 years of the enactment of the Labour Relations Act.
This dialogue reaffirmed our collective responsibility to build an Africa that is inclusive, just, and competitive on the global stage - sharing lessons that will guide future development of responsive labour laws to the ever-changing nature of work, especially within the dynamic geopolitical landscape. Indeed, it is vital to deepen partnerships and strengthen trust, through ensuring that international trade agreements contribute meaningfully to developmental outcomes for all our people.
These engagements reaffirm our collective responsibility to build an Africa that is inclusive, just, and competitive on the global stage. These issues encapsulate and bring sharper focus to our Summit's theme, advancing solidarity, equality, and sustainability in a rapidly transforming global and local economic landscape, aligned to that of the G20 Summit- the Presidency of which is currently held by South Africa.
Our recent legislative achievements boast, among others 47 amendments to the Labour Relations Act, 13 to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, two to the Minimum Wage Act, and three to the Employment Equity Act these are testament to NEDLAC's effectiveness. They include:
· A consolidated Code of Good Practice on Dismissals tailored for small businesses.
· Enhanced efficiency mechanisms for CCMA and the Labour Court, including streamlined dispute resolution.
· Extended severance pay provisions, stronger protections for all typical and on‑call workers, and stronger entitlements around pensions and protest actions.
Underlining these reforms were discussions around heat stress, remote work, and just transition—signalling that NEDLAC's legislative vision is guided by emerging scientific and socio-economic realities. I am further pleased to announce that the NEDLAC BILL 2025 which seek to repeal the NEDLAC ACT of 1994 is on its way to the Cabinet Committee (on Wednesday, the 10th of September) for approval to publish it for public engagements. This is a great milestone that we should all be proud of!
The unemployment rate climbed to 33.2% in Q2 2025, up from 32.9% in Q1, underscoring persistent structural challenges. During Q1 2025, South Africa lost 291,000 jobs, reducing employment to 16.8 million, while unemployment rose by 237,000, highlighting job market fragility. The formal sector growth added 34,000 jobs in Q2, but the informal sector contracted by 19,000, pointing to mixed progress and continued inequalities.
Female graduates face disproportionate challenges: in Q2, their unemployment rate stood at 15.0%, compared to 8.9% for male graduates—a differential of 6.1 percentage points. Together, these numbers shape the backdrop upon which this summit must deliver clarity and renewed resolve.
Let me underscore that we have had successes even in the midst of challenges, and NEDLAC's mechanisms continue to deliver, ranging from shaping labour law reforms to strengthening dispute resolution and incorporating community representation into national dialogues. Still, growth remains sluggish, unemployment is unacceptably high, and trust across sectors must be deepened. The next few years must see NEDLAC deepen its role as a platform of social partnership that drives policy innovation, labour market reform, and inclusive growth.
Solidarity — Reinforcing Unity for Collective Progress
Solidarity remains the foundation of our social compact and our guiding light in these turbulent times. In the midst of declining employment rates and rising unemployment, social partners convened via NEDLAC need to respond collaboratively to safeguard economic stability and shield workers and communities from being overlooked amid shocks.
Solidarity is about workers uniting through collective bargaining and dispute resolution mechanisms. It is about protecting vulnerable workers — including those in non-standard and informal employment — ensuring no one is left behind. It is also about social cohesion, recognising that the prosperity of one sector must not come at the exclusion of another. At NEDLAC, solidarity is lived through the tireless work of social partners who engage, negotiate, and compromise for the common good.
Equality
Equality must extend beyond intent to measurable results. In April 2025, the Department published the Employment Equity Regulations, prescribing five-year equity plans with sector-specific numerical targets, including a 3% disability employment goal. These bind designated employers from 1 September 2025. These measures are not without debate: the Democratic Alliance and a few others have launched a legal challenge, citing potential constitutional concerns and an impact on investment. Yet, the policy is a bold step toward dismantling the enduring racial and gender disparities that remain entrenched. The gender gap in graduate unemployment rates is 15% for women vs. 8.9% for men—this illuminates the urgency of institutional and cultural transformation.
We must ensure these frameworks are implemented with both rigor and empathy, recognizing that equality is a cultural shift as much as it is a legal mandate.
Sustainability — Building Resilience and Inclusion
Sustainability is about building a future that can endure. Our future depends on the sustainability of our labour market that operates within a sustainable environment. South Africa advocates for a green transition that is equitable- balancing our economic needs with our environmental responsibilities. This transition must safeguard jobs, while also creating new opportunities in green industries, renewable energy, and climate-resilient sectors. Sustainability also means building resilient labour institutions that can adapt to technological change, global shocks, and demographic shifts.
As job losses occur in traditional sectors, investment in renewable energy, the waste economy, and the circular economy offers pathways for new employment. The justice of this transition hinges on upskilling, redeployment, and social protections for those affected. Globally, bridging skills gaps is key. Reports such as those of the World Economic Forum- (Future of Jobs Report 20025) emphasise that integrating green skill training into current programs could unlock jobs and accelerate project rollouts, particularly for women and youth. Our task is to ensure that no worker, no community, is left behind as we move towards a low-carbon, inclusive economy.
The Ministerial Declaration adopted at the G20 Employment Ministers' meeting in George recently and other G20 Ministerial declarations underscore global commitments that align closely with the values and priorities we uphold at Nedlac. They emphasise advancing commitment to building more prosperous economies by fostering a sustainable and resilient workforce, recognising the urgent need to address inequalities and promote fairness in the world of work, and ensuring decent work. This includes promoting gender equality, protecting vulnerable workers, especially in informal and platform economies, and fostering a just transition towards a sustainable green economy.
Conclusion
Distinguished guests, advancing solidarity, equality, and sustainability is a blueprint for our nation's prosperity and that of the world globally. Let this 30th Annual Summit be more than symbolic. Let us leave this summit with renewed commitment to:
· Embed a Just Transition that protects current jobs while fostering new ones in emerging green industries.
· Ensure employment equity is robustly enforced, across all sectors, especially in leadership pipelines.
· Deliver training and development in underserved areas to empower youth and reduce disparities.
· Modernize labour systems to keep pace with automation, Artificial Intelligence, and digital innovation.
Over the past year, NEDLAC has continued to be the place where difficult but necessary conversations are held. Their 2024/25 Annual Report reflects achievements but also challenges we must confront together. I commend NEDLAC for its consistent excellent performance towards addressing the very pressing socio-economic challenges facing our country, and for achieving a Clean Audit outcome.
Together, through NEDLAC, we can transform dialogue into decisive action—for a South Africa that belongs to all.
I thank you.
© 2019 - The South African Department of Employment & Labour
