10 May 2016

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Pearl Ramokoka has said employment and labour issues were varied and touch on the core aspects of the socio economic development of the SADC countries. 

Speaking at the SADC employment and labour sector meeting on May 9 in Gaborone, Ms Ramokoka said as SADC member states, it was critical that as they discussed employment and labour issues the delegates should have the citizens’ interest at heart because decisions made affected them. 

Furthermore, she highlighted that it was incumbent upon the delegates that they approached the meeting with the seriousness it deserved adding that the decisions made should be in the best interest of SADC region. 

She stated that SADC took pride in the fact that the tripartite composition of that forum gave legitimacy as well as advantage in tackling the complex issues pertaining to employment and labour. 

Ms Ramokoka said the issues that were to be tackled at the meeting were subjected to discussion by the Joint Technical Tripartite Sub Committees meeting held in April, which she said would make the discussions efficient. 

She further invited the delegates from different SADC countries to use the opportunity to see Gaborone and the neighbouring villages so as to experience the rich Setswana culture. 

International Labour Organisation Statistics specialist, Mr Coffi Agossou thanked SADC for inviting ILO at the meeting stating that was an important meeting that ILO treated with high regard. 

He indicated that employment rights, social protection rights were very key to every nation hence encouraged all member states to implement those rights. 

Mr Agossou stated that the SADC region should pay attention and address the Sustainable Development Goals because they tackled diverse issues from education, climate change and poverty eradication among others. ENDS