THE CONVENOR'S COLUMN:

NEDLAC is primarily an institution to foster effective social dialogue. The term 'social dialogue' embraces a broad concept involving the interchange of ideas and circumstances between - and within - nations. It is a process or mechanism for the amicable adjustment, internally or externally, of differences among nations, groups, ideologies, beliefs and interests. Where well-structured and focused social dialogue develops, it can enhance predictability and certainty in policy. This is good for confidence to the extent that such processes promote social stability and can reduce country risk.A key pre-condition for successful social dialogue is that the stakeholders need to work together towards forging a common agenda in order to be able to compete on the global stage. Although NEDLAC has made progress on this score, much more needs to be done in certain areas. First prize would clearly be for the social partners to agree upon a well co-ordinated strategic plan consisting of a series of interrelated and workable policy measures. While we see this happening to some degree at various levels - the planned sector summits on the financial and communications sectors and the NEDLAC discussions on an industrial strategy for the country being cases in point - a broader and coordinated process needs to gain momentum in NEDLAC.

It would be of enormous benefit if the social partners could agree on steps which now go beyond macro-economic balances and address the areas in which our economic performance still falls short. Growth, investment, unemployment and poverty remain serious issues on the national agenda. The recent fall in the rand and its inflationary consequences have permeated several areas of policy and need to be addressed sensibly.

This also means that whatever measures are agreed upon should be sustainable both economically and politically. In addition, in a globalising world it is simply not possible to deal with the challenges of growth and development separately from broad economic strategy. Effective social dialogue can be a valuable way of bringing these two dimensions into juxtaposition, and of taking an holistic view of what needs to be done.

That is why the proposed growth and development 'summit' later this year - together with a possible 'social compact' - assume great significance. If such a gathering is to avoid becoming just another 'talk shop', it will need to yield some strategic agreements that will make a positive difference to South Africa's economic performance in future. The preliminary processes needed to achieve these outcomes must start soon, and this is the year in which NEDLAC structures can show their mettle.There is therefore also a reciprocal responsibility on the NEDLAC constituencies to support their inputs with adequate research and proper mandating. The quality of NEDLAC's outcomes hinges to a large extent on the capacity of stakeholders to contribute constructively to the social dialogue process, to look beyond their immediate interests, and to find acceptable solutions where possible. NEDLAC's role in this process is both critical and indisputable. "Traveller" says an old Spanish proverb, "there are no roads. Roads are made by walking".