GDS IMPLEMENTATION TO TOP THE AGENDA
At its first meeting for the year, Nedlac's Management Committee agreed that the work programme for the year would be dominated by ongoing work relating to the Growth and Development Summit (GDS) Agreement.
The Committee also received reports on activities that have been undertaken by the constituencies in line with Growth and Development Summit commitments. Read more

RETAILERS AND FINANCIERS SIGN GROUNDBREAKING "BUY LOCAL" AGREEMENT
Weeks of intense negotiation between Sactwu, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union, and major retailers and asset managers culminated on 5 December with the signing of an historic declaration in favour of "buying local".
The process was initiated by Sactwu, when it tabled a Section 77 notice of possible protest action to Nedlac in August 2003. Read more continued to page 3

NEDLAC RESEARCH
Under the auspices of the Fund for Research into Industrial Development, Growth and Equity (Fridge), Nedlac is currently busy with 13 different research projects. Two studies were recently completed, and are now being analysed for policy recommendations; three studies are in progress; two in tender process, four finalising terms of reference, and two under consideration by the Fridge Sub-Committee. Read more

NEDLAC WORK PROGRAMME FOR 2004
Development Chamber
Higher Education has been a theme on the chamber's work programme, and the implementation of the Guidelines for Mergers and Incorporations of Higher Education Institutions will continue to be monitored.
Under the theme of social security, the chamber will engage on the Parliamentary recommendations on and Health Chapter of the Comprehensive Social Security System policy document. Read more continued to page 5

MBOWENI ENCOURAGES CONSTITUENCIES TO ATTEND MONETARY POLICY FORUM MEETINGS
SARB Governor, Tito Mboweni, addressing Nedlac's Executive Council towards the end of last year, called on the Nedlac constituencies to ensure that they made full use of the country-wide Monetary Policy Forum meetings to engage with the Reserve Bank. Read more

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN UPDATE
Nedlac and Proudly South African "buy local" Christmas campaign
At the Growth and Development Summit in June 2003, the Nedlac constituencies agreed to embark on an extensive Christmas 2003 campaign encouraging consumers to buy local. Read more

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