PROTOCOL for TABLING ISSUES IN PARLIAMENT

1. TABLING THE NEDLAC REPORT IN PARLIAMENT

1.1. All Nedlac reports are submitted to the Minister.

1.2. It is the Minister who is responsible for tabling all Nedlac reports in parliament.

1.3. However, there may be cases where it is important for the social partners to jointly present the contents of the Nedlac report to parliament. These cases will tend to be issues where the social partners have reached consensus on substantive issues.

1.4. There will be a consideration by the convenors, on a case-by-case basis, of whether or not a joint presentation of the report by the social partners to parliament is necessary. This consideration will take place at the time that the Nedlac report is being finalised.

1.5. Generally, where the Nedlac report deals with an issue that is technical in nature, the report will be submitted to the Minister and presented by the Minister in parliament.

2. RAISING RESERVATIONS ABOUT AN ISSUE IN PARLIAMENT

2.1. Parties are bound not to re-open discussion in parliament on any area where agreement was reached in Nedlac.

2.2. Parties have the right to raise issues in parliament on which there has been no agreement, or on which a Nedlac agreement was silent.

2.3. However if parties raise issues during the parliamentary process on which the Nedlac agreement was silent, or new issues which go beyond the reservations captured in the Nedlac report, they should inform Nedlac for the record.

3. MONITORING THE PASSAGE OF AN ISSUE THROUGH PARLIAMENT

The secretariat will liase with the committee clerk and chairperson of the portfolio committee in order to monitor the passage of an issue through parliament:

3.1. This liaison will inc obtaining information about the dates and agendas of portfolio committee meetings.

3.2. The secretariat will also obtain copies of a bill before it is tabled in parliament and forward copies thereof to the convenors in order that the convenors may check the bill's consistency with the agreements concluded in Nedlac.