Chapter 3

FUTURE CHOICES AND PROSPECTS

Nedlac is an institution that expresses and is impacted upon by the change in our society. It operates within an economic and political context, both locally and globally. The legacy of unemployment and poverty form the context for much of Nedlac's work. Internationally, the impact of globalisation, engaging in international fora such as the WTO and ILO, provide a context for Nedlac's work.

Nedlac's success to date has lain in the fact that it delivered the goods for the constituencies. To continue to do this it must ensure the following in the coming year:

• Coordination of expanding social dialogue

Nedlac will continue to interact with other social dialogue fora, such as the Millennium Labour Council, the Presidential Working Groups, the International Marketing Council, in order to ensure that there is co-ordination of discussions in these fora.

• Promoting social dialogue at provincial and local level

Kwa-Zulu Natal, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape already have socio-economic fora. Mpumalanga has a Provincial Jobs Summit initiative. Nedlac will continue to promote social dialogue on both a provincial and a local level.

• Stronger relationships with Parliament, with academic institutions

Nedlac has placed a lot of emphasis on improving its relationship with Parliament, and has provided a number of briefings to Parliamentary committees, as well as individual members. Briefings were also provided to a number of academic institutions. The roundtable discussions have also increased liaison with Parliament and academics. All these efforts will continue in the coming year.

• Greater public awareness of Nedlac issues

Although Nedlac issues receive a good deal of coverage in the national and local media, efforts will be made in the coming year to assist constituencies to better reach their members with information about what is happening at Nedlac.

• Reaching key agreements on strategic issues

As outlined in the Summit declaration, and the subsequent 4-a-side meeting, Nedlac will continue to address key strategic issues, including

• Promoting investment, growth, job creation and economic empowerment

• Improving productivity

• Engaging globalisation and managing its effects

• The restructuring of public enterprises, privatisation and public-private partnerships

• Land reform

• Sector summits

• Making constituencies stronger and more representative where necessary

Several organisations have applied to join Nedlac, and discussions have taken place within consituencies as to whether they fit the criteria. Nedlac will continue to develop capacity within constituencies.

• Improving service of secretariat to constituencies

The secretariat will be putting more emphasis on staff training, and on attracting and retaining the skills necessary to provide an excellent service to constituencies.

• Specific activities planned in the forthcoming year in order to achieve the above objectives include:

• Concluding the Labour Law Amendment negotiations
• Organising a successful Nedlac Annual Summit
• Conference on globalisation
• Launch of Proudly South African campaign
• Summit on the transformation of the Financial Sector
• Civil Society Summit
• Preparing for the World Summit on Sustainable Development
• Concluding negotiations on the Mineral Development Bill
• Implementation of the National Skills Development Strategy
• Reaching an Occupational Health and Safety Accord

NEDLAC BUDGET FOR 2001/2002

Like many government-funded entities, Nedlac's allocation from government has not increased in real terms over the past few years, receiving R6.585 million in 1998, R6.491 million in 1999 and R6.5 million in 2000. Due to lower levels of activities, but also due to a number of cost-saving measures, Nedlac has managed to keep well within its budget.

In the coming year, as indicated above, the activity levels are due toincrease and the budget for 2001/2002 has been increased to R7.946 million in order to accommodate this. The constituencies are also in favour of purchasing a building for Nedlac, rather than continuing to rent office space. This will require resources and these therefore need to be budgeted for.

Of the R7.946 million budget for 2001/2002, R3.362 million funds staff salaries, training, levies etc. Administration costs, which include rent, postage, telephones, printing and stationery, is budgeted at R1 456 million.

Nedlac provides travel and accommodation expenses for constituency members attending meetings. R1 million has been budgeted for this. R200 000 is allocated for refreshments and for outside venues, if the Nedlac offices are not suitable. A further R750 000 is budgeted for capacity support to constituencies: Labour and Community are allocated R300 000 each, whilst Business is allocated R150 000.

Communications and research are allocated R 200 000 each, whilst R175 000 is budgeted for the National Summit.