Nedlac Summit 1999 Speech - Phillip Dexter

Although I have only officially occupied the position of Executive Director at NEDLAC for all of 24 hours, the last month has been one in which I have had to spend most of my time and energy on getting to know this animal called NEDLAC. As the saying goes, warts and all! Fortunately, I have a past relationship with NEDLAC'S institutional ancestors, the NEF and the NMC, as well as with many of the individuals and organisations which make up NEDLAC. As a former MP on the Labour Portfolio Committee I was always appraised of the issues that were before NEDLAC. For these reasons alone I have to thank the social partners; the representatives of the government, business, the community, and labour for having given me the opportunity of renewing my acquaintance with this dynamic, exciting and unique institution and the individuals and organisations around it. The confidence that has been shown in me by the four constituencies represented in NEDLAC will serve as a reminder to me of the heavy burden that is upon all of us at NEDLAC to help foster economic growth, development,social equity and prosperity in our country, this new South Africa.

My new found colleague, Wendy Dobson, who has soably and admirably carried the responsibility of being the acting-Executive Director,deserves a special mention at the outset. Wendy has made what was definitely a difficult decision one that I have not regretted. Her very manner, an approachable nature, her knowledge and insight, and her support during this last few weeks has made me already appreciate what I hope will become a long-lasting professional relationship. The same acknowledgement and thanks should go to all the NEDLAC staff who have so warmly welcomed me. Those I have already interacted with have shown a level of dedication and professionalism that has made me look forward to working with them.

The constituency convenors also deserve a special mention. My initial interaction with the individuals who act as convenors has at the very least shown me that, apart from their obvious dedication to their heavy responsibility,they have a keen sense of humour. The sceptics have told me that this is all that has held them together through dark days! What I have affectionately dubbed "TeamDialogue" is a unique set of characters that have established a strong collective leadership core. I hope that I will easily fit into their existing culture and be accepted by them. I know that I will learn a great deal working with these leaders and indeed all of you, the leaders represented here. Lastly, but not least of all, I should mention the previous Executive Director, Jayendera Naidoo. Little Jay, as we used to know him, and I have a strong bond of friendship that goes back to my days as a "greenhorn" in the labour movement. I know, because he has promised me, that he will always be around to act as a support and maintain a relationship with NEDLAC.

In my brief interactions with the constituency convenors and other representatives, with the staff at NEDLAC and with various individuals in many other forums, I have been struck by one significant fact. Whatever the criticisms some may have of NEDLAC, whatever the perceived weaknesses of the institution, whatever the differences in terms of expectations about NEDLAC and social dialogue itself, there is one thing most thinking South Africans agree on. We all agree that there is a need for aNEDLAC and for the process of social dialogue and the outcomes from the institutionalisation of this process.

I am by now, like all present here, acutely aware of the fact that there is an urgent process of organisational review necessary at NEDLACif we are to get the desired results from this institution and the processes it co-ordinates. This entails setting up new human resource and financial management systemsin the first instance. There is some inertia and even demoralisation that has set in withthe NEDLAC team, but any change affords the opportunity for a new start. I believe that we can all commit to that without any difficulty.

Government has already moved on to multi-year budgeting and NEDLAC needs to do the same. If we are to obtain the results we desire NEDLAC must be properly resourced and must be able to manage the resources entrusted to it optimally. There is also a clear need to define operations and procedures at NEDLAC, particularly what aspects of the decision making and daily routines are delegated to where and/or whom. In the course of this review it would be opportune to consider the mission and values of NEDLAC and if necessary redefine these. At the same time as doing this we can consider the work programme of NEDLAC for next year and beyond. Of course, none of this can or will be done without getting the necessary input from the NEDLAC team and the social constituencies. But such a process must not be allowed to drag on endlessly. By the end of this year we should have the new systems operating and have agreed on the work programme so that we begin the New Year with a fitting head start for the new millennium.

Of all the issues confronting us as South Africans, none is so terrible to contemplate as the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Without wanting to seem hysterical, this matter is the number one threat to our very survival and certainly our future prosperity as a country. All of us have a duty to ensure that we do all we canto contain, and hopefully in time, eradicate this dreadful scourge. What use would it be that we create a social dialogue when all of our voices fall into a void of pain and death? The fact that this summit has chosen to deal with this matter is an indication that we are all acutely aware of our responsibilities in this regard.

Of there many hard economic issues before NEDLACnone is quite so urgent as the need to build on the work of the historic Presidential Job Summit. The entire country is geared up for change that is for faster and increased delivery. NEDLAC has helped to lay the foundation for this shift, but as the Deputy President has already pointed out on another occasion, change will only come with an agreement on how we make the necessary choices to unlock the potential for creating jobs in our economy. An accord on employment is therefore a priority. Confronting the need to improve productivity of all the factors of production is key to creating the climate for unlocking the potential in the economy. Equally, the balance between macro-economic,labour market, human resource development and industrial policies will determine the extent to which we define the developmental path for our country. Such issues as the social plan, the review of the labour legislation dispensation, and the other issues this summit will consider in commissions, will all form part of the work programme of NEDLAC inthe coming period.

The NEDLAC report for the 1998/9 year shows that while we have as a counter made great strides in addressing the legacy of apartheid in our country, the matter of social equity till threatens the lives of the majority of our people and the common future of us all. Perhaps this feature of our society, inequalityand the need for greater social equity, is the defining issue for NEDLAC. Until such time as the excesses that define the very character of existence in our society are confronted and dealt with NEDLAC will always be a feature of our society. I am sure we would all agree that in that case our task is to make ourselves redundant.

Post this summit, apart from the priorities and emergencies that face us, there are also interesting challenges for us in this country. NEDLAC is a unique institution. If I may be allowed to indulge in some speculation I would suggest that if we explore the possible relationships NEDLAC can develop and refine, such as with our unique Parliament, there is no end to what we can achieve as social partners and this secretariat. NEDLAC has perhaps not until now focussed, or utilised its research capacity as strategically as it could have. If we do this, plan, prioritise and focus, then we can perhaps be part of defining an engagement with processes such as globalisation, which will assist all developing countries and particularly our neighbours in the Southern African region. NEDLAC could also play a more strategic role in the building of capacity in the organisational expression of the social interests that make up this unique institution. Ultimately it is these issues which will allow the public at large to judge and say whether this is an institution that is worthwhile, that gives value for money.

I am sure that we are committed to these challenges, to these opportunities and ultimately to the common objective of a better life for all. Let us then get to work in securing this on behalf of our respective constituencies and from the secretariat of NEDLAC on behalf of you all.