REPORT ON THE REPORT ON THE REPORT ON THE REPORT ON THE CCMA Facilitated CCMA Facilitated CCMA Facilitated CCMA Facilitated CCMA Facilitated CCMA Facilitated CCMA Facilitated CCMA Facilitated 15 15 15 15 th th th th Anniversary Anniversary Anniversary Anniversary Think Tank Think Tank Think Tank Think Tank
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REPORT ON THE REPORT ON THE REPORT ON THE REPORT ON THE
The Think TankThe Think TankThe Think TankThe Think Tank
The SpeakersThe Speakers
What they saidThe Key Learnings
What was it?What was it?What was it?What was it?Reflection on 15 years since the Reflection on 15 years since the Reflection on 15 years since the Reflection on 15 years since the Reflection on 15 years since the Reflection on 15 years since the Reflection on 15 years since the Reflection on 15 years since the establishment of the CCMA establishment of the CCMA establishment of the CCMA establishment of the CCMA and the current state of the South African and the current state of the South African and the current state of the South African and the current state of the South African
Looking Back and Moving ForwardLooking Back and Moving ForwardLooking Back and Moving ForwardLooking Back and Moving Forward
Nerine Kahn, Halton Cheadle, Sipho Pityana,
Who spoke?
Nerine Kahn, Halton Cheadle, Sipho Pityana,
Sakhela Buhlungu, Connie September, Pregs
Govender, Leonard Gentle, Elias Monage, Paul
Benjamin and the participants.
What did they say?What did they say?
Key themes emerging
The same challenges found in 1995 are the
challenges that we are facing today (little has
changed)
� The new government faced a terrible legacy of extreme
inequality and high unemploymentinequality and high unemployment
� Mass unemployment and poverty
� Discrimination and inequality
� Intense conflict at the workplace
Key themes emerging (continued)
� Low levels of productivity
� Shortage of managerial and technical skills required to drive
an economy
� Sluggish employment growth
� Economy increasingly open to international competition
Key themes emerging (continued)
Graphic and disturbing description of the labour
market:� Labour relations has deteriorated and could deteriorate
furtherfurther
� Growing pressure from unemployed for social justice
� Workplace discrimination is more rampant than reported
� The failure of the education system and its long term impact
on the labour market, together with the already low level of
skills in the economy compound the problem
� Low level of negotiation skills by negotiators
� We need to narrow the wage gap between rich and poor
Key themes emerging (continued)
The Role of the Labour Movement While labour movement has a very high profile, if one goes down
to the work place it’s very weak (especially with regard to discrimination issues)
Regulated FlexibilityThe impact of regulated settlements, we should retrace our steps
and rebuild the basicsand rebuild the basics
Needing SynergyA comprehensive approach to policy is required, failing this the
labour market will fall into an even deeper crisis
Labour Market Commission ReportView expressed was that we shouldn’t assume that this policy is
the basis to build on, perception that it’s based on flawed assumptions
Key themes emerging (continued)
We need to reflect on doing things differently
now that whole economies are on the brink
of collapse (we need to ‘slug’ it out)
The crisis of leadershipThe crisis of leadership� We need visionary leadership
We need more effective ways of dealing with
unemployment and protecting jobs
Key themes emerging (continued)
Some questions:
� Why have we not achieved more consensual, rather than less adversarial engagements?
� Is collective bargaining playing a constructive economic role
� Is there sufficient progress on productivity and skills � Is there sufficient progress on productivity and skills development?
� What is the scope for job creation agreements, perhaps with lower wages for new entrants? The CCMA played a very constructive role in getting agreement in the Clothing Industry.
� Is it too easy to strike?
� Is it too easy to refer disputes?
Key themes emerging (continued)
Legacy of conflict in society and workplace� Legacy of conflict in society is still with us in all spheres
� The use of power to crush opponents is a dominant