Brics’ meeting gets underway in Johannesburg amidst challenges of economic growth while also protecting employee rights

Issues of productivity and employee rights will loom large at an all-important summit of Brics member states which kicks off in Muldersdrift, west of Johannesburg on Tuesday (tomorrow).

The event, being organised by the Department of Employment and Labour, will be attended by the five member states Brazil – Russia – India – China and South Africa, along with the International Labour Organisation, African Union as well as Zimbabwe – Botswana – Eswatini – Namibia and Malawi.

Mr Siyabonga Hadebe, South Africa’s labour attaché in Geneva, said the meeting, which ends on Friday, would look at how to manage issues of human dignity as the world tries to recover from Covid-19, energy crisis and stagflation.

“In terms of productivity, we’ll look at how we can have more output using the same inputs. Also, how we can have more innovation to grow our economies.

“On employee rights, we are all members of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and therefore subscribe to labour conventions on matters of health and safety and the right to form and belong to trade unions,” he said.

According to Hadebe the session would be followed by others in May, June and the last one in September to be attended by Ministers.

He said the Muldersdrift meeting will see technical teams assembling and setting the stage for the final outcome.

It will be chaired by the Department’s Director-General, Mr Thobile Lamati.

Source: Government of South Africa