Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant says the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality calls for innovative and decisive ways to address them.

This, according to Minister Oliphant, will give hope to millions of unemployed people around the world in their quest for social justice. Addressing the 104th Session of the International Labour Conference on Monday, Minister Oliphant said it was time for the leadership to move from sterile debate to positive action to properly respond to future labour market challenges.

“It is my submission that the issue of jobs will remain hollow if we do not strive for decent work. Decent work entails giving a voice to the workers,” she said.

Minister Oliphant said she was happy that this conference was also considering the issue of giving a voice to rural workers as this was more so important considering that 32% of the global population is involved in agricultural activity.

“Reports have shown that inequality has its genesis in the labour market. They point to changes in the distribution of wages and paid employment being key factors behind recent inequality trends in both areas where there was an increase or decline in inequality.

“We believe that it is through social dialogue that we will be able to deal with the role of SMEs as a generator of jobs, on how to ensure labour protection and conclude the first ever international standard on the transition from the informal to the formal economy,” the Minister said.

Minister Oliphant told delegates at the conference that in dealing with the issues of jobs, South Africa has established the National Informal Business Upliftment Strategy, which focuses on the creation of an enabling legal and regulatory environment as well as enterprise development and support for the informal sector.

“We have a strategy referred to as the Integrated Strategy for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship and enterprises specifically intended to uplift the SMEs whilst also servicing the cooperatives through the cooperative development strategy which we believe is key in addressing issues of poverty and unemployment in a collective approach.

The conference is being attended by worker, employers and government delegates from the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO's) 185-member States.

This year’s agenda focuses on labour migration and employment strategies, ways out of informality and strengthening ILO Convention 29 on forced labour.