What kind of jobs? Creating opportunities What kind of jobs? Creating opportunities for decent workfor decent work

A Business ResponseA Business Response

2008 Commissioners Indaba

19 – 21st November 2008Sun City, North West Province

Tanya Cohen

Introduction

Business supports decent work objectives and the need to engage and address growth constraints, unemployment and decent work deficits

Growth sectors need attention: Type of work is not traditional Significant sources of employment Lack of understanding and appropriate

policy engagement Need to grow the sectors, employment and

quality of work

2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City

Introduction (cont)

Comprehensive and frank research on the challenges pertaining to employment in ‘growth sectors’

However, the research and analysis is through traditional employment lense

Research done from perspective of Labour Needs business information and what driver

employment types to be more balanced

2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City

Focus Areas

Statistical Data

Analysis of LFS Data

Analysis of LFS Data

Suggested Issues for Action

Conclusion2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City

Statistical Data

Stats SA LFS data tools limiting LFS survey data not aligned to other surveys by Stats

SA Definitions of employment outdated and inconsistent

with law e.g. defintion of casual

No measures of employment relationships TES, part-time, casual, temporary, independent

service providers Stats SA methodology based on traditional

employment Data increasingly unsuited to form basis of policy

analysis and development in current labour market2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City

Analysis of LFS Data

Agree that more nuanced and substantive approach to data is required Useful approach to look at a number of

variables Variables selected, and what they

demonstrate is problematic

Formal sector is not a proxy for formal employment, and formal standard employment is not a proxy for the quality of jobs and decent work

2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City

Analysis of LFS Data (cont)

Variables considered by researchers are aligned to traditional employment types ill-suited to modern types of work Not aligned to decent work agenda

Inclusion of intermediate category, effectively halves the number of formal jobs, creating the impression that less employees, and new forms of work constitute decent work

2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City

Analysis of LFS Data: what does it demonstrate?

Job Contract, UIF payment and leave benefits Statutory benefits For some sectors part time work payment is

made in lieu of leave is permitted

Pension and Medical Aid Not a statutory benefit Seldom applicable to new types of work, e.g.

part time and externalised work Should be considered at sectoral / national

level for decent work2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City

Analysis of LFS Data: what does it demonstrate? (cont)

Trade Union membership Decent work indicator of social dialogue at

sectoral or national level? Should not be traditionally regarded at enterprise

level / within a bargaining council structure E.g. sectoral determinations, 2010 summit,

security agreement

Employer registration status and size of employer Not really an indicator of decent work, but

formality

2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City

Analysis of LFS Data: what does it demonstrate? (cont)

Salary level Based on tradition notion of work and not

helpful for e.g. part time workers R1500 is a per capita poverty indicator, not

a decent work indicator

Permanent work Not covering fixed term employment such

as public works progammes

2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City

Analysis of LFS Data

Need decent work indicators that incorporate particular country objectives: e.g. on transport, skills and employment equity

Variables need to be adjusted to reflect decent work objectives at every level: Enterprise and Individual Sector National

Variables need to reflect statutory requirements Variables must take account of the reality of new

types of work

2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City

Employment Standards and Enforcement

All sectors, except call centres covered by sectoral determination / bargaining council agreements and labour laws

Employers and employees either not aware or do not apply obligations

Social partners not always cognisant of provisions

Temporary Employment Services Proposal by business through Nedlac for Self Regulated

Governance Structure consisting of the social partners Would improve decent work and rights at work, without unduly

compromising growth Why has no progress been made?

Enabling measures required to improve compliance and meet decent work objectives

Capacity building Fully resourced inspectorate

2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City

Issues for Action

Social partners to engage on better Stats SA data tools on New forms of work Decent work indicators

Social Security reform essential Safe transport imperative Leverage skills development Capacity building to ensure awareness and compliance Social dialogue

Traditional methods of dialogue no longer appropriate Unpack what is needed to ensure growth, employment

growth and decent work objectives Stop being in denial about new types of work Re-invent strategies and modernise approach to dialogue

in these sectors

2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City

Conclusion

Spotlight on these sectors useful platform for engagement on growth and employment constraints and decent work deficts

Need to be considered at a country level

Need to be more clear on what the LFS analysis is seeking to demonstrate

Need to add in more growth data and business drivers to give a more holistic view

Research clearly demonstrates that to look at these growth sectors, that are operating in the new world of work, through a traditional employment lense with traditional employment data tools is not helpful to the interests of any of the social partners

Research lays the foundation for action which should not be delayed further

2008 COMMISSIONERS INDABA 19 - 21 November 2008 Sun City