Improving Labour Systems in Southern Africa (ILSSA) (RAF/03/M20/USA)

The project's development objectives are increased compliance with national labour laws and improved labour-management relations, achieved through a strategy of better knowledge among employers and workers of their rights, obligations and services under national labour laws, more effective use of the labour administration/inspection systems, and increased use of the dispute prevention and resolution systems that have been set up in the six project countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland and Zambia). The USDOL is funding this 4-year project, which commenced in April 2004 and had its official launch in Namibia in October 2005. The strategy encourages the Labour Ministries, Workers' and Employers' representatives to view the changes and opportunities in the global marketplace from a broader foundation of rights based development. Underpinning this initiative is the ILO's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, which forms the basis of discussion on labour law reform and provides a framework for action. An essential component of the longer-term work of the ILSSA project will focus on strengthening the capacity of the labour systems and building essential skills related to collective bargaining, conciliation and arbitration. These elements form an important contribution to national and regional infrastructures for better communications and relations in the workplace.