South Africa’s social partners convene to advance decent work through responsible business conduct in trade and investment

South Africa, Sandton. (ILO News) - Government, business, workers’ organisations and key strategic institutions convened in Johannesburg for a two-day national workshop aimed at strengthening the role of responsible business conduct in advancing decent work across South Africa’s trade and investment landscape.

The workshop, hosted by the Department of Employment and Labour with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), brought together the South African national tripartite appointed focal for the promotion the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration). Aim of the workshop was to draft action plans for the national focal points, identify synergies and partnerships between the different national focal points coming from Government, Business, labour and NEDLAC.

The gathering follows South Africa’s 2025 designation of national tripartite focal points, a milestone that builds on earlier consultations and the development of a national roadmap on responsible business conduct and decent work. This decision positioned South Africa as a partner country in the EU-funded SUSTAIN Project, which seeks to strengthen decent work outcomes by aligning trade and investment with international labour standards.

The workshop drew participation from the Department of Employment and Labour; business representatives; National Business Initiative, the major labour federations—COSATU, SAFTU and NACTU—as well as the National Economic Development and Labour Council. Strategic partners such as the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, InvestSA, Productivity SA, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, and the Department of Justice also engaged to support coordinated implementation of the action plans that were developed by the designated national coal points.

In his opening remarks, the Department of Employment and Labour, Chief Director for International Relations, Mr Sipho Ndebele, expressed: ‘We convene with a clear and consequential purpose: to align South Africa’s robust engagement in global trade and investment with our foundational commitment to social justice, inclusive growth and the dignity of every worker. In an era of interconnected economies, the pursuit of development must be inseparable from the advancement of decent work.”

© ILO

© ILO

At a time when global value chains, investment flows and enterprise behaviour significantly influence labour market outcomes, this workshop represents a crucial opportunity for South Africa to ensure that trade and investment translate into fair, safe and productive work. By fostering collaboration and aligning national efforts with international labour standards, the workshop sets the foundation for stronger institutions, improved accountability, and more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

The action plans emerging from this dialogue are expected to guide future coordination and concrete initiatives that promote decent work, social justice and responsible business conduct across the country.

In particular, collaboration and partnership were sought between the Departments of Labour and Employment and the DTIC in pursuing ways to further strengthen trade policies and investment frameworks with international labour standards and responsible business conduct. Actions also identified opportunities to promote good social practices by South African companies operating abroad, as well as foreign companies operating in South Africa in line with the principles provided by the MNE Declaration and other RBC standards, through the further development of a code of conduct by the DTIC in cooperation with the other national focal points.

From the business and workers’ side, the importance of awareness-raising and capacity-building on the interlinkages between trade, investment and decent work was identified as a priority. NEDLAC, as the main social dialogue institution for South Africa, will perform its function as the national focal point for the promotion of the ILO MNE Declaration, acting as a convener of the focal points to facilitate and encourage dialogue to further identify gaps, challenges and opportunities for coherence, partnerships and synergies.