Strengthening business and social dialogue in South Africa

South Africa Employers and Business Support Organisations

The National Employers Association of South Africa (NEASA) is working to enhance the business environment in South Africa. Through their collaboration with PUM they aim to improve labour relations, increase efficiency, and promote business development and incubator support. PUM introduced social dialogue as an instrument to strengthen traditional relationships between employers, employees, the government and other partners.

NEASA, with a national footprint across South Africa, offers comprehensive labour law and industrial relations services to all employers, regardless of size or sector. As a major player in collective bargaining, NEASA defends employers’ rights and actively engages in forums ranging from the workplace, trough bargaining councils, as well as Parliament and the media. NEASA’s mission is to empower and promote employers’ interests in a competitive business environment.

Collaboration with PUM

NEASA reached out to PUM to significantly strengthen the organisation in various areas through a series of discussions with management. Ton Voortman, PUM sector coordinator Employers and Business Support Organisations (EBSO), and Jos van Erp, responsible for social dialogue development at PUM, visited NEASA’s Head Office in Pretoria from 22 to 26 July. Their consultations with NEASA management led to plans for expanding NEASA’s services in the fields of Business Development and Incubator Support. NEASA will also explore options for social dialogue initiatives.

Ton Voortman

Sector Coordinator Employers and Business Support Organisations

“Social dialogue encompasses all matters related to labour and employment relationships. It starts with two or more parties – social partners – looking at an issue from different perspectives and seeking to reach a solution together. Social dialogue is a powerful way to achieve balanced relationships between employers, employees, and governments, providing a fertile ground for business growth and job creation. Our PUM experts, with their experience from the Dutch ‘polder model’, work with clients to find suitable approaches for their specific situations.”

Exploratory Discussions and Future Plans

In the following week, Ton and Jos held discussions with eight employer and network organisations in Gauteng and Cape Town, including the Dutch Embassy. These meetings highlighted the clear need to improve organisational strategies and address technical challenges faced by members. During these discussions, the Dutch polder model was again presented as a tool to strengthen traditional relationships between employers, employees, and the government.

Additionally, Ton and Jos visited members of NEASA, who appeared to need assistance from PUM in their specific areas of business. This demonstrates that when PUM collaborates with associations, it can also have a considerable spin-off effect for their member SMEs.

Gerhard Papenfus, Chief Executive of NEASA comments: “With PUM’s assistance, guidance and support, the facilitation of fruitful social dialogue may be achieved for the first time in the democratic history of South Africa, between employers’ organisations and unions. Extension of NEASA’s services to valuable business support, not just labour support, may be achieved, and a true entrepreneurial incubator can be established in collaboration with PUM. NEASA’s individual members may also directly benefit from the guidance and advice of PUM experts, on how to solve their internal and external problems, how to approach their business challenges, and possibly also how to enter the international markets.”

Based on the positive experiences of Ton and Jos during their visit, it is expected that PUM will be able to significantly expand its efforts and commitment in South Africa in the coming years.