FEDUSA engage the Green Paper on National Strategic Planning

By Ofentse Mokae
27 October 2009

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) and its Leadership met with the Minister of National Planning, Minister Trevor Manuel yesterday, to discuss the Green Paper on National Planning.

The Green Paper that was first introduced in September this year is an important tool by which Government aims to extensively consults with Organised Labour and Business to improve the performance of Government through enhancing coherence and co-ordination in government, managing the performance of the state and communicating better with the public.

FEDUSA General Secretary Dennis George, says the meeting with the Minister yesterday was to provide an opportunity for the National Executive Committee members to engage with Government on the progress of the implementation of this Green Paper.

Dennis says as a nation we have come a long way since achieving democracy, but we are still confronted with massive challenges.

“Unemployment remains very high, poverty and inequality are persistent and opportunities to better education, healthcare, public transport and basic household amenities for many remain skewed,” Dennis said.

He says as such FEDUSA is concerned about how the Green Paper plans to incorporate the labour bodies such as the International Labour Organization and Nedlac.

He however says they we were pleasantly informed by the Minister that the main purpose of the Green Paper was to primarily consult exclusively with all sectors of society.

The sectors include Labour, Business and Government to ensure a more inclusive society that will aim at a more inclusive society where the fruits of development benefit all South Africans, particularly the poor.