BL Premium reports that a SA businessman, who has served the International Labour Organization (ILO) in senior positions for more than a decade, says improving the organisation’s governance and oversight capabilities is in the offing should he be elected as the first African to lead the body since its inception more than a century ago.
Prof Mthunzi Mdwaba is the immediate past vice-president of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) to the ILO, which is a tripartite UN special agency that deals with social justice and sets international labour standards. Mdwaba’s candidacy has been endorsed by the ANC-led government, the AU, the Sadc tripartite bloc (governments, trade unions and employers), the Southern African Trade Union Co-ordinating Council (Satucc), Cosatu, Fedusa, Nactu and others. Mdwaba is CEO of Tzoro IBC, a business consultancy in Sandton, a former vice-chair of the ILO, chair of Productivity SA and chair of the SA-Norwegian Association. The former council chair of the University of the Western Cape, and ex officio member of the Global Commission on the Future of Work, said in an interview: “Governments, workers and employers from the Global South will benefit from being led by someone from a hugely disadvantaged background. This makes me a person who has sensitivity to differences and diversity, as well as understands that crossover appeal is important to heal others and allay fears for those who are not ready to go at the same speed as others.”
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
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