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Johannesburg - Three labour federations on Tuesday called for an urgent high-level meeting with government to get clarity on policy proposals for the reform of retirement funds and social security.
The meeting would address issues like the release of pending proposals, the envisaged time frames for their negotiation and implementation; and the scope and character of the proposed policy interventions, said Cosatu's Bheki Ntshalintshali.
He said the need for a meeting was decided by the Congress of SA Trade Unions, the National Council of Trade Unions and the Federation of Unions of SA, at the national retirement funds conference which concluded on Tuesday in Rustenburg.
"(We) identified problems of non-consultation, paternalism and piecemeal interventions... (we hope these) are decisively addressed and brought to an end," said Ntshalintshali.
A discussion paper was released by Treasury in 2004 on retirement funds reform.
Government then introduced two key discussion papers in 2007, proposing the introduction of a national social security system for the employed population, which provided for mandatory contributions to a national retirement fund, together with provision of death and disability cover.
Ntshalintshali said there was a lack of clarity on these papers, so government reverted to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) in 2007 to resolve issues.
"There have been repeated delays and promised documents while an intergovernmental task team deliberations have been seemingly endless, and the undertakings to revert have not materialised," he said.
The federations have tabled their comments and suggestions on the proposal following the conference.
Ntshalintshali would represent labour's concerns as the overall convenor for labour in the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).
The council, funded by the department of labour, ensures government meets with organised business, labour and community groupings on a national level to discuss and try to reach consensus on issues of social and economic policy.
The meeting would address issues like the release of pending proposals, the envisaged time frames for their negotiation and implementation; and the scope and character of the proposed policy interventions, said Cosatu's Bheki Ntshalintshali.
He said the need for a meeting was decided by the Congress of SA Trade Unions, the National Council of Trade Unions and the Federation of Unions of SA, at the national retirement funds conference which concluded on Tuesday in Rustenburg.
"(We) identified problems of non-consultation, paternalism and piecemeal interventions... (we hope these) are decisively addressed and brought to an end," said Ntshalintshali.
A discussion paper was released by Treasury in 2004 on retirement funds reform.
Government then introduced two key discussion papers in 2007, proposing the introduction of a national social security system for the employed population, which provided for mandatory contributions to a national retirement fund, together with provision of death and disability cover.
Ntshalintshali said there was a lack of clarity on these papers, so government reverted to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) in 2007 to resolve issues.
"There have been repeated delays and promised documents while an intergovernmental task team deliberations have been seemingly endless, and the undertakings to revert have not materialised," he said.
The federations have tabled their comments and suggestions on the proposal following the conference.
Ntshalintshali would represent labour's concerns as the overall convenor for labour in the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).
The council, funded by the department of labour, ensures government meets with organised business, labour and community groupings on a national level to discuss and try to reach consensus on issues of social and economic policy.
