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Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya says fairness and competitiveness can co-exist, urging a shift from the belief that they are mutually exclusive in today’s economy. Speaking at the Labour 20 (L20) Summit in George on 29 July, Sibiya emphasised the importance of fair wages, decent work, and strong social protection as building blocks for resilient economies.
Addressing trade union leaders from around the globe, Sibiya said the forthcoming Employment Working Group (EWG) declaration reinforces the need to expand formal employment, uphold workers’ rights, and reconnect wage growth to productivity.
The L20, representing workers’ voices in G20 policy discussions, met under the theme “Fostering solidarity, equality and sustainability through a new social compact.” South Africa’s key labour federations – Cosatu, Fedusa, Nactu and Saftu – were present at the summit, which ran parallel to the G20 EWG meeting.
Sibiya highlighted global challenges such as rising inequality, declining real wages, and the shrinking labour share of GDP, noting that productivity gains have not translated into better pay for low-income workers. “This disconnect between wealth creation and its distribution is unsustainable,” he warned.
He outlined South Africa’s employment priorities: inclusive growth and youth employment, gender equality in the workforce, reversing the decline in labour income share, and harnessing digitalisation to ensure an inclusive future of work.
Sibiya also stressed the importance of strong wage-setting mechanisms, social protection, and empowering social dialogue between workers and employers. He called for coordinated global action, adding, “Our work is far from over. We must embed social justice in our economic strategies.”
