SADC staff addresses Mswati
Correspondent | Friday May 12, 2017 12:00
Stergomena Lawrence Tax and the SADC Secretariat Management Team, for the opportunity to interact with you and your entire delegation.
Allow us to start our statement by expressing our true belief that employees play an important role in the attainment of any organisation’s goals.
The same notion is true for SADC, whose regionally-recruited and nationally-recruited employees, represent the nerve-centre for the attainment of Community’s regional integration goals.
Living the dream of the Region’s forefathers and rallying behind the brand, ‘SADC’ into the future, is a privilege we as employees of this august Community have been given the responsibility and trust to support.
Your Majesty, in its wisdom and foresight, the Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government endorsed the creation of an environment at the Secretariat, where Management and employees carry out SADC business in a mutually-reinforcing manner.
In this regard, the Secretariat implements human resource policies that are not only forward-looking, but also seek to ensure that there is professionalism, open communication, constructive criticism, problem-solving and, most importantly, achievement of results.
Since 2014, the Executive Secretary created virtual and physical platforms, which culminated into the very first SADC Staff Association, an interface that enables us to present issues, suggestions and innovative ideas without fear of retribution.
We are delighted to be able to stand before you as the Committee of the first, ever SADC Staff Association. Throughout the Year 2016, employees have been able to access the Executive Secretary and the Management of the Secretariat to deliberate on issues affecting employees in the workplace. For the first time, employees are able to participate in the Secretariat’s Management and Council meetings.
Your Majesty and Distinguished Guests,
We feel that, on the one hand, some issues have not been satisfactorily resolved; while, on the other hand, new issues affecting employees’ welfare continue to emerge; the most important being the organisation’s decisions regarding staff competitive remuneration, equitable job grading and staff retention at the Secretariat.
Employees feel that the removal of security allowance from their remuneration has resulted in an overall package which is lowest compared to other Regional Economic Communities.
Its resolution is also taking time to resolve. With regard to long-term contract framework, we are convinced that the March 2017 Council Decision has benefited some employees, while leaving out other equally affected ones.
Meanwhile, as the Secretariat undergoes changes in terms of employee numbers and profiles, resulting from implementation of the recently approved organisational structure, there is no doubt that there will be shifts and imbalances affecting workload. Naturally, there will be a sense of uncertainty going forward for a number of employees.
The abovementioned issues are held dearest to the hearts of my colleagues, and their speedy resolution would help restore the optimal level of motivation and productivity among them.
All the same, we are delighted that the Secretariat remains open to continue to discuss and manage these issues. We also note that the issue of long-term contract framework is undergoing consideration by SADC structures.
Your Majesty and Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In closing, we, as employees of SADC, would like to assure you of our continued and unwavering commitment to the SADC vision, mission, principle and objectives, and the commitment to go beyond the call of duty to contribute innovative ways to the implementation of the 2016 Summit Theme and the resolutions of the March 2017 Strategy Ministerial Retreat, under your able leadership.
We shall remain seized in making our modest contribution to support implementation of the Revised RISDP 2015 – 2020.
Thank you for your attention.