THE JAMAICA Employers' Federation (JEF) will be hosting its annual Christmas and Awards Dinner on Wednesday, November 27 beginning 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Kingston Hotel Grand Ballroom.
The guest speaker will be Mr. Jacobus Wilhelmus Botha President of the Pan African Employers Confederation, the umbrella body for employers' organisation in Africa.
Mr. "Bookie" Botha (as he is affectionately called), chaired the committee, which ultimately brought South Africa's major business and employers' organisations together to form Business South Africa, now the representative voice of business in national and international economic and labour debates. He also led the business team in negotiations on the right to strike and lockout to be contained in the interim Constitution of South Africa, and was the spokesperson for business in negotiations on the new labour dispensation, which created national labour institutions such as the tripartite National Economic, Development and Labour Council, and the national dispute-settling body, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. He was the lead negotiator for business in the establishment of the new Labour Relations Act (all laws affecting the world of work in South Africa and required to be negotiated by labour, business and government).
After the apartheid era, the change to democracy was met with increased advocacy from trade unions and therefore this required a firm but sensitive response from employers. Employers' organisations became critical in guiding this response to ensure that competitiveness would not be eroded during South Africa's reintegration process. There was also a need to bring different employers organisation together, regardless of their political affiliations. A strong and united employers voice was also needed to ensure that the new democratic government would adopt and continue with policies aimed at maintaining productivity and competitiveness in the face of globalisation. Bookie Botha was instrumental in uniting South African business leaders towards the common goal of maintaining the country's competitiveness after the apartheid era. This task was now more than ever very daunting as the region was faced with new trade policies and increased competition from several countries.
Mr. Botha has held the position of Member, National Manpower Commission Unemployment Insurance Fund Board, Commission to recommend new Public Holidays for the New South Africa, Commission on the necessity of legislation for HIV/AIDS, Chairman, Governing Body of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), Business Convenor for the Labour Market Chamber of the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC).
He also holds International positions including Member of the Management Committee, International Organisation of Employers (IOE), ILO Governing Body Member, Committee on Freedom of Association and Employers' Vice-Chairperson on various ILO Governing Bodies and International Labour Conference Committees.
The Jamaica Employers' Federation is indeed very proud to host such a distinguished employer representative who has assisted in shaping the New South Africa. Mr. Bookie Botha's work over the last decade has truly placed him in the "Employers' Hall of Fame" as someone who has defended the global and regional views of employers.
