SA's Tshabalala loses AfDB presidency to Mauritanian
Tah previously served as director-general for the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa. He also served as an expert at the Mauritanian Bank for Development and Commerce between 1984 and 1986, then as a financial analyst at the Food Security Commission in 1986.
He also worked as a financial analyst at the Khartoum-based Arab Authority for Agriculture, Investment and Development between 1996 and 1999. Thereafter, he served as investment promotion officer and then technical assistant to the president of the Islamic Development Bank.
He was the adviser to Mauritania's president and prime minister, respectively, in 2006 and 2008. In 2008, he was nominated and appointed as Mauritanian minister of economy and finance.
Tshabalala joined AfDB in 2018 after she was appointed as vice president of finance and CFO. She previously served as a finance manager at Standard Bank Group and as group treasurer at Transnet.
Finance minister Enoch Godongwana previously commended Tshabalala for her contribution and commitment to achieving the AfDB's vital goal of increasing investment in the continent.
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Mail & Guardian
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Meelis said Cosatu had secured a win through negotiations at the National Economic Development and Labour Council with the government agreeing to allow atypical workers — including actors and digital platform workers — to join unions and engage in collective bargaining. However, Meelis said the deployment of AI risks deepening inequality. 'In the short term, more women risk losing their jobs than men — particularly because the initial impact of AI will be the replacement of administrative jobs, which are predominantly held by women workers.' 'If we are to address inequality and not exacerbate it, digital transformation must not outpace social integration,' Meelis added. 'If someone works regularly for a platform, follows set conditions and depends on that income, they should be presumed an employee until proven otherwise. That's how fairness can be restored.' South Africa's labour laws haven't caught up with the gig economy, Ajam said. 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IOL News
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Gideon Chitanga, PhD, is an international relations and political analyst. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. 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IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
G20 pledges to reduce gender gap in workforce participation by 25% by 2030
Deputy Minister Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala says G20 nations have pledged to cut the gender labour gap by 25% by 2030. Image: GCIS G20 member states have reaffirmed their commitment to reducing the gender gap in labour force participation by 25% by 2030 under the newly launched Brisbane–eThekwini Goal, following a two-day Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting (LEMM) hosted at Fancourt Hotel and Country Estate in George. Speaking at the closing session, South Africa's Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala, said the renewed goal seeks not only numerical parity but also addresses the quality and conditions of women's employment. 'In 2014, under Australia's G20 Presidency, Leaders adopted the Brisbane Goal, committing to reduce the gender gap in labour force participation by 25% by 2025. Today, we acknowledge that progress has been uneven. While nearly all G20 countries have narrowed the gap since 2012, only about half are on track to meet the target by next year,' she said. The new Brisbane–eThekwini Goal deepens the G20's resolve to close the gender gap and ensure meaningful participation for women across the global labour market. 'The gender goal urges G20 to go beyond numerical parity and interrogate the quality of women's participation: under what conditions, with what protections, and with what opportunity for advancement?' she added. Key action points outlined under the renewed goal include promoting women's leadership in high-growth sectors like STEM, investing in affordable care infrastructure, addressing occupational segregation and informal work, supporting equal access to training and entrepreneurship, and ensuring fair parental leave and work–life balance policies. The Deputy Minister emphasised that the commitment is rooted in international labour standards, particularly ILO Conventions focused on discrimination, employment policy, and the elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace. 'These instruments are central to protecting workers with family responsibilities and ensuring that care work is recognised, valued and decently remunerated,' she said. The Brisbane–eThekwini Goal also introduces a second major target: reducing the unadjusted gender wage gap by 15% by 2035, measured against 2022 data, with a five-year review to potentially raise the target to 35%. 'To close the wage gap, we must enforce equal pay legislation, promote pay transparency, and tackle structural discrimination in wage-setting,' Nemadzinga-Tshabalala said. She called for better gender-disaggregated data, stronger collective bargaining mechanisms, and support for initiatives such as the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC). In closing, the Deputy Minister said the goal is more than a number—it is a principled pursuit. 'It is a call for courage, consistency and solidarity. As we leave this gathering, let us ensure that one's gender does not condition the dignity of work, and that our economies are measured not only by growth, but by justice,' she said. IOL News
