Page 2 of 10 PREAMBLE WE, the Heads of State or Government of: The Republic of Angola The Republic of Botswana The Democratic Republic of Congo The Kingdom of Lesotho The Republic of Malawi The Republic of Mauritius The Republic of Mozambique The Republic of Namibia The Republic of Seychelles The Republic of South Africa The Kingdom of Swaziland The United Republic of Tanzania The Republic of Zambia The Republic of Zimbabwe RECALLING the objectives of SADC as spelt out in Article 5 of the Treaty; FURTHER RECALLING that the SADC Council of Ministers approved the main objectives of the SADC Employment and Labour Sector; NOW THEREFORE, SADC hereby adopts the following Charter: ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS 1. In this Charter, terms and expressions defined in Article 1 of the Treaty shall bear the same meaning unless the context otherwise requires. 2. In this Charter, unless the context otherwise requires: “ Charter” means this Charter of Fundamental Social Rights in SADC; “consultation” means a process of discussion which involves information sharing, and the making of representations on relevant issues with a view to achieving consensus; “essential services” has the meaning assigned to it under national legislation and consistent with international labour standards; “international instrument” means any international treaty, declaration, recommendation or relevant international agreement in the social, human rights and labour fields subscribed to by Member States; “ ILO” means the International Labour Organisation; and http://www.sadc.int/index/print/page/171 7/23/2009