4 2 S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M U N I T Y in all the health challenges facing the region and Chemicals, as well as the Codes of Conduct on Child inadequate resources for improving the health status of Labour and Social Security address critical issues of people are matters of serious concern. economic growth and development. As regards gender responsiveness, the ELS-SCU is one of the few SADC institutions that developed an 3.5.4 EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR explicit gender policy document, which was adopted in the year 2000. The policy acknowledges that the labour 3.5.4.1 market in Southern Africa is characterised by gender Review of Current Policies and Strategies inequalities, as reflected in legislation, laws, policies and The primary objective of the employment strategy is to practices that disadvantage women. The policy calls upon stimulate the demand for labour, or increase the rate of Member States to review and reform them, commit labour absorption in the economy. A number of priority themselves to develop and implement gender sensitive areas and specific strategies are identified, with emphasis policies, and take positive action to promote equality for on a proactive approach to employment promotion at women in work and employment. national level, which should be accompanied by some consensus on what such an approach entails, and how it is to be co-ordinated and harmonised at the regional level. On the issue of Productivity, Member States have undertaken to formulate and adopt appropriate policies and strategies at the macro, institutional and enterprise level. The main objective of the Draft Social Charter is to facilitate the establishment and harmonisation of social security systems and generation of incomes. 3.5.4.3 Challenges in Policies and Strategies The Employment and Labour section faces problems with regard to employment creation. There is not enough investment to employ more people. The region has a high unemployment rate and therefore this affects the social life of many people. There is also need for social security nets for the unemployed. The labour laws need to be modified to allow collective bargaining by employees. The region also needs to guard against child labour 3.5.4.2 practices. Evaluation of Current policies and Strategies Unemployment and underemployment, and the inadequacy of labour standards and regulations, as well 3.5.5 CULTURE INFORMATION AND SPORT as their implications for regional integration, are the critical issues of concern in this sector. The objectives and 3.5.5.1 strategies identified under the heading of employment Review of Current Policies and Strategies promotion and labour market regulation are concrete and The policies and strategies for the CIS sector are clearly targeted at addressing poverty reduction. contained in the Protocol on Culture, Information and Moreover, they take into account international labour Sport, which was signed in August 2001 and is yet to standards, especially those of the ILO. come into force, and the Policies, Priorities and Strategies These priorities and strategies also reflect the Document. linkages between the ELS sector and other sectors such With respect to general areas of cooperation, the Pro- as finance and investment. High levels of investment are tocol identifies policy harmonisation; training, capacity necessary to promote employment, which in turn building and research; resource mobilisation and utilis- enhances people's access to finance. There is need ation; production, flow, exchange and use of information therefore to more concretely identify these inter-sectoral products; regional interaction among stakeholders; linkages, and how they can be harnessed to ensure the gender equality and equity; and persons with disabilities. achievement of SADC's goals. With respect to other policy instruments, the 3.5.5.2 Declaration on Productivity, the Social Charter, the codes Evaluation of Current Policies and Strategies on HIV and AIDS at the Workplace and the Safe Use of There is no doubt that the policies and strategies identified