Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality_X
The Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakosazana Meth says hosting the G20 in South Africa is significant for the country, as well as the African continent.
Minister Meth was speaking in Gqeberha on Tuesday during the Education Working Group of the G20 until Friday.
South Africa, under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, assumed the presidency of the Group of 20 nations for this year.
Minister Meth says since the founding of the G20 in 1999, it is the first time that it has been hosted on African soil.
She said this milestone underscores the growing recognition of Africa's role in shaping the global economic and social agenda.
In her speech, Meth emphasised the importance of tackling youth unemployment, especially in developing countries.
“Young people are the cornerstone of future economic stability, and we must create opportunities for them to thrive in the global economy. “
She added the Antalya Goal, which sought to reduce the share of young people at risk of being permanently left behind in the labour market by 15% by 2025, is set to expire. Building on this, she committed to the introduction of the Nelson Mandela Bay G20 Goal on Youth Employment.
“This new goal aims to reduce NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rates by 5% by 2030, focusing on digital literacy, skills development, and entrepreneurship.”
Despite some progress made, Meth says women continue to face systemic barriers in the workforce, including unequal pay, limited leadership opportunities, and the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work. She says the discussions will focus on promoting equal pay, addressing workplace discrimination, and expanding access to social security.
“Therefore, it is crucial to tackle unpaid work, promote financial inclusion, and eliminate gender-based violence.”
“As we launch the Employment Working Group., let us remember that our shared future depends on our ability to act together with urgency in solidarity, and a commitment to equality and sustainability. We must strive for a future of work that benefits everyone and fosters peace, stability, equality, and progress worldwide. Therefore, our G20 Presidency aspires to ensure decent work and decent lives to leave no one behind.”
