Is Nedlac relevant?

Institution is being undermined by its own members.

- Ciaran Ryan

DIFFERENCES: JUST 25 OF 162 BILLS IN PARLIAMENT REFERRED TO BODY

Nedlac seems to have slipped from the headlines in recent years. It still exists, but its relevance as a consensus-seeking body between labour, business, government and communities is a shadow of what it once was.

The National Economic Development and Labour Council, or Nedlac, was created by an act of Parliament in 1994 to promote economic growth, provide inputs into economic decision-making and seek consensus between labour, business, government and communities on social and economic policy.

Those who participate in its various forums hold it in fairly high regard, but new research by Dr Ongama Mtimka from Nelson Mandela University suggests that while Nedlac remains relevant, its decision-making is frequently bypassed by government, labour and business.