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Introduction
Labour and employment issues are at the core of African economies, and they affect operations of every sector and the workings of every government department, entity and State owned Enterprise. Social partners in Africa need to work together on coherent and focused programmes that will contribute to the promotion of decent and sustainable work throughout their economies.

Social Dialogue plays a very important role in creating opportunities for decent and sustainable work, strengthening freedoms, eradicating inequality, unemployment and poverty, providing job security and enhancing human dignity. Social dialogue includes all types of negotiation, consultation and exchange of information between, or among, representatives of governments, employers and workers on issues of common interests.

Successful Social Dialogue structures and processes have the potential to resolve important economic and social issues, encourage good governance, advance social and industrial peace and stability and boost economic progress. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) says effective Social Dialogue depends on:

• Respect for fundamental rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining
• Strong, independent workers’ and employers’ organisations with the technical capacity and knowledge required to participate in Social Dialogue
• Political will and commitment to engage in Social Dialogue on the part of all parties
• Appropriate institutional support