The International Society for Labour and Social Security Law held its 21^st World Congress at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town from 15 to 18 September 2015. The Congress was hosted by the South African Society for Labour Law (SASLAW) and it was the first time that the Congress was held on African soil. Prof Stefan van Eck, Head of the Department Mercantile Law in the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, was the Programme Director.

The following staff and postgraduate students of the Department of Mercantile Law presented papers, namely Prof Stefan van Eck (lecturer), Ezette Gericke (lecturer), Leana Diedericks (lecturer), Geoffrey Esitang (LLD candidate), Candiace Alletter (LLD candidate) and Dr Dawid de Villiers (part-time lecturer). They presented papers on either “Collective Labour Law and Beyond”, or “Labour Law and Development”, respectively.

The Congress offered a combination of the highest level of international scholarship and practical experience and as a result approximately 500 registered attendees and 90 speakers attended this event.  

Leading experts such as professors Alain Supiot, Manfred Weiss, Mukul Asher, Simon Deakin, Judy Fudge and Graciela Bensusan brought new insights to the Congress themes. Debates sparked new ideas and insight into various issues currently experienced as key factors to the regulation of labour law. One of the most stimulating round table discussions was led by Judge Dennis Davis (Judge of the Labour Appeal Court and President of the of the Competition Appeal Court) on the topic: “Have ILO principles contributed to workable labour relations? A case study of South Africa’s Labour Relations Act 20 years on.” The panel included experts such as Ms Tanya Cohen (Johannesburg, SA) representing organized business, Tony Ehrenreich (Cape Town, SA) representing the workers, Advocate Halton Cheadle (Cape Town, SA) and Professor Manfred Weiss (Frankfurt, SA) involved in the drafting of the 1995 Labour Relations Act.

Professor Sir Bob Hepple QC was announced to be one of the main keynote speakers at the congress, but sadly passed away a few weeks before the congress was scheduled to take place. The following panel of close friends and colleagues delivered a tribute to the late Prof Sir Bob Hepple QC:  Professors Halton Cheadle (Cape Town, SA); Simon Deakin (Cambridge, UK); Judy Fudge (Canterbury, UK); Judge Andre van Niekerk (Johannesburg, SA); Emeritus Professor Manfred Weiss (Frankfurt, Germany); and retired Constitutional Judge Albie Sachs delivered a moving tribute via video broadcast.

Fltr:  Prof Stefan van Eck, Candiace Alletter and Georffrey Esitang.