The absolute path to creating decent job opportunities was another key focal point at the BHP- Billiton Skills Development Summit.
It addressed the importance of providing decent jobs in line with basic employee rights and future growth. The ultimate aim is to achieve an economy that generates opportunities for investment, entrepreneurship, skills development, job creation and sustainable livelihoods.

We need to obtain recognition and respect for the rights of workers. All workers, and in particular disadvantaged or poor workers, need representation, participation, and laws that work for their interests. Thus by promoting both the inclusion and productivity elements, we can ensuring that women and men enjoy working conditions that are safe, allow adequate free time and rest, taken into account family and social values, provide for adequate compensation in case of lost or reduced income and permit access to adequate healthcare.
An efficient communication process between strong and independent workers and employers organizations is central to increasing productivity, avoiding disputes at work, and building cohesive societies.

Some of the points that were highlighted, included:
• ILO's strategic objectives for a practical decent work agenda
• ILO's 2010 - 2015 key outcomes
• Opportunity for investment in job rich growth
• Job creation and the employability of workers
• The competitiveness of enterprises
• Stakeholder relations

As far as targets go - during the period 2010 - 15, the ILO's strategy for promoting full, productive and freely chosen employment was inline with the following elements.
• coordinated and coherent policies to generate inclusive job rich growth
• skills development policies to increase employability of workers, the competitiveness of enterprise and the inclusiveness of growth
• Policies and programs to promote sustainability enterprises and entrepreneurship

Distinguishing between investment and what effects it would have on job-rich growth.
Investment decisions vs Job -rich growth
viability - Decent and sustainable employment
availability of skills - Social development
profitable (productivity) - Economic development
sustainability - Opportunities for personal development

Labour market policies should thus include the skills training required in order to compete for salary and wages. An enabling environment should be created and should include all educational systems, trainability of employees, their work related desires and their commitment levels. Support should be given to promote and encourage entrepreneurs and the development thereof with regards to the relevant training initiatives. Many multinational enterprises are feared to be intrusive and many sectors fear their main concern is with importing skills rather than developing local skills. They appear to be more outcomes focussed.

We need to highlight the importance of poverty reduction, with or without these enterprises. Thus far little effort is made on SD initiatives and we see an increase in lower level jobs as well as EPWP projects. It should be reiterated that skills development is key to improving rural productivity, employability and income-earning opportunities, while enhancing food security and promoting environmentally sustainable rural development and livelihoods.

Despite rural women's major role in agriculture and other rural activities, higher barriers in education and training limit their participation in more productive and remunerative work, perform managerial and leadership roles and participate fully in the development of their communities. Targeted action is needed to dismantle these barriers.

A business without effective and efficient staff is simply a Building without people