25th October 2025
Own Correspondent
The understanding of Labour Law was described as critical in a world of work where its evolving nature was the cornerstone of successful economies graduates at ILES were told.
Professor Justice OBK Dingake said, “In the tapestry of human progess, labour law stands as one of the strongest threads – binding together aspirations of workers, the responsibilities of employers, and the vision of a just society. It is the guardian of balance, ensuring that productivity never tramples upon humanity, and that prosperity never grows at the expense of fairness. Through labour law we protect the dignity of every worker.”
He said, “Labour law is a living covenant, written not just in ink, but in the struggles and hopes of working people. It is the moral compass that guides the ship of industry, ensuring it does not wreck upon the rocks of exploitation.”
Dingake who was the Guest of Honour at the ILEs Graduation Ceremony stressed that, “We cannot over-emphasize the importance of labour law.”
Labour law was described as a living covenant, written not just in ink, but in the struggles and hopes of working people. It is the moral compass that guides the ship of industry, ensuring it does not wreck upon the rocks of exploitation.
It was described as the scales of justice that balance the power of capital with the rights of labour, and it is the shield that guards the fragile flame of human dignity in the marketplace.
Dingake maintained Lordship McIntyre J stated that: “ Labour law – is a fundamentally important as well as an extremely sensitive subject. It is based upon a political and economic compromise between organized labour – a very powerful socio-economic force – on the one hand, and the employers of labour – an equally powerful socio-economic force – on the other. The balance between the two forces is delicate.”
The true power of labour law does not just reside in the constitution, statutes, codes, ILO, Conventions. It lives in your convictions. It lives in the individual courage to defend the voiceless, to challenge injustice, and to shape workplaces where equity and respect are not privileges but norms.
Labour law is not only about work, but worth. Not only about employment, but about empowerment. And not just about rights, but about justice. You are entering a world where labour relations will test your resolve, and where ethical choices will define your legacy.
ILES’s value proposition is anchored on the provision of practical and relevant skills. ILES officials believe that knowledge without application serves little purpose.
That is why all ILES programmes — including the Diploma in Labour Law and the Certificate in Paralegal Studies — are deliberately skills-oriented and designed to address gaps in the labour market.
Shandukani Hlabano, Institute for Labour and Employment Studies (ILES) Principal, said “At ILES, our value proposition is anchored on the provision of practical and relevant skills. We believe that knowledge without application serves little purpose.”
He said, “That is why all our programmes — including the Diploma in Labour Law and the Certificate in Paralegal Studies — are deliberately skills-oriented and designed to respond directly to the needs of the labour market.”
ILES’s mandate as a labour institute goes beyond training and extends to policy-oriented research, capacity building, and the development of workplace competencies that foster professionalism, ethical conduct, and mutual respect.
“In this way, ILES is playing its part in shaping a more informed, balanced, and equitable world of work,” said Hlabano.
ILES has come this far because of the partnerships and collaborations such as the relationship with the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC/ILO) in Turin, Italy – a partnership enhancing its ability to deliver world-class, practical training rooted in international best practice.
