Within the ambit of environmental management, the promulgation of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), Act 107 of 1998, (Chapter 3), has made provision for the basis of co-operative government relations. This has been achieved through the establishment of the Committee for Environmental Co-ordination (CEC), as well as the call for submissions of Environmental Implementation Plans (EIPs) and Environmental Management Plans (EMPs). EIPs and EMPs are primarily statutory instruments in the promotion of co-operative governance around environmental management, through the alignment of governmental policies, plans, programmes and decisions within the environmental ambit. Ultimately, EIPs and EMPs should contribute to securing the protection of the environment, within the context of sustainable development.

National government departments have been divided into two categories. The first, as listed in Schedule 1, are those departments exercising functions, which may affect the environment and are required to submit an EIP. The second category as listed in Schedule 2 is composed of departments exercising functions that involve the management of the environment and are required to submit an EMP.

All departments listed in Schedule 2 of the NEMA are required to submit an EMP within one year of the promulgation of NEMA and at least every four years thereafter. The Department of Labour (DOL) falls into the category of exercising functions that involve the management of the environment and hence a first