ABIDJAN (ILO News) - Based on the idea that in Africa "the need to pursue simultaneously the objectives of economic and social efficiency have never appeared as obvious as today", and relying on the report Decent work and protection for all in Africa by Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO), the 198 representatives of governments and employers' and workers' organizations from 39 countries expressed the hope that the International Labour Organization will take on greater visibility and influence with the international community and reinforce its synergy with other organizations in order to arrive at the globalization of social progress.
The delegates to the Ninth African Regional Meeting of the ILO observed that "Many conflicts are undermining the continent, inflicting unnecessary suffering on the populations, jeopardizing economic development and social cohesion; in this context, the tripartite partners have a major role to play in promoting social dialogue, the foundation for a durable peace."
They recognized that political stability is one of the indispensable factors of economic growth which generates decent work and social protection.
The Meeting ended today with the presentation and adoption of Conclusions geared to encourage policies to promote social progress on the continent.
The participants, among whom were the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security of the Côte d'Ivoire and Chairman of the Meeting, Zirimba Aka Marcel, as well as high-ranking representatives of employers' and workers' organizations, fully approved the contents of the report of the ILO Director-General on the International Labour Organization's activities in Africa for 1994-99, and the report Decent work and protection for all in Africa. They voiced support in particular for the four strategic objectives of the ILO for the biennium 2000-01, which are promotion and realization of fundamental principles and rights at work and international labour standards, creation of greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment and income, social protection for all and strengthening tripartism and social dialogue.
The delegates recalled the importance of the rapid implementation of the eight InFocus programmes for the benefit of the region included in the Programme and Budget for 2000-01 for the realization of these objectives.
Noting that the "reduction of poverty, economic growth and respect for the fundamental rights of workers are clearly interlinked", countries are called upon, if they haven't already done so, to ratify the Conventions on the fundamental rights of workers, to bring their legislation in conformity with them and to apply them.
The ratification of the ILO Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948 ( No. 87), and the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 ( No. 98), constitute the first step for governments and the social partners in the implementation of appropriate action which will contribute to the respect of fundamental freedoms and union rights.
Among the Conclusions of the Meeting, the delegates stressed their commitment to the elimination of child labour, beginning with its worst forms. They stated that "the elimination of child labour in Africa represents a real challenge. To be African is first of all to respect and prepare the destiny of Africa through its children." The delegates called on countries to ratify the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 ( No. 138), and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 ( No. 182), as quickly as possible and to monitor their application. In this framework, the delegates also urged a broad expansion of the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC).
Considering decent work for both women and men as one of the central objectives of the process of regional integration, the delegates requested the ILO "to develop effective policies and strategies in employment creation".
Enterprise promotion, improved productivity, decent incomes and social protection are equally urgent requirements for the ILO to stress, not only with governments but also with the private sector.
The principal wealth of Africa being its human capital, the delegates consider that "the ILO should sensitize the other organizations of the United Nations system, the Bretton Woods Institutions and other sponsors, to the necessity of taking into consideration the importance of human resources in all economic reform programmes".
The delegates also encouraged governments and social partners to develop policies or programmes enabling social insertion or reinsertion of the victims of conflicts. The informal sector comprises a large proportion of African workers, and the ILO was requested to conceive and develop sustainable and viable social protection systems covering the entire population.
Problems linked to the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa were of particular interest to the delegates. Affecting the youngest of the active population, giving rise to workplace discrimination towards those carrying the virus, depriving many children of their parents and forcing them to go to work prematurely, the AIDS pandemic and its consequences were of great concern to the delegates. They urged the ILO to give this question the highest priority and to develop appropriate programmes to deal with the problem.
"Tripartism and social dialogue constitute a chance for the countries to build and consolidate at the same time social cohesion, even peace and development, by the participation of all actors in common goals, training in the management of professional disputes, a partnership in the formulation and implementation of decisions, and a more equitable sharing of the fruits of labour. It is these benefits of dialogue and of participation which the social partners should seek to consolidate in their respective countries".
In his closing statement, Jean-Jacques Elmiger, President of the Governing Body of the ILO, representing Mr. Somavia, congratulated the delegates on the quality of the discussions and invited the countries represented to apply the decisions reflected in the Conclusions of the Meeting. "Together, let us make the ILO an essential pillar of action for the social development of Africa at the dawn of the twenty-first century."