GENEVA (ILO News) - The Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO), Juan Somavia, begins a four-day official visit to Mauritius on 12 April where he is expected to attend the 26 th Session of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the African Union.
The meeting of the Commission will discuss a number of issues relevant to the work of the ILO on the African continent including job creation, poverty reduction, the growing child labour problem, a worsening HIV/AIDS epidemic and the social impact of globalization. The meeting will also be briefed on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) programme and discuss the social dimensions of it.
"Africa is at a crossroads in development", Mr. Somavia said before leaving Geneva. "The ILO is committed to working with our social partners in Africa on vital reforms in support of poverty reduction, social dialogue, post-crisis reconstruction, HIV/AIDS prevention at the workplace and regional integration."
The Director-General will also hold talks with high-level government, worker and employer representatives in Mauritius on a wide range of economic and social issues.
Among the Mauritian officials Mr. Somavia is expected to meet are the President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr. Karl Auguste Offman, the Rt. Hon. Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister, and the Hon. Paul Raymond Bérenger, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
The ILO has a wide range of technical cooperation activities in Africa, including capacity building for effective social dialogue and labour relations, employment recovery, assistance in the preparation of new labour and employment legislation, the promotion of social and labour protection schemes, the strengthening of occupational safety and health, organizing the poor, small enterprise promotion and micro-finance, combatting HIV/AIDS at the workplace and child labour.
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