Areas of Work

Social Dialogue

Now more than ever before, the need to share information, consult and negotiate on all issues of economic development, has become critical. The current financial crisis and the effects of economic globalization have accentuated the need for social dialogue. With tripartism being the foundation of social dialogue, it is thus a necessary part of the process of establishing and securing democracy, social justice and peace. It also fosters transparent governance under the rule of law. Social dialogue assists in strengthening relations and in reducing tensions among the parties concerned. It is also a means of dispute prevention and settlement that has a positive impact on productivity, economic efficiency, and competitiveness.

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International Labour Standards

The ILO was created in the aftermath of the First World War, in 1919, to bring about Social Justice in the world. Indeed, the ILO Constitution states that “whereas conditions of labour exist involving such injustice, hardship and privation to large numbers of people as to produce unrest so great that the peace and harmony of the world are imperilled”, there is a need to regulate conditions of work at the international level.

Moreover, “lasting peace can be established only if it is based on social justice”, and “poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere”. Thus, International Labour Standards are adopted, amongst others, to ensure a level playing field to avoid the temptation of social dumping whereby rights at work are lowered at the expense of workers in the belief that a greater comparative advantage will ensue in international trade.

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Social Protection

Social protection is one of the four pillars of ILO Decent Work Agenda. Social protection for the vulnerable and needy is key in reducing poverty. Since only around 10 per cent of Africa’s labour force, principally those in the formal economy, are covered by statutory social protection, the enhancement of the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all is one of the key strategic objectives of the ILO-SRO Addis Ababa and a main priority component of the Ouagadougou Plan of Action for promotion of employment and poverty alleviation.

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Employment

The ILO Sub-regional Office in Eastern Africa provides technical support and advice to its constituents in the sub-region governments, national employers organizations and trade unions in areas ranging from promoting international labor standards, employment policy, training and skills development, investment for productive employment, promoting financial institutions that cater for to the financial needs of the working poor, including women groups and small and medium enterprises that create jobs. The choice of projects and programs as well as the policy issues tackled are demand-driven, determined in agreement with the governments and the social partners. The Sub-regional office provides technical assistance to countries in three area offices based in Abuja (Nigeria), Antananarivo (Madagascar) and Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) as well as Djibouti and Ethiopia. The Abuja office serves four countries in West Africa; Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The Antananarivo Office serves four countries in the Indian Ocean : Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles while the Dar Es Salam Office serves four countries in the Great Eastern Africa, namely Kenya, Uganda, Somalia and Tanzania. The primary responsibility of field area offices is to manage Country Decent Work Programs with technical assistance from the Sub-regional Office.

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