The workshop discussed the employment and social impacts of the global financial and economic crisis on finance sector workers in selected African countries. Its main aim was to promote effective implementation of the consensus points adopted at the ILO Global Dialogue Forum on the Impact of the Financial Crisis held at the ILO Geneva in February 2009, and the outcome of the first African Decent Work Syposium on how to implement the Global Jobs Pact in Africa, adopted in Ouagadougou in December 2009. Policy measures to cope effectively with the effects of the crisis were suggested. These included establishing institutions of social dialogue, exploring alternatives to redundancies and terminations and provision of economic stimulus packages directed at improving education, life-long training and creation of sustainable employment to cope with job displacement and ensure workers’ job security. It was unanimously concluded that the role of social dialogue was invaluable and therefore, ILO should play an active role in providing support in strengthening the institutions of social dialogue and in fostering consultations among and training of Government officials and social partners to mitigate the negative effects of the crisis.
Participants attended from Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania.