What's new

  1. Employment for Peace, Stability and Development for the Greater Horn of Africa

    More than 150 High-Level participants to the Employment for Peace, Stability and Development in the Horn of Africa - Conference of Stakeholders’ and Development Partners’ - adopted in Addis Ababa a roadmap to implement a regional strategy developed by the AUC, the ILO and the IGAD and built upon a “virtuous triangle” consisting of the creation of employment opportunities, social protection for the most vulnerable and empowerment for people and communities.

  2. 8th Ordinary Session of the AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission (LSAC)

    The 8th Session of the LSAC is happening in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from 11 to 15 April 2011 under the theme: “Promoting Employment for Social Cohesion and Inclusive Growth”. Interactive panel discussions will focus on “Funding of Employment Policies in Africa: Challenges and Perspectives”; and “Social Protection for the Informal Economy and Rural Workers”.

  3. Employment for Peace, Stability and Development for the Horn of Africa

    11 April 2011

    The Employment for Peace, Stability and Development in the Horn of Africa - Conference of Stakeholders’ and Development Partners’ - was held from 11-12 April 2011 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

  4. Developing self reliance – Building hope: The ILO Employment for Peace Programme in Somalia

    07 April 2011

    Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, has been racked by violence and insecurity for nearly two decades. But there are signs of hope: among them, an ILO programme which provided a visible peace dividend to poor communities by engaging them in large scale employment-intensive projects. This and similar projects will be discussed at the ILO-IGAD-African Union Conference on "Employment for Peace, Stability and Development" on 11-12 April 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Conference will map out a regional strategy for the Horn of Africa built upon a “virtuous triangle” consisting of the creation of employment opportunities, social protection for the most vulnerable and empowerment of people and communities. ILO Online reports from Mogadishu.

  5. Social Enterprise World Forum

    The ILO took part in the Social Enterprise World Forum which brought social enterprise practitioners from around the world for the first time in Africa. Hosted by the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and Social Economy, and sponsored by the South African government, the event allowed ILO and South African social enterprises to showcase their activities and share best practices.

  6. Youth unemployment in the Arab world is a major cause for rebellion

    05 April 2011

    While images from protests in the Arab region go around the world, it is timely to look at the reasons that brought these mostly young people on to the streets. An extremely high youth unemployment rate of 23.4 per cent in 2010, is one major but not the only cause for these popular uprisings, says Dorothea Schmidt, senior employment expert in the ILO office in Cairo.

  7. African Youth Forum

    In preparation for the 17th AU Head of States Summit under the theme “Accelerate Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development”, an African Youth Forum will take place - in partnership with ILO - from 1st to 9th April in Addis Ababa-Ethiopia as Pre-Summit event.

  8. SADC Ministers/Social Partners for Employment and Labour for enhanced job creation policies

    New policies for job creation and regional integration were high on the Agenda of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Employment and Labour Meeting of Ministers and Social Partners in Windhoek. Promoting an employment-rich growth, investing in workforce skills and protecting the most vulnerable are the way forward for SADC tripartite entities, suggested ILO Assistant Director General/Regional Director for Africa, Charles Dan. "Full employment should become a key macroeconomic objective alongside low inflation and sound fiscal accounts", stated Mr. Dan together with H.E. Nahas Angula, Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia.

  9. President Kibaki lauds cooperation with UN agencies

    President Mwai Kibaki and UN representatives in Kenya discussed the achievement of Millennium Development Goals and the development blueprint Vision 2030. The UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF- 2009-2013) is designed to improve governance, reduce disparities and vulnerabilities, promote equitable economic growth and reduce poverty and hunger in the country. ILO Director Alexio Musindo informed the President on the UN Specialized Agency's work on the national employment policy, labour laws reforms, child labour, youth and women employment/entrepreneurship, East African Community protocol with a keen interest on free movement of labour, social protection, HIV/AIDS at the workplace, and youth employment.

  10. ILO/Gates Foundation: New Fellowship Program on Microinsurance Innovation Facility

    The ILO’s Microinsurance Innovation Facility - supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - is now accepting applications for 6 new openings in its fellowship programme. The fellowships are aimed at giving insurance professionals the opportunity to develop in-depth microinsurance expertise over a 6-12 month period with a host organisation. Participants will receive support from the Facility and guidance from a mentor throughout the duration of the fellowship. Deadline for applications is 31 March 2011.

  11. World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 April 2011

    The 2011 World Day for Safety and Health at Work focuses on the implementation of an Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) as a tool for continual improvement in the prevention of workplace incidents and accidents. The ILO has prepared a report to serve as a background to this theme, a poster and other promotional materials for the occasion and invites you to join us in promoting this important day.

  12. ILO Director-General Juan Somavia accepts invitation to make official visit to Egypt

    10 March 2011

    International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Juan Somavia will travel to Egypt on Friday 11 March 2011 at the invitation of the country’s government to examine the labour and social situation there and the manner in which the ILO can best provide support and assistance during the transitional period and beyond.

  13. International Women’s Day to address sexual harassment

    The ILO, in collaboration with UN WOMEN, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the International Women's Day (IWD) in an award night to honor South African companies for their commitment to end sexual harassment in the world of work. South Africa is one of the few countries with specific provisions to address sexual harassment in the workplace.

  14. ILO to mark 100th International Women’s Day: Focus on “Making the recovery work for women!”

    04 March 2011

    The International Labour Organization (ILO) will mark the centenary of International Women’s Day on Monday 7 March with a panel discussion which will highlight the role of gender equality in securing a sustainable and equitable recovery.

  15. Human Trafficking: First Joint EU- ILO- DEO Research Workshop

    The European Union, the ILO Office and the Italian Department of Equal Opportunities organized in Abuja a First Joint Research Workshop on “Enhancing the cooperation to fight trafficking in human beings From Nigeria to Europe”. Italian and Nigerian Research teams shared their findings with project partners on trafficking for labour exploitation in both countries as well as the analysis of respective legislation. Italy is the main destination country for victims trafficked from Nigeria. The ILO estimates that 130,000 persons in Sub-Saharan African are victims of trafficking.

  16. ILO Internal Workshop on “Employment for Peace, Stability and Development”

    ILO experts from North, West and the Horn of Africa as well as HQ are meeting in Addis Ababa to prepare a regional strategy and conference on "Employment for Peace, Stability and Development" in Africa. The interactive consultation process hosted by the ROAF will review crisis situations and responses to explore policy directions and partnerships.

  17. Botswana launched a new Decent Work Country Program

    Botswana launched its Decent Work Country Program (DWCP) in Gaborone. The DWCP was signed by the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Hon. Peter Letlhogonolo Siele and Vic Van Vuuren, Director of the ILO, Machailo Ellis for BOCCIM and Allan Keitsing for BFTU.

  18. ILO Africa interactive workshop on managing knowledge, harnessing synergies and fostering collaboration

    More than 50 ILO Chief Technical Advisors and National Project Coordinators in Africa are meeting in Addis Ababa under the auspices of the Regional Office to discuss project achievements, share best practices and consolidate success stories with the aim of ensuring better delivery, stronger impact on the ground and enhanced capacity to mobilize resources.

  19. Labour Administration: 37th Session ARLAC Governing Council Meeting for Ministers/High Level Symposium

    The ILO Assistant-Director General and Regional Director for Africa, Mr Charles Dan, attended the 37th Africa Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) Governing Council Meeting for Ministers and a High Level Symposium on Elevating Labour Administration Systems to Key Contributors for Social Economic Development in Lusaka, Zambia. The Symposium discussed issues pertaining to Labour Administration's policy making capacity and its role in national development; Modernization of Labour Administration in the post - crisis environment; and Challenges of Labour Inspection.

  20. Namibia to implement a Decent Work Country Program

    The Government of the Republic of Namibia, represented by the Minister of Labour, the Namibian Union of National Workers and the Trade Union Congress of Namibia, and the ILO,launched the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for Namibia 2010-2014.