African countries challenged to develop new framework for work and labour statistics

“…it’s vital to ensure that the continent’s views on the labour markets and labour force data priorities of our respective countries are properly reflected in the proposed international standards for statistics on work relationships…”

This was said by Hon. Anthony Mavunde, Deputy Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour,Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities in Tanzania, who was the Chief guest at the Africa Regional Meeting of Labour Statisticians in preparation for the 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS), in Dar es Salaam on 29 May 2017.

“We all understand that labour statistics play an essential role in the efforts of our countries to achieve decent work for all…they are an important factor in not only promoting employment creation and improved livelihoods but also in achieving the 17 SDGs, especially Goal 8 on promoting economic growth, and decent work for all.” He added.

Hon. Mavunde further emphasized that labour statistics are needed for the development and evaluation of policies towards the above goal and for assessing progress towards decent work.

At national level, he said, labour market information is particularly important to the governments and all stakeholders, for policy formulation, planning and for monitoring and evaluation. Governments require labour market information to monitor the implementation of programmes and legislation and to monitor and evaluate economic and labour market performance.

On his part, Mr. Aeneas Chuma, the ILO Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Africa, reiterated on the importance of the workshop and insisted that quality statistics are increasingly needed as the basis for sound policy advice and support to countries at a time when their economies are changing fast.

“…We are here to discuss the resolution adopted by the 19th ICLS concerning statistics of work, employment, unemployment and labour underutilization and related guidelines to ensure that they adequately capture key measures in the current economic contexts…” he stated.

He informed participants that the future of the employment relationships is one of the key issues being considered as part of the ILO’s future of work initiative aimed at understanding and responding to the major process of change currently going on in the world of work. This will be part of a possible adoption of a centenary declaration at the 2019 International labour Conference. It follows therefore that, information about the nature of the employment relationship, and how much it is impacting or benefitting workers and employers alike is extremely important in all this process.

The African Development Bank representative, Mr. Simba, in his remarks, informed that his organization in consultation with its Regional member countries has noted the lack of expertise in data analysis of labour force surveys in Africa, which is greatly affecting the deliberate efforts of producing comprehensive labour statistics in many countries. The bank is therefore at the forefront to support trainings, academies on labour market statistics and in pilot phases of implementing the 19th ICLS resolutions.

“…We shall continue collaborating with the ILO and other stakeholders to ensure that our member countries are not left behind in the collection and analysis of labour statistics and subsequently the implementation of the standards” he concluded.

The week long workshop agenda focuses on the new framework for work statistics, the Decent Work Measurement Framework and decent work-related SDG indicators, covering gender mainstreaming in labour statistics as well as data collection programs and planning.

The views gathered from the workshop on the current status of statistics on work relationships in Africa will be integrated in the global discussion planned for October 2018 when the ILO convenes the 20th ICLS in Geneva, Switzerland to review and adopt international standards for statistics on work relationships.

For more information, please contact the Country Office for East Africa in Dar es Salaam- [email protected]