Labour administration key to achieve social justice in Africa

GENEVA (ILO News) – An effective and operational labour administration is crucial for achieving social justice, said Aeneas Chapinga Chuma, ILO Regional Director for Africa, at the 40th African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) Governing Council Meeting for Ministers held in Geneva, Switzerland.

The meeting was attended by high level delegates, including Ministers and designated representatives from ARLAC Members Countries of Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra-Leone, South Africa, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

“Labour administration should be at the heart of actions to promote employment, vocational training, work conflict prevention and resolution, better working conditions and tripartism – in short, at the heart of the movement towards decent work for all women and men in Africa”, stated Aeneas Chuma during his presentation.

In Africa, several countries have made solid progress in strengthening labour inspection services to comply with non-discrimination issues. This is the case in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Kenya, Niger, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania and Togo, among others.

“Labour administration has an important role to play as an instrument for social peace, inclusive growth, and sustainable development – in placing decent work creation at the heart of national political agendas”, Chuma added.

In Africa, efforts are being made to streamline coordination mechanisms among the various specialized labour inspection systems.

“ARLAC is an important element in our institutional framework. Its programmes are a major component of our strategy to build the capacity of the labour administrations of member States and develop the human resources at their disposal. I encourage the partnership sought between the ARLAC and the ILO’s International Training Centre (ITC) based in Turin, Italy, to implement the ARLAC’s 2014-16 Strategic Plan”, underscored the ILO Head for Africa.

The ILO continues to support the work carried out by the three regional labour administration centres in Africa, namely the Arab Centre for Labour Administration and Employment (ACLAE) and the African Regional Labour Administration Centres for English - and French-speaking African countries, respectively (ARLAC and CRADAT), which provide training for officials, research, advisory services and other information to strengthen labour institutions on the continent.

“When African Union Heads of State and Government convened in Ouagadougou in 2004 for a Summit on Employment and Poverty Alleviation, they highlighted the need – at the highest political level – to “strengthen labour administration and labour inspection systems”. This acknowledgement contributed to shaping the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, 2007-15, and will no doubt form part of discussions as Heads of State and Government reconvene for “Ouagadougou+10” in September this year”, concluded Aeneas Chuma.