Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO), has welcomed “encouraging signs of political clarity and convergence of views” expressed by African leaders meeting in Cotonou to examine new anti-poverty strategies ahead of the African Union Extra-Ordinary Summit on Employment and Poverty Reduction scheduled for September in Burkina Faso.
Seven African Heads of State and Government from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Niger and Togo stressed the urgent need to restore the link between development and employment creation on the continent.
– It is the best way to fight poverty, the scourge of Africa which is threatening peace and stability”, said H.E. Mathieu Kérékou, President of the Republic of Benin.
The special meeting of African leaders was convened in parallel with the Second Ordinary Session of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the African Union (AU) being held this week.
All speakers agreed that African experiences and solutions exist – such as developing employment-generating activities in specific sectors like agriculture and services and improving education and training.
– We have to ask whether our education systems correspond to today’s needs, said H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Also at the centre of the discussions were the situation of workers in the informal sector – where the majority of Africans work – and the precarious situation of young people and women.
The leaders identified social dialogue as a key instrument in the fight poverty and welcomed the work of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the AU and the ILO, which both have tripartite constituencies (governments, employers and workers organizations).
– A change in the course of globalization is essential and, in facing this challenge, Africas voice and strength will be decisive, said Mr. Somavia, referring to the report “A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All” of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization published in February 2004.
– This means reinforcing affirmative action in favour of the African continent. Rules and policies governing world trade and finance must leave Africa more room to manoeuvre. I am talking about the elimination of inequitable market access restrictions, a fair approach to the debt issue, international financing and foreign investments, stated Somavia.
– For the ILO, the Extraordinary Summit is fundamental, not only for Africa but also for the messages you can address to the world… because the Summit is the link between Africas political agenda and wide-spread demands for democracy on the continent: people are looking for decent work to take care of their families, to educate their children, to contribute to the development of their communities, and to feel themselves as citizens. It is a legitimate recognition of their aspirations, said Somavia.
The ILO Director-general also reaffirmed the need to re-establish a strong and productive link between economic growth and jobs creation: “A growth which creates wealth without employment only increases inequalities”.
The African leaders adopted a formal Declaration engaging to follow up on their efforts in the fight against poverty. In accordance with a decision taken by the Second Ordinary Session of the African Union in Maputo in July 2003, they also called on all heads of State and Government of the AU to support actively the preparation, holding and follow-up of the Extraordinary Summit on Employment and Poverty Alleviation scheduled for September in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso.
Kilde: www.ilo.org
