AU to tackle youth unemployment
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The African Union has introduced key strategies and policies affecting the world of work, including those on the social economy, youth employment, fair recruitment, and minimum wage.
In a release, the AU noted that it had taken significant strides in promoting social justice and employment opportunities across the continent by adopting the AU-ILO Youth Employment Strategy and the Fair and Ethical Recruitment Strategy for Africa, in addition to the Social Solidarity Economy Ecosystem.
It mentioned that those were all key results of the AU-ILO Joint Operational Plan, which draws on the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the ILO Abidjan Declaration.
“The SSE ecosystem, grounded in the core tenets of social justice, has been a focal point of the AU’s efforts. It promotes fair distribution of resources, and equality, and gives voice and agency to the underprivileged.
“Cooperatives, a key component of the SSE, create employment and income-generating opportunities, support skills development, promote collective action, improve access to markets, and contribute to environmental sustainability,” AU stated.
According to the union, its commitment to the SSE was highlighted at the fifth ordinary session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment, themed, ‘Promoting Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems,’ and resonated with the AU’s mission.
It further stated that the development of the AU 10-year Social and Solidarity Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan (2023-2032) was a significant milestone in bolstering SSE in Africa.
Speaking at the STC meeting, ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa, Fanfan Rwanyindo, said, “23 countries and 34 social partner organisations across Africa are part of the Global Coalition for Social Justice, and I urge all others to follow suit.
“The topics on the agenda of this STC underscore our quest to advance social justice in Africa! This is precisely the mission of the Global Coalition for Social Justice. Together, we can build a future where social justice is not just an aspiration but a living reality for all.”
The union noted that AUC and ILO would support AU member states in developing a sustainable financing mechanism, including domestic and external sources.
In addition to the SSE, the AU disclosed that it had partnered with the ILO to develop the AU/ILO Youth Employment Strategy for Africa, also known as “YES-Africa”.
“This comprehensive framework aims to trigger structural transformation and change the world of work by creating decent jobs for all African youth. With 26 per cent of young people in Africa neither in employment, education, nor training, transformative change is indeed needed to deliver a future in which they can harness their full potential,” it mentioned.
Meanwhile, the AU recommended that member states strengthen public-private partnerships for job creation, decent jobs and upskilling of the youth to meet labour market demands in implementing YES Africa.
According to the union, it has also collaborated with the ILO on the Fair and Ethical Recruitment Strategy for Africa.
It added that the strategy was part of the Joint Labour Migration Programme, which supported the development of continental guidelines, labour market and labour migration information management systems, and national labour migration policies across Africa.
