Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Peter Matambanadzo
27 February 2008
Kariba — Centre Governing Council meeting opened here yesterday with member countries saying there was need to come up with integrated and harmonised policies to strengthen social dialogue and promote decent employment in Africa.
THE 34th African Regional Labour Administration
The week-long high-level symposium on the role of labour administration in strengthening social dialogue started with a preparatory meeting for officials comprising permanent secretaries, directors and senior labour and employment officials. The meeting sought to identify and come up with practical ways of addressing challenges faced by the continent in promoting social dialogue and labour administration systems. The forum has brought together more than 22 labour ministers, commissioners of labour, observers from Tanzania and Mozambique, ambassadors and senior labour officers.
During the forum, delegates, among other issues, will deliberate on the state of social dialogue and labour administration systems in member countries, including Zimbabwe, Botswana, Nigeria, Lesotho, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, Malawi and Sudan. An International Labour Organisation official said there was need for governments to create the necessary framework for social dialogue. "There is need for member states to create necessary environments for social dialogue," ILO social dialogue specialist Mr Limpo Mandoro said.
He said member countries should promote trust and partnership for successful social dialogue. ARLAC executive director Dr Sammy Nyambari said the tripartite partners - government, labour and business - should establish sound labour relations and adopt laws to meet changing economic and social needs.
Dr Nyambari said social dialogue was an important tool that could minimise tension during economic crises and transitions. "Social dialogue can also be used to build trust, promote mutual understanding, reduce conflict, promote transparency and good governance," he said.
Speaking at a welcome reception on Monday night, Mashonaland West Governor and Resident Minister Cde Nelson Samkange noted that African countries continue to be confronted by several challenges that militate against the advancement of labour administration systems.
He urged the delegates to come up with concrete and practical ways of ensuring labour administration systems are supported by meaningful and sustainable social dialogue. "I sincerely hope that your deliberations during the 34th session of ARLAC council will positively contribute to the overall development and improvement of our labour administration systems in Africa through sustained and meaningful social dialogue," Cde Samkange said in a speech read on his behalf by the provincial administrator, Mr Christopher Shumba.
The high-level symposium on the role of labour administration in strengthening social dialogue comes against the backdrop of meetings held by the ILO, Africa Union, World Bank and ARLAC with the aim of capacity building in areas of social dialogue and labour administration. The officials came up with resolutions which include the need to recognise international labour standards specifically in relation to the ILO Convention on Tripartism and Social Dialogue, sound labour administration and social dialogue, the African Union Declaration on Employment Creation, respect of freedom association and promotion of effective collective bargaining in the public service and the ratification of all ILO conventions related to social dialogue.
They also noted challenges faced by African countries such as lack of effective structures and institutions in implementation of decisions on social dialogue, lack of effective representation at various levels in social dialogue in different countries, inadequate resources for labour administration and social dialogue and lack of trust and common vision among the social partners. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Cde Nicholas Goche, who is the chairperson of the ARLAC, is scheduled to officially open the forum today.
The ministers will convene the governing council meeting and look at specific key issues of development and challenges in view of the role of labour administration in development of social dialogue.
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