Concord Times (Freetown)
Rachel Horner
12 May 2008
Acting Director, Department of Humanitarian and Social Affairs at ECOWAS Friday said that over 400 million Africans have been affected by employment crisis which has been manifested as a poverty crisis.
Henrietta Didigu made this statement on behalf of the acting commissioner of human development and gender at the ECOWAS ministers of public service conference at Lagoonda, Aberdeen, Freetown.
"Unemployment is now a key challenge which must be addressed in order to deepen our regional integration process," she said.
Didigu said in spite of paucity of employment and unemployment data, reasonable proxies exist to point of a growing massive employment crisis.
"For example youth unemployment ranges between 40-60% for most countries of the region, extreme poverty ranges between 16%-50% in member states. West African economies fail to create enough jobs for new labour market entrants," Didigu said.
She said the consequences of the labour market situation are important among these are the phenomenon of brain drain and human trafficking.
"Poverty and lack of jobs have led to thousands being trafficked for illegal activities in some countries." She said the Africa Charter on Public Service underscores the need to adapt the public service in Africa to the new requirement service, so as to be able to anticipate or accompany the profound changes that countries are experiencing.
Didigu said: "In order to foster social development solidarity; the theme of the conference 'integrating employment and decent work agenda in governance and public service' must be adopted to address the social challenges within the context of the public sector and public service delivery.
Mohamed Gasssama from the International Labour Organization said unemployment is at the heart of his organization's strategies for member states.
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