Harare — AFRICAN ministers who attended a week-long 36th African Regional Labour Administration Centre governing council meeting in Kariba have unanimously agreed to work together harmoniously in improving the regional economies.

ARLAC chairperson and Zimbabwean Labour and Social Services Minister Paurina Mpariwa yesterday described the meeting as a huge success.

"The meeting was a huge success, ministers discussed several issues and made several resolutions which are going to spearhead economic growth, capacity building, jobs creation and general labour administration.

"Ministers acknowledged the effects of the global financial crisis as it might hinder the achievement of the millennium development goals.

"The region has agreed to work in unison to improve labour policies.

It was also proposed that the ILO and UNDP should play a crucial role in enhancing capacity building and information dissemination among member states," she said.

UNDP pledged to assist member states with technical assistance. ARLAC and ILO were asked to help improve capacity building in member states.

"ARLAC as our regional administration centre was tasked to properly disseminate labour market information so as to help member states to develop strategies and measures to improve labour standards," she said.