Labour and Social Affairs Experts Meet in Yaounde to Discuss Employment for Social Cohesion and Inclusive Growth

13 April 2011
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African Union (Addis Ababa)
press release

African Union Experts in the domain of Labour and Social Affairs were urged to exchange views on the theme: “Promoting Employment for Social Cohesion and Inclusive Growth”, and make concrete proposals on youth empowerment, given that the outcome of the Ministerial Panel discussion will feed into the 17th Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government in June 2011 in Malabo, under the theme: “Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Suitable Development”.

Dr. Olawale Maiyegun, Director of Social Affairs of the African Union Commission (AUC), was speaking today, Monday 11 April 2011, at the Yaoundé Conference Centre, Cameroon, while addressing the official opening ceremony of the Expert meeting ahead of the Eighth Ordinary Session of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the African Union (LSAC). (See complete speech of Dr. Olawale on the AU website: www.africa-union.org) .

The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Robert Nkili, Minister for Labour and Social Security of Cameroon, in the Presence of Mrs. Catherine Baka Mbock, Cameroon Minister of Social Affairs and Mr. Zacharie Perevet, Minister of Employment and Professional Training.

Minister Nkili thanked the AU Commission for organizing this conference in Cameroon and hoped that the Yaoundé Declaration will impact on the enhancement of informal economy amongst the youth and in rural areas. Organised by the African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the Cameroon Government, the Eighth Session of the AU LSAC will provide opportunity to review progress made in labour and employment issues, amongst others.

For three days, the Experts at the Eighth Session of the AU LSAC will, among others, consider the 3rd Biennial Follow-up Report on the implementation of the Ouagadougou Declaration and Plan of Action; The Social Protection Plan for the Informal Economy and Rural Workers (SPIREWORK); the Strategic Document on Resource Mobilization for the Implementation of the Ouagadougou 2004 Plan of Action on Employment Promotion and Poverty Alleviation; and employment in Post-Conflict Countries and on the 3rd Joint AUC-EC Conference of Ministers in charge of Finance, Economy, and Development Planning.

Worth recalling that, the AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission (LSAC) is convened every two years. The 7th Session was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 28 September to 02 October 2009 under the theme: ““Improving Informal Sector: The Key to Poverty Alleviation“Impact of the Global Crisis on Employment and Labour Market in Africa”.

Meanwhile, the conference will consist of side events and exhibitions to showcase the achievements of Member States, Social Partners, AUC, RECs, NGOs and international partners on specific areas of labour and employment, as well as on the theme of the Conference.

The Expert meeting ends on Wednesday 13 April 2011with a report to be submitted to the Ministers at the Eighth Session of the AU LSAC meeting scheduled to hold from 14-15 April 2011, for consideration and adoption.

For more information, visit the AU website: www.africa-union.org

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