Zimbabwe
13 February 2007
Labour Ministers in African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC)
member-countries have pledged to promote productivity and sustainable
development in the informal economy.
The pledge was taken at the final day (Tuesday, 13th), of a five-day high
level symposium held at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe which was also attended by
South Africa's Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana.
ARLAC members are mainly English-speaking countries in Africa, but also
include Egypt and Sudan. The meeting was to discuss what ARLAC achieved in the
past year as well as to consider a report from the high-level symposium on
productivity and the informal economy.
Speaking in Zimbabwe, Minister Mdladlana said, "The symposium has resolved
to highlight the need for our governments to involve ministries of
labour/employment and social partners in the formulation, implementation and
evaluation of national policies and programmes that may impact on productivity
in the economy."
The meeting also recognised that the informal economy is the highest
employer of labour and contributes substantially to the Gross Domestic Product
of African countries.
"In many instances, there is a gross violation of worker rights in this
sector of the economy, for this reason, we've also resolved to encourage member
countries to create an enabling environment that would include appropriate
policies for the promotion of decent work for all workers in the informal
economy," added Minister Mdladlana.
The Ministers also resolved to share the best practices and experiences in
increasing productivity in the informal economy, to collaborate and co-operate
with the social partners and other stakeholders to promote and enhance
productivity, to encourage member countries without specialised organisations
dealing with productivity to expedite action in establishing them.
The meeting also resolved that ARLAC develops an action plan and a
monitoring and evaluation system for the implementation of the resolutions by
the member states.
The ARLAC was conceived in 1974, as a project of the International Labour
Organisation and United Nations Development Programme for the Development of
Labour Administration (defined as public administration activities in the field
of national labour policy) in member countries. Its headquarters are in
Nairobi, Kenya. Member states have formally ratified the ARLAC agreement which
binds them to the pursuit of the centre's objectives and to the support of its
operations.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
E-mail: Zolisa.sigabi@labour.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Labour
13 February 2007
