Strategies and policies introduced by the African Union are impacting the world of work, particularly focusing on social economy, youth employment, fair recruitment, and minimum wage.
The AU has made significant progress in promoting social justice and employment opportunities across the continent. This includes initiatives like the AU-ILO Youth Employment Strategy, Fair and Ethical Recruitment Strategy for Africa, and the Social Solidarity Economy Ecosystem, all derived from the AU-ILO Joint Operational Plan based on the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the ILO Abidjan Declaration.
The Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) ecosystem advocated by the AU emphasizes principles of social justice, fair resource distribution, equality, and empowerment of marginalized groups.
Cooperatives, integral to the SSE, play a key role in creating jobs, generating income, enhancing skills, enabling collective action, facilitating market access, and fostering environmental sustainability, according to the AU.
The AU showcased its dedication to the SSE at the fifth ordinary session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour, and Employment. This commitment aligns with the AU’s mission and is reflected in the development of the AU’s 10-year Social and Solidarity Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan (2023-2032).
During the STC meeting, ILO’s Fanfan Rwanyindo emphasized the importance of the Global Coalition for Social Justice in advancing social justice in Africa and urged more countries and organizations to join this initiative.
The AU, in collaboration with the ILO, aims to support member states in establishing sustainable financing mechanisms, including domestic and external sources, to boost the SSE and address youth employment challenges.
The partnership between the AU and ILO also led to the development of the AU/ILO Youth Employment Strategy for Africa, known as “YES-Africa”, to create decent jobs and transform the African youth workforce in the face of high unemployment rates.
Furthermore, the AU stressed the importance of enhancing public-private partnerships for job creation, youth upskilling, and meeting labor market demands as part of the implementation of YES Africa.
Additionally, the AU collaborated with the ILO on the Fair and Ethical Recruitment Strategy for Africa under the Joint Labour Migration Programme, focusing on continental guidelines, labor market information systems, and national labor migration policies within Africa.