Business Africa says productive businesses that create jobs and wealth are the most effective way to address poverty, limited government resources, and growing public expectations across Africa.
Business Africa’s head of research, advocacy and partnerships, Stephen Obiro, was speaking on behalf of the organisation’s secretary general at the opening of the sixth African Union (AU) Specialised Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment experts’ meeting in Windhoek on Monday.
He said many African countries face three common challenges: persistent poverty, limited fiscal space and increasing demands from citizens for better living conditions.
“We believe the most effective solution to these challenges is productive businesses that create adequate jobs and wealth in Africa,” Obiro said.
He said employers are key partners alongside governments and workers in driving Africa’s economic and social development.
Obiro said social dialogue helps governments, employers and workers better understand each other’s interests and develop policies that support economic growth, create jobs, improve workers’ welfare and increase government revenue.
He urged African countries to work together on issues such as social protection, labour migration, inclusion, diversity and child protection.
According to Obiro, although member states are at different stages of economic development, stronger countries should support weaker ones because Africa benefits when countries work together.
He also called for stronger monitoring and accountability to track the implementation of resolutions adopted at previous meetings.
Obiro warned that Africa is often criticised for adopting policies and strategies that are never implemented.
“We talk big and act very small,” he said.
The experts’ meeting was part of the sixth ordinary session of the African Union’s specialised technical committee on social development, labour and employment, which ends tomorrow.
Delegates from across Africa are discussing social protection, employment and labour policies, including support for vulnerable groups, labour migration, child protection and disability inclusion. The experts will submit recommendations to ministers, who will meet from today until tomorrow to adopt policy decisions for implementation across the continent.
Welcoming the delegates, executive director of justice and labour relations Ben Nangombe said Namibia is working to build systems that are better coordinated, respond to future challenges and support efforts to reduce poverty and improve living standards.
He said the discussions over the next three days will help delegates identify policy gaps and develop coordinated approaches that strengthen implementation across member states.
The AU’s head of labour, employment and migration, Sabelo Mbokazi, says member states must put people at the centre of policymaking as they respond to inequality, unemployment, climate shocks and changing labour markets.
“These discussions are not merely technical exercises. They are an opportunity to strengthen policy coherence, advance the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the relevant AU legal and policy instruments, and develop practical solutions that improve the lives of workers, families and communities across the continent,” he says.
