Justice and labour relations minister Wise Immanuel says African countries must treat social protection as a right rather than an option if they are to reduce poverty and create decent jobs.
He said this on behalf of president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the just concluded African Union’s sixth specialised technical committee on social development, labour and employment in Windhoek.
Immanuel said governments need sustained funding, stronger partnerships and better coordination to turn continental commitments into action.
“Social protection is not merely a safety net; it is a strategic investment in human capital, inclusive economic growth, resilience and social justice,” he said.
The meeting brought together labour and social development ministers from African Union (AU) member states.
The ministers agreed to expand social protection systems to cover workers in the informal economy, rural communities, migrant workers and other vulnerable groups.
They also agreed that creating decent jobs must remain a priority for Africa. The ministers called for policies that help young people find work, strengthen labour markets and create more employment opportunities across the continent.
AU commissioner for health, humanitarian affairs and social development Amma Twum-Amoah said Africa’s growing young population presents both an opportunity and a responsibility.
“Our continent is home to the world’s youngest population. By 2050, one in four people on Earth will be African. This is both our greatest opportunity and our most urgent responsibility,” she said.
On labour migration, the ministers endorsed an AU toolkit to improve the collection of labour migration data and adopted a declaration aimed at strengthening the protection of migrant workers and promoting safe and orderly labour movement across the continent.
The meeting also endorsed a model law on child online safety and the common African position on ending violence against children in Africa to help member states strengthen legal protections for children.
The ministers called for stronger regional cooperation, improved implementation of previous AU decisions and regular monitoring to ensure agreed policies are put into practice.
African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation general secretary Joel Odigie says rising living costs continue to put pressure on workers.
“Inflation is eroding wages and household incomes. The ranks of the working poor continue to grow, while unemployment, underemployment and inequality deepen poverty and insecurity.
“African workers stand ready to work with governments, employers and other stakeholders through genuine tripartite social dialogue,” he says.
