IGAD Ministers signed a Declaration on Labour, Employment, and Labour Migration
ILO and IGAD successfully conducted the first IGAD Ministerial Conference on Labour, Employment and Labour Migration hosted by the Ministry of Labour Formalization and Social Protection of the Republic of Djibouti on 21 October 2021. His Excellency Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Prime Minister of the Republic of Djibouti officially opened the Ministerial Conference. His Excellency Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of IGAD; Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, the Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Africa ILO: Mme. Fathia Alwan, Director of Health and Social Development, IGAD; H.E. Honorable Isman Ibrahim Robleh, Minister, Ministry Labour in charge of formalization and social protection, Republic of Djibouti; Mr. Eric Jan Overvest, UN Resident Coordinator in Djibouti; H.E Tayser Alnuorani Mohamed Eltaybe, Minister, Republic of Sudan (IGAD Chair); His Excellency Ambassador Aidan O’Hara, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti and IGAD have make remarks. Representatives of IGAD region employers’ and trade union organizations and implementing partners attended this regional Ministerial conference.
The objective of the Ministerial conference was to deliberate on effective actions and regional coordination mechanisms to enhance the governance of Labour, Employment and Labour Migration in the IGAD region through the establishment of a platform i.e. the IGAD Ministerial Committee on Labour, Employment and Labour Migration and adopt the IGAD Bilateral Labour Agreements (BLAs) regional guidelines.
The objective of the Ministerial conference was to deliberate on effective actions and regional coordination mechanisms to enhance the governance of Labour, Employment and Labour Migration in the IGAD region through the establishment of a platform i.e. the IGAD Ministerial Committee on Labour, Employment and Labour Migration and adopt the IGAD Bilateral Labour Agreements (BLAs) regional guidelines.
 His Excellency Ambassador Aidan O’Hara, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti and IGAD | "Finding and creating jobs is a tough task and making sure they are decent is another. Bilateral Labour Agreements are a tool that can help here. The role of the social partners in this area cannot be understated and it is really reassuring to see the trades unions and employers’ organisations included in today’s proceedings. I know that this perspective is also shared by the ILO, the co-organiser of the conference." |
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IGAD in collaboration with the ILO through its FMPT Project extensively conducted consultation among IGAD Member States on a background study, draft terms of reference for the establishment of the Committee, and on the IGAD regional Guidelines on Rights Based Bilateral Labour Agreements.
At the end of the conference, Ministers from IGAD Member States adopted the terms of Reference and Standard Operating Procedures and confirmed the establishment of a regional Ministerial Committee on Labour, Employment and Labour Migration. The Ministers also adopt the IGAD Regional Guidelines on Rights Based Bilateral Labour Agreements.
At the end of the conference, Ministers from IGAD Member States adopted the terms of Reference and Standard Operating Procedures and confirmed the establishment of a regional Ministerial Committee on Labour, Employment and Labour Migration. The Ministers also adopt the IGAD Regional Guidelines on Rights Based Bilateral Labour Agreements.