Towards improved coordination and action on labour and employment issues in the IGAD region

News | 19 October 2021

October 19, 2021 (DJIBOUTI, Djibouti): International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) commenced a three day IGAD Ministerial Conference on Labour, Employment, and Labour Migration bringing together delegates from Republic of Djibouti, Republic of Kenya, Federal Republic of Somalia, Republic of South Sudan, Republic of the Sudan and Republic of Uganda.

The ministerial conference will deliberate ways and means to improve coordination and actions to enhance regional collaboration on labour and employment issues from 19 - 21 October 2021 at Kempinski Hotel in Djibouti City, Djibouti. ILO is providing technical and financial support to the meeting through the EU funded project on Free Movement of Persons and Transhumance in the IGAD Region with the objective to improve opportunities for regulated labour mobility and decent work within the IGAD Member States through the development of models of intervention, in the broader context of the regional integration process.

IGAD Experts Meeting on Labour, Employment and Labour Migration is taking place from 19-20 October in preparation of the Ministerial Conference to be held on 21 October 2021. The overall objective of the meetings is to improve and put in place a platform for regional coordination and action among the ministries of labour and employment of IGAD Member States and social partners on labour related challenges in the region and take common positions on some of the common challenges of the region.

Alexio Musindo, ILO representative to IGAD stated “The ILO welcomes the initiative by IGAD to create a platform for Ministers responsible for labour and employment as well as social partners to enhance regional coordination and collaboration towards reducing decent work deficits and increased productivity. Such a platform will help, based on evidence, share knowledge and policy framework to promote decent work in the region and build consensus towards a regional common approach.”

The event will bring together Ministers, and high level experts responsible for Labour and Employment from IGAD Member States; social partners; and other partners working on labour and employment within the IGAD region.

At the end of the conference Ministers of Labour and Employment of the IGAD Member States are expected to establish an IGAD Employment and Labour Committee (IELC) and come up with a declaration on Labour, Employment and Labour Migration in the IGAD region.