AU says govts have to create decent, sustainable jobs

—The African Union (AU) Commission says world governments have a major role to play in creating an enabling environment conducive for the creation of decent and sustainable jobs.

AU Commission Chairperson, Dlamini Nkhosizana-Zuma, says the commission is aware of the challenges facing many governments that seek to implement macro-economic policies that are inclusive and pro-poor.

Speaking at the on-going International Labour Conference in Geneva today, Dr Zuma said the youth make up only 37 per cent of the labour force in the mainstream economy.

She said it was unfortunate that about 60 per cent of youths were unemployed.

The AU Commission Chairperson said it was, therefore, imperative that Africa invests in its people’s health, nutrition and education.

Dr Zuma further stated that there was need for the youths to be well prepared to respond to the professional and economic needs of the time.

She also stated that national governments should create an economic, political and security environment conducive to the realization of the youth potential.

Dr Zuma said this would become a great asset to drive Africa’s social, economic and cultural development, failure to which they can be a serious liability.

And ILO Director General, Guy Ryder, said it was encouraging to see ILO values widely appreciated by African countries as keys to their development process.

Mr Ryder said many African countries had ratified ILOs eight fundamental Conventions reflecting a strong commitment to fundamental principles and rights at work.

He said it was also encouraging to see African economies growing so strongly and bringing down poverty levels.

Mr Ryder, however, noted that despite this positive growth, unemployment remained a great challenge to the African continent.

He said he was glad that the African Union was in the forefront of the continent’s collective efforts to achieve Africa’s development goals.