Harnessing youth skills for decent employment
Africa needs to focus on decent work for youth
A five-day workshop to help African youth understand the importance of securing decent employment.
A workshop aimed at providing decent jobs for African young women and men, organised by the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC), is being hosted in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 15 to 20 August.
Ten countries are represented at the workshop, which is targeting employers' organisations, trade unions and governments.
Among the countries represented are Namibia, Egypt, Ghana, Sudan, Uganda, Eswatini, Lesotho, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The event is taking place at the ARLAC training centre based in Harare, Zimbabwe. ARLAC provides coaching for labour administration officials from its 19 member countries (predominantly Anglophone Africa).
The topics under discussion at the event include the national employment policies of African and global countries and how they are implemented, as well as how to strengthen them to create sustainable jobs for youth in several sectors.
Demand is low
Other topics include the future of work trends, taking into account the effects of climate change, digitalisation, demographics and globalisation, and how those affect the employability of young people.
Representing Namibia at the workshop, Shona Ngava, said he has learned that African governments are trying to reduce high unemployment rates through policies and interventions that empower the youth.
"Another lesson from this workshop is that part of the reason we have such a high unemployment rate in Africa is due to the job market not being able to satisfy the demand in the industry. We have plenty of talented and capable youth but they are not absorbed by employers because there is not enough demand for jobs," he said.
Inform the youth
Ngava believes many young Namibians are not well informed when it comes to decent work environments. For work to be a success, elements like adequate pay, decent working hours, job security, equal job opportunities, safe working environments, social, safety and legal protection at work, and many other factors, need to be improved.
"Unfortunately, a lot of young Namibians are not exposed to these concepts and find themselves in situations where they are in indecent work environments," he said.
Empowering young people to find decent jobs is fundamental to ensuring that they make an impact. Ngava added that the first step in the realisation of a decent work environment and social protection for the youth is ensuring well-resourced protection systems and strategies that will facilitate a smooth transition from education to employment.
"The development and implementation of income-support schemes targeting young people can help guarantee a decent standard of living for the youth. Additionally, government should promulgate laws on the right to quality jobs through the regulation of non-standard and precarious forms of work, including through the prohibition of unpaid internships," he said.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of Zimbabwe, Paul Mavimba, said that Africa needs to harness the skills of its youth and make decent work a reality.
‘’The concept of decent work entails work that offers fair income, equal pay and guarantees working conditions that are safe,’’ he said.
Ten countries are represented at the workshop, which is targeting employers' organisations, trade unions and governments.
Among the countries represented are Namibia, Egypt, Ghana, Sudan, Uganda, Eswatini, Lesotho, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The event is taking place at the ARLAC training centre based in Harare, Zimbabwe. ARLAC provides coaching for labour administration officials from its 19 member countries (predominantly Anglophone Africa).
The topics under discussion at the event include the national employment policies of African and global countries and how they are implemented, as well as how to strengthen them to create sustainable jobs for youth in several sectors.
Demand is low
Other topics include the future of work trends, taking into account the effects of climate change, digitalisation, demographics and globalisation, and how those affect the employability of young people.
Representing Namibia at the workshop, Shona Ngava, said he has learned that African governments are trying to reduce high unemployment rates through policies and interventions that empower the youth.
"Another lesson from this workshop is that part of the reason we have such a high unemployment rate in Africa is due to the job market not being able to satisfy the demand in the industry. We have plenty of talented and capable youth but they are not absorbed by employers because there is not enough demand for jobs," he said.
Inform the youth
Ngava believes many young Namibians are not well informed when it comes to decent work environments. For work to be a success, elements like adequate pay, decent working hours, job security, equal job opportunities, safe working environments, social, safety and legal protection at work, and many other factors, need to be improved.
"Unfortunately, a lot of young Namibians are not exposed to these concepts and find themselves in situations where they are in indecent work environments," he said.
Empowering young people to find decent jobs is fundamental to ensuring that they make an impact. Ngava added that the first step in the realisation of a decent work environment and social protection for the youth is ensuring well-resourced protection systems and strategies that will facilitate a smooth transition from education to employment.
"The development and implementation of income-support schemes targeting young people can help guarantee a decent standard of living for the youth. Additionally, government should promulgate laws on the right to quality jobs through the regulation of non-standard and precarious forms of work, including through the prohibition of unpaid internships," he said.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of Zimbabwe, Paul Mavimba, said that Africa needs to harness the skills of its youth and make decent work a reality.
‘’The concept of decent work entails work that offers fair income, equal pay and guarantees working conditions that are safe,’’ he said.
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