The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) have signed a memoranda of understanding that provides a framework of cooperation and facilitates collaboration between the two organizatios to further shared goals in Africa.
The agreement includes a three-year work plan on joint priorities.
The virtual signing of the Cooperation Agreement comes Under the overarching goals of the African Union Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want, the 2019 ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work as well as the Abidjan Declaration – Advancing Social Justice: Shaping the future of work in Africa.
The MoU focuses on priority areas identified by the Pan African Parliament and the ILO in response to new and emerging issues in advancing labour rights and standards.
These include:The Promotion of fundamental principles and rights at work; promotion of relevant international labour standards on child labour and forced labour, as well as the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190).
The Full, productive and freely chosen employment and decent work for all (including issues related to skills and lifelong learning, formalization of the informal economy, sustainability enterprises and productivity).
It also includes ensuring adequate protection for all workers (including social protection, labour migration management, gender, and non-discrimination approach).
The president of the Pan African Parliament Fortune Zephania Charumbira signed on behalf of the continental legislative body, while the Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa, Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon signed on behalf of the international labour organization.