Algiers, Algeria, 26 April 2017: The Ministerial meeting of the Second Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment (STC-SDLE-2) officially opened today, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 in Algiers, Algeria in a colourful manner.

H.E. Mrs. Amira ElFadil, Commissioner for Social Affairs highlighted the important progress made in different sectors namely, social development; implementation of the full AU Disability Architecture over the next two years, including the establishment of the AU Disability Institute; development of instruments such as Protocol on the Rights of Citizens to Social Protection and Social Security, as well as a Social Agenda 2063 that will be finalized in 2019; in areas of child marriage and bold measures taken to achieve the Agenda 2063 targets on employment. On child marriage, “Without a chance at a quality education, our children cannot grow into productive members of society. Child marriage is a vicious and complex cycle that has to be tackled from the root, whether it is culture, tradition, gender inequality or poverty, child marriage is a destructive practice that hinders development” she added.

The Commissioner underscored the importance of investing in people to make African economies thrive and be more competitive at the global scale. She urged the dialogue of investing in people must augment from dialogue to action by respective Member States. In the same vain, she called upon all stakeholders to implement decisions thereby concretizing the harnessing of the demographic dividend.

Underscoring the significance of provision of a stable income, H.E. Mr. Abdelmalek Sellal, Prime Minster of Algeria said that it would result in stabilizing population, diminish the phenomenon of brain drain and migration and reduce criminal activities and increase the vitality of domestic markets and economies.

He applauded the results of human development in the continent despite the security tensions in some part of the continent. “But,” he pointed, “Our ambitions should be greater if we want to face up the challenges imposed by globalization and preserve and develop our national social systems.”

Admitting that the responsibility lies on Africans, however, he urged developed countries to realize the fact that the stability and development of the continent is the basis for peace, creation of wealth and preservation of the ecological balance. In this connection the Prime Minister called for development and implementation of urgent development programs for African countries.

The outgoing Chairperson of the STC, Honorable Minister Ms. Priscah MUPFUMIRA outlined that the bureau during its mandate discussed issues on labor and migration and recommended modalities of work for the next bureau.

Representative of Workers indicated the importance of the themes discussed and that it requires a collective effort to achieve the development of Africa. He also emphasized the need to strengthen the tripartite. He called upon the STC-SDLE-2 to organize extraordinary meeting with all stakeholders to harness the human resources and to achieve its goals.

Representative of Employers in his part called upon the African Union to wage an outright war against unemployment as it is no more a social or economic phenomena but escalated into a security threat.

H.E. Mrs. Amira ElFadil today graced the launch of a special postage stamp that is dedicated to the STC-SDLE-2. She also visited exhibition of micro – enterprises that are part of youth employment schemes.

Following the conclusion of the opening ceremony, the STC-SDLE-2 will continue its works on 27 and 28 April 2017 in Algiers, Algeria.

For further information, please contact:

Amb. Olawale Maiyegun (PhD), Director, Department of Social Affairs, Tel: +251 115 18
2210 , E-mail: MaiyegunO@africa-union.org;
Dr. Johan Strijdom, Tel: +213 657599460; E-mail: StrijdomJ@africa-union.org

Mr. Oumar Diop, Tel: +213 657619842 E-mail: DiopO@africa-union.org

Media Contact: Challal Djamel, chargé de la communication, Ministère du Travail, de l`Emploi et de la Sécurite Sociale – Algérie , Tel : 213 772330320, Email : chaldjamel@gmail.com

Rahel Akalewold (Mrs.) Information and Communication Directorate, Tel: +213 657619842 and +251911683737, E-mail: rahela@africa-union.org

More information:

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Websites: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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