Minister Immanuel urges Africa to prioritize social protection

Speaking on behalf of president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the African Union's sixth specialized technical committee on social development, labour, and employment in Windhoek, Immanuel emphasized that social protection is a strategic investment in human capital, economic growth, resilience, and social justice. The meeting, which included labour and social development ministers from AU member states, resulted in agreements to expand social protection systems to cover informal economy workers, rural communities, migrant workers, and other vulnerable groups. Ministers also prioritized creating decent jobs, calling for policies to help young people find work, strengthen labour markets, and increase employment opportunities across Africa.

AU commissioner for health, humanitarian affairs and social development Amma Twum-Amoah highlighted Africa's young population as both an opportunity and a responsibility. The ministers endorsed an AU toolkit for improving labour migration data collection and adopted a declaration to strengthen migrant worker protection and promote safe labour movement. A model law on child online safety and a common African position on ending violence against children were also endorsed.

The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation general secretary Joe