By Juliet Jacob
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted an Action Plan on the Elimination of Child and Forced Labour (2021-2030), and also approved the extension of the implementation of the Commission’s Decent Work Regional Program (EDWRP) to 2026.
This followed a recent meeting of the ECOWAS Ministers in Charge of Labour and Employment Relations’ hybrid chaired by the Minister of Public Administration, Employment, Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, Cirilo Djalo.
A statement posted on its website, quoted the ECOWAS Commissioner of Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, as saying that child labour and promoting decent work are important in view of the high unemployment rates, high levels of informality, continuous growth in precarious jobs, especially among the self-employed in the informal sector in the region.
She however noted that although the challenges are enormous, they are surmountable and that the narrative could be changed through mutual cooperation, as well as building an ECOWAS of the people where there is peace and prosperity for all.
The Minister of Public Administration, Employment, Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, Cirilo Djalo, emphasized that “available data indicates that the lives and development of millions of children in West Africa is at risk as nearly one in four children in Sub-Saharan Africa is exposed to child labour.”
Djalo expressed optimism that the five priority areas outlined in the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on the Elimination of Child Labour and Forced Labour (2021– 2030) are achievable because they are aligned to the goals of the SDGs and the AU Agenda 2063, to which all ECOWAS Member states are already committed to implementing.
Child labour and promoting decent work are important in view of the high unemployment rates, high levels of informality, continuous growth in precarious jobs, especially among the self-employed in the informal sector in the region.
