Hargeysa, Somaliland, May 9, 2009 – The international Labour Organization (ILO) is to Mark its 90th anniversary under the theme '90 years working for social justice" with a series of events and activities held around the world by governments, workers' and employer's organizations representing its 182 member states.
To Mark this anniversary in Somaliland as well as celebrate Labour Day, the Ministry of Health and labour with support from the ILO Somaliland programme, launched the social partners consultative meeting process towards an interim decent work country programme (I-DWCP) for Somaliland.
This meeting which took place in the labour hall at Civil service commission building, in Hargeysa, Somaliland on the 5th – 7th May 2009 brought together 30 constituents from government, civil society, academics, and representatives from workers and employers associations.
The general objective of the social partners' consultative workshop was to capitalize on the amount of local knowledge and experience and to put stakeholders to take effective action to address unemployment problems in Somaliland.
This workshop was opened by Vice-Minister of Ministry of Health and Labour Honorable Mr. Mahdi Osman Buuri. The Minister stated the importance of the workshop which is expected to provide an opportunity for the constituents to align the decent work agenda to the country's needs and priorities in the labour and employment field. The Minister highlighted the importance of opening job centers in all regions of Somaliland to facilitate the employment services and income generation opportunities.
The Director General of labour- MOHL, Mr. Ibrahim Derie Hayd, who presided over the consultative meeting, has explained the importance of this event and development of a draft document for I-DWCP for Somaliland. Mr., Ibrahin said that this programme is a mark of an important step towards peace building reconstruction and development of Somaliland. He further said that as a Somaliland is a country characterized by high unemployment rates, the decent work country programme can be used as tool to support the peace building, reconstruction and, employment generation.
Among the Guest Speakers was also Mr. Abdi Abokor- from ILO office Hargeysa. Mr. Abokor had provided a detailed account of decent works programme. He said," the interim decent work country programme (I-DWCP) can be termed as an integrated agenda, showing the linkages among the rights and voice on the one hand and job creation and socio-economic protection on the other. It underscores the need to address cross cutting themes, among which would highlight the issue of gender, youth employment, migrant workers, the disabled, and older workers and labour standards".
He further said, "Young people everywhere experience different circumstances and employment opportunities depending on their socio-economic status, gender, abilities, and geographic location. And the I-DWCP could provide a platform for the development of an integrated, holistic and coordinated youth employment framework which facilitates the creation of employment opportunities and advocates for an enabling environment for young people to empower themselves and develop their full potential".
During the workshop the participants discussed among themselves the problems associated with unemployment and underemployment; and the development of the decent work country priority needs, its outcome and strategies.
At the end of the workshop the participants had succeeded to produce a draft document on interim decent work country programme which will be a guide or framework for policy makers, employers and workers organizations, youth groups, and development actors to steer their actions towards the goal of productive employment and decent work for all.
As ILO celebrates its 90s anniversary, it comes at a time of a global financial, economic and jobs crisis, in which the fundamental value of social justice – based on the four pillars of ILO’s Decent Work Agenda: employment promotion, social protection, dialogue and rights at work – is central to a sustainable recovery. This event will charter the way forward as ILO and its Somaliland partners pursue a future with decent work for all Somaliland people.
 

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