Somalia, ILO ink first-ever Decent Work Country Programme

GENEVE, Switzerland – Somalia achieved a historic milestone in its quest to develop a road map that will help it emerge from the steep unemployment rates imposed by a devastating three-decade armed conflict.

The unemployment rate is soaring at an estimated 70%, leaving the country's youth unemployed.

More than seventy percent of Somalia’s population are youth younger than 25 years and are considered key to driving the country's economic recovery. But, high poverty rates and limited employment opportunities hamper their ability to contribute to economic and social reconstruction, which is limited by a shortage of viable opportunities.

On 9th June, Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Bihgi Egeh, ILO, FESTU, and employers signed the first-ever decent work country program on the margins of the 111th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva.

The annual conference which brought together Workers, employers, and government delegates from the ILO’s 187 member states focused on a wide range of issues, including a just transition to sustainable and inclusive economies, quality apprenticeships, social justice, and worker protection.

This DWCP will focus on several key areas, including jobs, productivity and sustainable growth, livelihoods, human capital, and a skilled workforce, as well as labour market governance and labour rights.

‘’Iam proud to have appended my signature to the first-ever decent work program on behalf of the trade unions of Somalia,’’ said Omar Faruk, a trade unionist and General Secretary of the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU), who co-signed the program.

Mr. Egeh termed the signing of the DWCP with ILO Director for Africa Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon as a milestone in the Somali government’s efforts to advance Decent Work and Social Justice in Somalia.

The signing of the DWCP followed negotiations between the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the FESTU, and the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry [SCCI] representing Somali employers.

The minister expressed the hope that the implementation of the DWCP will have a positive effect on President Hassan Sheikh’s national job creation plan for Somali youth through the National Youth Development Initiative that was launched in May 2022.

It will also take the virtuous cooperation between the ILO and Somalia to a higher level, he added.

The Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) is a key plank of the UN’s 2030 Vision that aims to bring Sustainable Development and related goals across the world.

It is seen as central to delivering inclusive and equitable development for Somalia. ILO member states recognize 3 sectors: government, workers, and employers. ILO recognizes that Somali workers are represented by the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU), while the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is recognized as the representative of Somali employers.

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