Freetown: As digital platforms reshape the way millions of Africans work, labour leaders from across the continent are calling for a bold new policy framework to ensure the burgeoning platform economy delivers on its promise of prosperity, rather than precariousness.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, at a High-Level Symposium in Freetown convened by the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC), ministers and policymakers grappled with a central tension of the 21st-century economy: how to foster rapid technological innovation while building a robust safety net for the workers it empowers.
Sierra Leone's Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Mohamed Rahaman Swaray, who welcomed delegates to the symposium, set the tone by acknowledging the transformative power of digital labour platforms. From ride-hailing and e-commerce to fintech and digital freelancing, these platforms are unlocking new income streams for a youthful population across the continent. However, Minister Swaray issued a clear caveat, noting that this new world of work often operates in a regulatory vacuum. He highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by millions of platform workers, who are frequently classified as independent contractors, thereby excluding them from fundamental protections like minimum wage guarantees, sick leave, and social security.
'The platform economy is rapidly transforming the world of work, but our regulatory frameworks must evolve at the same pace,' said Minister Swaray. He pointed to the challenges of "algorithmic management," where workers' livelihoods can be determined by opaque rating systems, as a key area requiring urgent policy attention. The symposium, he explained, is a critical step toward building the capacity of African nations to understand these shifts and craft responses that protect workers without stifling innovation.
The call for a more equitable digital economy was echoed by Ghana's Minister of Labour and Employment, Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, who challenged his peers to confront a persistent paradox: economic growth that fails to deliver widespread employment. 'Why do we grow and not have employment opportunities spread throughout our countries?' Minister Pelpuo asked, framing it as a missed opportunity for the continent. He outlined Ghana's proactive strategy to bridge this gap, which includes a major investment in technical and vocational training aimed at equipping one million young people with the digital and practical skills needed to thrive in the modern economy.
This skills-focused approach is paired with a broader jobs strategy. Minister Pelpuo announced a $9 billion infrastructure investment over the next two years, projected to create an estimated 450,000 jobs. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of value addition in agriculture, urging African nations to move beyond exporting raw materials. 'We must take control of what we produce and add value before exporting. That is how we create employment and reduce unemployment,' he asserted, linking industrial policy directly to labour market outcomes.
The dialogue in Freetown also served as a reality check on the very definition of job creation. Eswatini's Minister of Labour and Social Security, Phila Wiseman Buthelezi, cautioned governments against celebrating employment statistics without scrutinising the quality of the jobs behind the numbers. 'We announce that we have created thousands of jobs, but we rarely ask how many of those are decent jobs that provide fair pay, social protection, and safe working conditions,' Minister Buthelezi observed. He argued that a siloed approach to governance often leaves labour ministries on the sidelines of critical economic decisions regarding foreign investment and industrial development.
For economic progress to translate into genuine worker welfare, Minister Buthelezi called for a whole-of-government approach. 'If we are serious about decent work, we must involve all sectors of government in that agenda and not leave it to labour ministries alone,' he said, emphasising that quality employment must be a national priority, not just a departmental one.
The private sector perspective underscored the immense potential at stake. Kobi Walker, President of the Sierra Leone Employers' Federation, highlighted the platform economy's capacity to absorb the continent's burgeoning youth population. Noting that Africa already has an estimated 36 million gig workers, a number poised to explode with the expansion of mobile technology, he pointed to Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya as hotspots for this growth.
In Sierra Leone, where over 70 percent of the population is under 25, the stakes are particularly high. 'The digital platform economy could absorb millions of young people into productive activities,' Mr. Walker stated, but only if governments move quickly to establish regulatory frameworks that provide stability and fairness for both businesses and workers.
The three-day symposium, which brought together an alliance of ministers, employers' organisations, trade unions, and international partners, is expected to shape a cohesive African position. The insights gathered will feed into broader discussions at the International Labour Conference in June 2026, as the continent seeks to chart a course toward a digital future defined by inclusive growth and the principles of decent work.