Freetown: Sierra Leone's Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has issued a call for African leaders and labour stakeholders to unite in building fair and inclusive employment systems across the continent. Speaking at the 52nd Governing Council Meeting and High-Level Symposium of the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC), held on 12th March 2026 at Freetown's Mamba Point Lagoonda Hotel, he set the tone for urgent regional collaboration.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the Vice President extended warm greetings from President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and the people of Sierra Leone, welcoming ministers, labour administrators, and partners from across Africa. He described the gathering as a defining moment for the continent's workforce.
Under the theme "Advancing Decent Work in the Platform Economy," Dr. Jalloh explored the rapid transformation of work through digital platforms, which unlock fresh avenues for entrepreneurship and income. Yet, he insisted governments must act decisively to embed fairness, equity, and worker protection into this new economy. Failing to do so, he warned, risks eroding hard-won labour standards.
The Vice President anchored his remarks in stark economic realities: mounting debt, shifting global priorities, and dwindling development assistance. These pressures compel African nations to fortify domestic economies, attract investment, and forge sustainable jobs for booming populations. With millions of graduates entering the workforce annually, he stressed the urgency of absorbing this youthful energy into productive employment.
Dr. Jalloh voiced confidence in ARLAC's capacity to deliver essential knowledge, policy direction, and regional synergy. Such tools, he noted, will help African countries navigate the changing world of work while keeping decent jobs central to the continent's development story.
Sierra Leone's Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Honourable Mohamed Rahman Swaray, framed the symposium as a timely response to digitalisation's impact on African labour markets. He recounted how experienced voices from across the continent ignited meaningful dialogue around the opportunities and challenges of the evolving digital landscape. These exchanges arrive at a pivotal moment, he observed, as governments balance investment attraction with worker protection. The Minister expressed hope that ideas from the symposium would equip African nations to cooperate more deeply and speak with unified influence on labour matters shaping the future.
South Africa's Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Nomakhosazana Meth, acknowledged both promise and difficulty facing labour administration regionally. She thanked Sierra Leone's government, its people, and Vice President Jalloh for their generous hospitality. Her remarks underscored a critical reality: digitalisation, demographic change, and persistent informality are rapidly reshaping work across Africa. Stronger collaboration among nations, she insisted, has never been more essential.
Minister Meth also voiced concerns over ARLAC's financial sustainability. She urged member states to share responsibility for supporting the institution's operations, describing it as vital for strengthening labour bodies, protecting workers, and harmonising policies regionally. Despite fiscal pressures, she commended recent reforms, including the adoption of a new constitution and expanded training partnerships with institutions in Zambia and Kenya. These efforts aim to build capacity and prepare African labour administrations for future challenges.
The Freetown symposium has reaffirmed Africa's shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and decent work. This collective resolve seeks to secure a fair and inclusive future for the continent's workforce, ensuring no worker is left behind in the march toward progress.