Maseru, Aug. 17 — The Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Ts’eliso Mokhosi, has called on the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) to update its systems and policies so that they stay relevant to the fast-changing world of work in Africa.
Speaking at the opening of the ARLAC Working Parties meeting held in Maseru on Monday, Minister Mokhosi said the Working Parties are the thinking centre of ARLAC. He urged senior officials to question old ideas and turn discussions into practical plans that will shape ARLAC’s future.
He said the focus should be on strategic thinking, strong leadership, and real action. He also mentioned that updating ARLAC should not just mean writing more reports but should improve governance, staff management, and how the organization works.
Minister Mokhosi noted that African countries still face the same problems: lack of jobs, inequality, poverty, and high youth unemployment. Because of this, ARLAC’s role in helping countries work together and share ideas is very important.
He stated that good labour administration can lead to better protection for workers, better cooperation between employers and workers, skills development, and economic growth.
“The discussions must be guided by strategic thinking, institutional integrity and practical implementation,” he said.
Mr. Mokhosi said the real test of the meeting will be whether the decisions lead to real improvements for workers, employers, and communities across Africa.
ARLAC Executive Director, Mr. Rets’elisitsoe Khetsi also supported the call for a stronger ARLAC. He revealed that ARLAC had successfully implemented planned capacity-building and training activities, accumulating more than 36 hours of training and developing the capacity of 211 participants in basic labour and labour market-related programmes, while another 71 participants benefited from regional refresher courses.
He said ARLAC had also recorded progress in gender inclusivity, with women accounting for 43.97 percent of participants compared with 56.03 percent men.
He stated that ARLAC had held a high-level symposium on the platform economy as part of its efforts to respond to emerging developments in the world of work and align regional labour administration with global policy developments.
Mr. Khetsi added that one challenge ARLAC still faces is telling the public and media about its work and impact.
Meanwhile the chairperson of the working parties Mr Makhosini Mdawo, said ARLAC plays a key role in improving labour systems, promoting decent work, and building skills across Africa.
He mentioned that through training and policy work, ARLAC helps member countries deal with labour market problems, noting that working together as a region is key to making real progress.
He said the relationship between ARLAC and its member states is strong, and it is important for countries to share experiences and solutions.
ARLAC was started in 1974 as a joint project of the ILO and UNDP. It became a full organization in 1985. Its headquarters are in Harare, Zimbabwe. It has 18 African member states. Its job is to strengthen labour administration through training, research, advice, and consulting.
The Working Parties meeting brings together senior government officials, labour administrators, and experts to review ARLAC’s technical and policy direction based on what is happening in African labour markets.
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