INTERNATIONAL LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ASSOCIATION (ILERA) 10TH AFRICA CONGRESS
3 - 4 APRIL 2024 – RADISSON BLU MOSI-OA-TUNYA, LIVINGSTONE RESORT. VICTORIA FALLS, ZAMBIA
CALL FOR PAPERS

THEME: CHALLENGES IN THE WORLD OF WORK IN THE WAKE OF THE GLOBAL POLYCRISIS: AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES

Globally, the world of work is facing mammoth challenges as a result of multiple (poly)crises, namely worsening economic outlooks and cost of living crisis, recovery from the pandemic, impact of the Russian-Ukraine war, other geo-political conflicts, and effects of climate change.

The ILO, in its report on World Employment and Social Outlook Trends (2023) highlights its concerns over serious decent work and social justice deficits across the globe. The multiple crises impede employment growth, decent jobs, and social justice. The report indicates that global employment is projected to only expand by 1% in 2023 compared to the 2.3% growth rate in 2022.

In Africa, the world of work is characterised by worsening poverty, elevated rates of informality, inhibited access to social protection and limited fundamental rights at work. The majority of the global estimate of 685 million people that are living in extreme poverty are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Further in this region, 60.8% of the employed population in 2021 were regarded as the working poor, earning US$ 3.10 per day (World Bank, 2022).

ILERA AFRICA 10TH REGIONAL CONGRESS- CALL FOR PAPERS 3

High inflation and high interest rates in low-income countries and fiscal distress will impact negatively on employment rates. The ILO projects that low-income countries in Africa are unlikely to recover to pre-pandemic unemployment rates this year (ILO Monitor, 11thedition, May 2023). Youth unemployment and gender inequality continue to persist in the continent.

How governments and social actors respond to these labour market challenges is of critical importance, an impetus for solidarity across boundaries for unified, sustainable,and innovative solutions.
Against this background, the ILERA African chapter calls for papers -

THE FULL CALL (WITH THEMS AND INFORMATION REGARDING SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS AND PAPERS) CAN BE ACESSED AT THE LINK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT: https://lerasa.org.za/