Somalia vows to fight radicalization with more jobs | Africa | Worldbulletin News
The Somali government on Thursday promised to radically reform labor legislations with a view to creating new job opportunities and reducing radicalization among the ranks of the country's unemployed youth.
"We are committed to finding more and better-quality jobs for our people because we believe that decent work is the foundation of the fight against poverty, radicalizing the youth and inequality in our society," Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said in a statement.
Ahmed, who has been in office for six months, said Somali workers were "not only an important part of our history, but key to the future of our nation."
"That is why we are leaving no stone unturned towards the enhancement of the welfare of all workers in both the private and public sectors, and in facilitating better relations with trade unions and employers," Ahmed asserted.
Somalia has grappled with civil war over the last two decades, which has affected people of all walks of life in the once flourishing country.
Unemployment remains rampant among the country's youth.
The lack of employment prospects continues to prompt many young people to engage in maritime piracy – in hopes of making a quick buck – or join radical groups.
"Since the advent of my government, we have been working to create an environment of peace, stability and security, as these are the key ingredients to economic success," said Ahmed.
"The promotion of decent work for all women and men is central to achieving lasting peace and sustainable development in Somalia," he added.
In March, Somalia signed the "Decent Work Program for Somalia" with the International Labor Organization.
Child labor
Ahmed said his government was currently drawing up a national plan aimed at ending child labor, a phenomenon for which Somalia has become synonymous.
"In order to rid Somalia of the scourge of child labor, we will adopt a child labor policy, develop a national action plan on child labor and produce the statutory instrument to designate hazardous forms of child labor," he said.
According to the prime minister, Somalia has ratified an International Labor Organization convention banning the worst forms of child labor.
A 2014 report released by risk analysis company Maplecroft found that Somalia leads the world in terms of child labor.
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