The International Labour Organization (ILO) has inaugurated a new Subregional Office in Luanda, aimed at serving the Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP): Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé.
© Anders Johnsson / ILO This significant event took place on Friday 2 August 2024 at the National School of Administration and Public Policies (ENAPP), which will house the new office, marking a new chapter for improved ILO support for these countries.
Signing the agreement on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Angola was the Minister of Public Administration, Labour and Social Security, Teresa Dias Rodrigues, while the ILO was represented by its Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, who was on an official visit to Angola from August 1 to 2.
© CIPRA During his visit, the Director-General was received in audience by the President of the Republic, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, and met with the President of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira. Further meetings also took place with the Ministry of Public Administration, Labour and Social Security, with key figures from the Delegation of the European Union, the United Nations coordination team in Angola, and the ILO's project office team in Angola.
© Anders Johnsson / ILO At the opening ceremony, Minister Rodrigues emphasized the potential impact of the new office, stating that with its inauguration, the right conditions are being created to grow the decent work agenda in Angola and other Portuguese-speaking African countries. The minister also stated that this new office presents an opportunity for more Angolans to pursue international careers within the ILO and broader United Nations system.
Director-General Houngbo highlighted Angola's efforts to strengthen social protection and decent work in the country, especially their proactive engagement with the ILO on those subjects. He commended the opening of the office and underscored that social dialogue remains the best way to find the right solutions to labour challenges. "No country is perfect, so without social dialogue, achieving our goals of decent work and social justice for all become much harder," he said.
© Anders JOhnsson / ILO During his two-day mission, Mr. Houngbo also engaged with workers' and employers' representatives, to hear their concerns. The social partners expressed their wish for the ILO to step up its support to them and the Director-General reiterating the ILO's commitment to doing so by strengthening trade unions and labour culture in the region.
Accompanying Mr. Houngbo were his Senior Adviser for Africa and Arab States, Faouzi Gsouma, and the Director of the ILO Country Office for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, and Chad, Nteba Soumano. They were joined by a communication officer from the ILO Regional Office for Africa and the team from the ILO Project Office in Angola.
This new subregional office is poised to enhance collaboration and foster the growth of the decent work agenda across Portuguese-speaking African countries, creating new opportunities for development and international cooperation.
