Employment is a must to build social cohesion. This is a determining factor for a lasting peace. Endemic poverty, sustained by skills shortages, unemployment and underemployment, is a huge challenge. The President of the Central African Republic (CAR), Faustin Archange Touadéra, has called on the ILO to provide special assistance to his conflict-torn country and make it a “pilot-country” for the implementation of the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation R205 .

In a speech at the 107th session of the International Labour Conference , he also invited the ILO to send a high-level technical mission to the country’s capital Bangui. The aim of the mission would be to help resolve employment and decent work issues. This would involve, among others, reinforcing governance capacities, establishing a working social protection system, promoting social dialogue and women’s employment, as well as putting in place an innovative partnership for employment promotion.

Addressing governments’, workers’ and employers’ representatives at a World of Work Summit entitled: “Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience”, President Touadéra highlighted the challenges of restoring an economy ruined by years of conflict.

“Creating income- and wealth-generating jobs is essential in order to consolidate peace and reinforce resilience in the Central African Republic,” he added.

Outlining the gravity of the crisis affecting his country, Touadéra said that reducing unemployment, especially for youth, was a priority in order to better fight against poverty and risks of radicalization.

“The economy of survival has taken over the formal sector,” he said, underlining that the informal sector now represents more than 75 per cent of national economic activity.

“We are facing a triple challenge,” he explained, mentioning the ongoing peace process, efforts to restore both better economic conditions for business and an efficient public sector, and efforts to increase training opportunities for youth.

“Employment is a must to build social cohesion. This is a determining factor for a lasting peace. Endemic poverty, sustained by skills shortages, unemployment and underemployment, is a huge challenge,” said Touadéra.

“One of the paths towards lasting peace in CAR is to have the means to improve productivity and the ability to create jobs and wealth.”

“For CAR, the battle to promote employment and decent work in favour of peace and resilience is a daily challenge. Despite the difficulties my country faces, I have come here to tell you we are determined to surmount the hurdles on the road to peace,” the president added.

In his welcoming address, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder underlined the strategic location of the Central African Republic in the sub-region.

“By recognizing the link between work and peace, your main priority is to bring jobs for the people of the Central African Republic to help them reach a decent standard of living,” Ryder said.