Invited by the focal points, the Ivorian government and its partners (unions and employers) had a working session on November 8 and 9, 2024, in Abidjan. This, as part of the national dialogue on sustainable business practices for the achievement of decent work in Côte d’Ivoire. At the end of the work, Ms. Josée Laporte, specialist in responsible business conduct at the International Labor Office (ILO), announced that recommendations had been made. In particular, suggestions that could be taken into account by national focal points for the promotion of the ILO declaration on multinational enterprises. There is also the question of the creation of networks, questions related to the intensification of dialogue in certain sectors…
“However, it is important to know that the focal points in Côte d’Ivoire have been active since 2018. They have an action plan to be updated annually. This plan draws on dialogue to add additional activities,” she recalled.
Before encouraging the focal points to continue their work and go even further in their reflection towards concrete actions for decent work. “They have a wonderful tripartite agreement between employers, workers and the Ministry of Employment,” she suggested.
She also indicated that the actors used as a basis for dialogue, the recommendations, the ILO declaration on multinational enterprises (reference framework) which publishes recommendations for the government, employer-worker organizations and companies on how they can contribute, through their operations, to the achievement of decent work.
Edouard Sibahi, head of the human capital and social relations department at the General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d’Ivoire (Cgeci) and focal point in the promotion of the declaration, for his part, revealed that without social dialogue , no company can produce sustainably. This forum, for him, is beneficial to all entities.
The role of government is to make businesses more competitive. As for corporate citizens, they must behave responsibly and workers must be citizens who contribute to development. All this will allow the economy to do well.
As a reminder, this dialogue benefited from the support of the ILO, the European Union, France and Finland.
