GENEVA — Algeria is set to expand its strategic partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), positioning its national institutions as key regional hubs for training and capacity-building across the African continent.
Algeria ILO social security cooperation
This developmental pathway was the focus of high-level bilateral talks held in Geneva between the Algerian Minister of Labor, Employment, and Social Security, Abdelhak Saihi, and the ILO Director-General, Gilbert Houngbo, on the sidelines of the 114th session of the International Labour Conference.
During the meeting, the Algerian delegation highlighted the country's pioneering model in social dialogue, which maintains balanced and constructive relations among the three social partners (government, employers, and workers). Minister Saihi emphasized Algeria’s commitment to South-South cooperation, offering the expertise of the prestigious Algerian Higher School of Social Security (ESSS) to train administrative cadres from sister African nations.
To further unify continental efforts, Algeria proposed the creation of a specialized African Forum for Labor Legislation. This platform would serve as an intellectual and regulatory space to exchange expertise, evaluate regional labor frameworks, and adapt legal systems to rapidly shifting socio-economic dynamics across Africa.
ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo, recalling his official visit to Algiers in April 2024, praised the Algerian social security model. He noted that the ESSS possesses the advanced infrastructure and educational standards necessary to serve as an official African reference hub for vocational training.
Both parties agreed to deepen cooperation in labor statistics, knowledge sharing, and establishing institutional links between the ILO’s International Training Centre in Turin and Algerian educational centers. The initiative aims to align national employment strategies with broader sustainable development goals across the continent.
Related topics: Algeria ILO, social security training, African labor forum, Abdelhak Saihi, Gilbert Houngbo, South-South cooperation
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