Background

The African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) was conceived in 1974, as   a project of the ILO and UNDP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LABOUR ADMINISTRATION (defined as public administration activities in the field of national labour policy) in member countries. A “fixed address” was eventually provided for the Centre in Nairobi Kenya, in 1975; but was suspended in late 1976 due to UNDP liquidity crisis. It was re-established in 1978 with renewed UNDP funding and substantial ILO, EEC and donor-country input. Membership of the Centre is drawn from English-speaking countries. These member-states have formally ratified the ARLAC Agreement which binds them to the pursuit of the Centre’s objectives and to the support of its operations.

The specific general objectives of the Centre, as provided for in article 2 of the ARLAC Agreement include the following:

• the provisions of training for officials  at all levels of labour administration system.
• the provision of consultancy and advisory services directed towards strengthening labour administration in member countries 
• the undertaking of studies and research in all aspects of labour administration;
• the provision of information services for the benefits of member countries;
• production and publishing of training materials;

Organization and Administration

The governing Council made up of Ministers responsible for labour / Employment / Manpower matters in member countries is the supreme authority of ARLAC. Both the ILO and UNDP are represented on the Council. The Council has full powers to pursue all ARLAC’s objectives. By agreement, the Minister responsible for Labour matters in the host country assumes the Chairmanship of the Governing Council.

In between sessions of the Governing Council, the Executive Office exercises the powers of the Governing Council as well as the supervision of activities of the Centre. The Executive Office is made up of the Chairperson of the Governing Council (Presiding), and 4 vice-chairperson representing the geographical sub-divisions of member countries.

The ARLAC Programme

The programme is designed to provide participants with a unique opportunity to explore key issues in labour administration and labour policy development in an environment which encourages close interaction between participants themselves as well as between participants and resource persons.

The interactive learning draws on the professional and cultural experiences of all those taking part in ARLAC’s programme, in an environment free from the day to day pressures of work. The training activities are supported by advisory, information and research services, to further promote the improvement of individual and organisational effectiveness. ARLAC’s programmes are executed at regional, sub-regional and national levels. ARLAC’s capacity builiding activities are targetted to participants from Governments, Worker’s and Employer’s Organisations and other key stake holders in the Labour and Employment Sector.

Regional Activities

ARLAC’s regional activities concentrate on capacity building seminars for senior labour administrators and is designed to challenge them to confront a range of social and labour issues impinging on national development. Through these policy level seminars, participants are encouraged to adopt constructively critical perspective on  the performance of the labour administration system in their respective countries. These subject matters and interactive process of these activities assist labour administrators to develop their analytical and problem solving skills as part of their overall professional development.

In addition to policy – oriented activities, ARLAC offers a range of regional seminars, workshops and courses directed at increasing the technical competence of labour administrators in various functional areas including labour inspection, work safety and health, international labour standards, industrial relations, information management systems, human resources development, skills development and vocational training, gender, HIV/AIDS and child labour issues, social protection and welfare, employment promotion and employment services. These seminars involve participants in individual assignments designed to strengthen their technical competence as well as their human relations and interpersonal skills.

Sub-regional Activities

These are programmes designed  to address problems and  issues that are peculiar to member countries within the same geographical sub-region. Such programmes also provide opportunity for exchange of experiences by participants. There are four such geographical sub-divisions; North Africa, East Africa, West Africa and Southern Africa.

National Activities

ARLAC’s national activities are designed to meet the needs of labour officials at all levels and are planned in lose co-operation with the country concerned. The emphasis on interactive and task oriented learning is maintained and participants are encouraged to extend their thinking beyond their immediate working environment.  

ARLAC Information Centre

The ARLAC Information Centre provides dynamic and active information services in all areas of labour administration and related fields for the benefit of member countries. As well as the traditional areas of labour administration and industrial relations, it also provides information services relating to other important areas of concern to labour administration, including human resource planning and  development and HIV/AIDS in the labour market.

In pursuit of its objectives, the ARLAC Information Centre has established linkages with ILO Headquarters in Geneva and ILO offices, CIS centres and projects in the region, other international agencies, including the IOM; SADC Employment and Labour Sector; OAU Labour Commission; teaching and training institutional; ministries of labour and employment; and trade union /employers’ organisations.

Besides providing information services, the ARLAC Information Centre trains labour information officers of ARLAC member countries drawn from Government, Workers’ and Employers’ Organisations.

ARLAC’s Facilities  

ARLAC is located some 16 km from Harare on a campus providing seminar rooms, information centre, dining room, television lounge, study bedrooms and swimming pool. Each bedroom has its own private facilities. A tennis court is planned. Additional entertainment and social activities are arranged for the enjoyment of participants during on-campus activities.

ARLAC has its own mini buses to meet transport needs, and has modern office telecommunications facilities


Membership
Twenty countries ratified the ARLAC agreement and these are: