Opening Ceremony of the 4th Social Conference on Employment and Employability

Mr. Minister of Labor, Employment, and Relations with Institutions;
Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Government;
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Mr. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;
Mr. Chief Justice of the Court of Auditors;
Ladies and Gentlemen, Representatives of Technical and Financial Partners;
Presidents of Employers’ Organizations;
Ladies and Gentlemen, General Secretaries of Workers’ Trade Union Federations;
Dear Workers,
Ladies and Gentlemen;

On the eve of the celebration of International Workers’ Day and the submission of grievance notebooks, I would first like to commend the remarkable mobilization of all social actors who have responded massively to the State’s invitation for the fourth edition of the Social Conference, themed: Employment and Employability.
This reflects the commitment of each of you to address this issue, which directly impacts human dignity, personal fulfillment, and social cohesion.
This conference takes place in the context of renewed social dialogue in our country, recently marked by the tripartite Government-Unions-Employers meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, which laid the groundwork for a new social contract for inclusive and sustainable growth.
As a key pillar of social stability and human development, employment is a strong guarantee of the right to a decent life.

However, securing qualified employment requires a set of skills, qualities, and aptitudes—what we call employability. There is thus an interdependent link between employment and employability, enabling individuals to obtain, retain, and progress in a job.
This is an ongoing challenge amid the major technological disruptions of our era, particularly with the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and the increasing use of robots and automated services replacing human labor.
These developments urgently raise questions about the future of work and the skills needed tomorrow.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The findings of the International Labour Organization (ILO) are already alarming: one in five young people worldwide is without employment, education, or training.
According to the ILO Observatory, 453 million people globally face an employment deficit, with 191 million unemployed in 2023.
This painful reality demands immediate, coordinated, and determined action at both national and international levels.
Since the Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Ouagadougou in September 2004, States signatory to ILO Convention No. 122 have committed to creating a favorable framework for employment for all.
The World Bank, aware of this phenomenon, has called for removing barriers to employment, noting that developing countries must create 600 million additional jobs by 2030 to keep pace with population growth.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal No. 8 also emphasizes the need to promote decent and sustainable jobs to foster inclusive economic growth.

Senegal, like many countries, faces challenges related to employment and employability, characterized by a growing demography, a very young population, and an economy dominated by the informal sector.
Despite numerous initiatives and programs to promote employment, the results remain unsatisfactory to date.
Data from the 2023 General Census of Population and Housing clearly highlight the scale of the challenge: 75% of the population is under 35 years old, the urban employment rate is 44.3% compared to only 33.6% in rural areas, and there is a concerning disparity between men and women, with women particularly affected by unemployment at a rate of 36.7%.
An unflinching diagnosis of the institutional framework has revealed major limitations, including:

• The absence of a genuine national employment policy;
• The lack of a national observatory for employment and vocational training;
• Weak alignment between employment policies and growth and development policies;
• The absence of a mature, integrated information system;
• Insufficient coordination between existing structures and programs;
• Limited territorialization of public employment policies;
• A mismatch between training offerings and labor market needs;
• Inadequate funding for employment programs;
• Weak promotion of entrepreneurship in high-employment sectors such as the green economy, digital economy, and crafts.

Faced with this urgency, it is imperative to act together in an inclusive and pragmatic approach to develop an ambitious roadmap based on an adapted institutional framework.
The youthfulness of the population should further encourage the State, economic actors, and social stakeholders to collaborate in promoting entrepreneurship and the integration of young job seekers.
This is what the government has been working toward since we took office.
The issue of youth employment is one of my priorities. It is regularly included on the agenda of the Council of Ministers and our daily activities.
Significant measures have been taken to this end, including:

• Instructions given to the Prime Minister to coordinate the development of a new policy to promote employment and employability;
• The ongoing finalization of a new social stability pact, essential for enhancing Senegal’s attractiveness, developing the private sector, reviving the economy, and deploying innovative employment promotion strategies and policies;
• The revision of the State-Employer Convention to align with current labor market demands, in addition to the integration of 3,500 young people in 2025;
• Ongoing reforms to establish new labor and social security codes to ensure better social protection, extended to informal economy actors.

Additionally, initiatives to enhance employability in vocational and technical training include:

• Implementation of a mass apprenticeship program;
• A training project for women’s empowerment;
• A training project for talibés called Daara-Workshop;
• The widespread inclusion of entrepreneurship modules in training programs and the establishment of incubation centers in vocational and technical training institutions;
• Strengthening innovative professional integration mechanisms for youth through Master Classes and insertion caravans;
• The establishment of a national professional integration platform.

However commendable these actions may be, the challenge can only be met in a peaceful social climate.
This is why establishing responsible dialogue between the Government, Employers’ Organizations, Workers’ Trade Unions, and civil society is crucial.
This is the guarantee of a framework for businesses to thrive and for safeguarding workers’ interests.
Dialogue must be ongoing, especially in times of peace, which offer greater calm and serenity conducive to constructive outcomes for a healthy economic and social environment.
A peaceful social climate in the workplace fundamentally contributes to increased productivity and competitiveness.
Aware of these advantages, our country has adhered to international legal instruments promoting social dialogue.
At the national level, dialogue is enshrined in the Constitution through provisions on freedom of association and trade union freedom for workers and employers. It is also included in the Labor Code.
This is complemented by the establishment of the High Council for Social Dialogue and the Social Conference that brings us together today.

To you, actors in the world of work—employers, workers’ unions, civil society, and technical and financial partners—rest assured that the State will stand by you to strengthen dynamic consultation frameworks. The Government will be present wherever necessary to promote decent work and enhance productivity in businesses.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The thematic review of the six roundtables planned in your discussions reflects the desire to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the employment and employability situation, addressing aspects such as territorialization, governance, financing, entrepreneurship, innovation, and labor migration.
It seems important to me, through a multisectoral and collaborative approach, to focus on a few key areas:
• First: Identify constraints, opportunities, and priority actions needed to promote a dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable labor market;
• Second: Address the specific needs of local populations by optimizing initiatives and strengthening territorial governance of employment;
• Third: Place innovation and entrepreneurship at the heart of economic development actions, with particular attention to tech startups and innovative businesses, which are essential drivers of competitiveness and economic opportunities for youth by 2050;
• Fourth: Define effective professional migration governance strategies to ensure fair and controlled recruitment;
• Fifth: Explore new ways to improve labor market governance and optimize financial resources for employment promotion, particularly through public-private partnerships, specialized investment funds, and digital technologies.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The fight against unemployment is not solely the State’s responsibility. It is a shared battle requiring patience, determination, and cohesion.
However, we can harbor real hope, and the holding of this fourth edition of the Social Conference on employment and employability rightly raises high expectations among our youth.
To you, the youth of Senegal, I reaffirm that my Government is fully aware of your legitimate aspirations to contribute to the development of your families, communities, and country.
Rest assured that, regardless of the difficulties encountered or the circumstances we face, the State will remain firmly committed to your side.
More than ever, I am determined to tackle this challenge with you so that everyone can access dignified, productive, and rewarding work.
In this regard, I invite our business leaders to engage further in offering training opportunities and creating an inclusive work environment.
By fostering the development of your employees’ skills, you not only strengthen your companies’ competitiveness but also contribute to enhancing human capital, a cornerstone of the National Development Strategy.
It is also important to promote a culture of learning and innovation. Whether through internships, mentorships, or training programs, every initiative matters. Young people must be encouraged to explore various career paths and not fear reinventing themselves.
For its part, the State will play its role in ensuring better alignment between training offerings and labor market needs. This will significantly reduce existing gaps while strengthening Senegal’s economic and social competitiveness.

Dear Participants,
Your commitment alongside the State will be essential to address the challenges ahead: finalizing the development of the new National Employment Policy, implementing necessary labor market reforms, creating an Employment Market Information System integrating emerging trades, strengthening the School-Enterprise link, and encouraging private investment in territorial hubs.
This is why I eagerly await the conclusions and recommendations that will emerge from your work over these two days.
Rest assured that they will be carefully considered by the Government in implementing the adopted roadmap.

I declare the fourth edition of the Social Conference open and wish your discussions every success.
Thank you for your attention.