MONROVIA, 9 September 2008 (IRIN) - A two-day Decent Work in Africa forum concluded on 09 September, calling for more jobs, better work conditions and higher incomes for Africans working in countries recovering from conflict.

Presided over by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mary Robinson, the conference findings are expected to inform employment reforms in Liberia.

President Johnson Sirleaf reminded participants of the lingering effects of war, "The legacy of our civil crisis has left behind an overwhelming effect [of] not only unemployment, but also vulnerable employment, which subjects our citizens [to] inhumane and sometimes degrading work conditions. We must work collectively to improve those conditions for both workers and their employers."

Liberians are emerging from a 14-year civil war that ended five years ago after flattening the economy and wiping out basic social services.

The World Bank estimates more than three-quarters of Liberia's three million people live below the poverty line of US$1 per day, a statistic disputed by Liberia's Deputy Minister for Planning, Jackson Wonde, who says things are tough, but not as bad as often portrayed.

Monrovians greet forum with skepticism

Thomas Gono, an unemployed 33-year-old in Liberia's capital, told IRIN it was difficult for him to even define what decent work would constitute given how hard things are in Liberia. "I can't even afford a daily meal for my young family. How can I talk about 'decent working' conditions when I am out of job? I think the government should focus on making jobs available for its citizens instead of holding big conferences around here." said the former small businessman.   A local youth group, the Federation of Liberian Youths (FLY) has attributed a recent rise in crime to high youth unemployment.

Jerry Tarbolo, Jr , a FLY officer who helps members look for work, said youth unemployment, estimated by the UN to be 85 percent in Liberia in 2006, is reaching a crisis level. "How can you talk about decent work when you fail to provide jobs for the youths?"

An employee, who wanted to remain anonymous, working at the Firestone Rubber Plantation said his bosses still treat workers like plantation slaves. "We feel vulnerable. I can even say we are victims of circumstances due to the lack of job opportunities in this country. We work as plantation workers but are denied our deserved benefits. Our children are not in school and conditions here are unbearable."

IRIN could not reach company officials for comment.

Mixed results on job creation

The Liberian government launched the Liberian Emergency Employment Programme in 2006 with US$1 million in UN funding. The goal was to employ 50,000 workers by July 2008.

No one interviewed for this article had heard of the programme.

A recently completed multi-donor road construction project hired 30,000 workers from September 2007 through May 2008, according to the UN, World Bank, and Liberian government.

Government worker Sarah Peters, 45, said these hiring initiatives and the forum are just the start. "I think the government is doing well to address the issue of unemployment. People must know that we are just [coming] from war and things will not happen too fast. It takes time. We just need to be a little bit patient and see what the future will bring."

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