International labour office: technical assistance to Africa in labour statistics

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ECONOMIC COMMISSION ^ **££*.»

CONPSR^NCx, OF AFRICAN STATISTICIANS

SECOND CONFERENCE JUNE, 1961

TUNIS, TUNISIA

Provisional Agenda Item 5(0)

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE

TO AFRICA T.A-ROTTR STATISTICS

(Submitted by the Chief Statistician of the International Labour Office, Geneva)

61 - 913

Technical Assistance to Africa in Labour Statistics

The, international Labour Office is prepared to offer technical assistance to countries in the development of programmes or projects

in the fields of labour statistics, including statistics of employment and unemployment, wages, hours of work, social security, industrial

injuries, industrial disputes, productivity, cost of living and family

in their programmes of economic development.

I.L.O-s programme of assistance in the continent of Africa in labour statistics is of relatively recent origin, but is expanding rapidly. In response to several expressions of interest I.L.O. conducted an

exploratory mission in 1959 to survey and appraise needs and resources and to stimulate advance planning for the types of labour statistics which will be needed in connection with economic development programmes.

That mission included visits to Senegal, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast,

Ghana, Togo and Nigeria.

Also under the I.L.O. regular programme, a preparatory mission to Mauritius in the fall of 1959 has been followed-^ by the initiation of

a family budget survey. The expert entered on duty in February 1961 and

it is anticipated that the project will retire 18 months for completion.

Under the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance a permanent official of I.L.O. was assigned for one year during 1958-59 to assist U.A.E. - Egypt, in carrying out a family living survey and the establish ment of a consumer price index. An expert is .low engaged in assisting

the Government of Sierra Leone in conducting family budget inquiries and preparing new consumer price indexes. Work on this project started

in August I960 and will extend through Janaury 1962. The Government of Tunisia is receiving I.L.O. technical assistance in developing a

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programme of employment .and unemployment statistics. The project was

initiated in August i960 and will terminate in December 1961.

The Expanded Programme for 1961-62 includes the following

projects 1

Country Cameroun Niger Senegal Togo

Sub.jeot

household surveys, con

sumer prioe index

organisation of a labour statistics programme organisation of a labour statistics programme

Period

1.1.62 - 31.12,62 six months during 1962

six months during 1962

1.1.62 - 31.12.62 family budget survey

Voltaic Hep. organisation of a labour 1.3.62 - 28. 2.63

statistics programme

The programme also includes, fellowships to be awarded in Dahomey

and Ghana.

In recognition of the special need which exists in many of the

African countries'for short-term preparatory missions, I.L.O. has

established on a one year basis a technical assistance post as regional

labour statistician. The expert will be stationed at the Field Office

African countries for advice and assistance in connection with their

labour statistics problems and plans.