Justice and labour relations minister Wise Immanuel says African countries must treat social protection as a right rather than an option if they are to reduce poverty and create decent jobs. “Social protection is not merely a safety net; it is a strategic investment in human capital, inclusive economic growth, resilience and social justice,” he said. The meeting brought together labour and social development ministers from African Union (AU) member states. The ministers agreed to expand social protection systems to cover workers in the informal economy, rural communities, migrant workers and other vulnerable groups. “African workers stand ready to work with governments, employers and other stakeholders through genuine tripartite social dialogue,” he says.