The Senegalese government and the private sector have taken a major step in the fight against unemployment with the signing of the new national State-Employers agreement, called "And Yombal Xey". This initiative marks a strategic turning point in employment promotion policy, particularly for young people.

Speaking at the official ceremony, the Minister of Vocational Training and Employment, Moustapha Ndiack Sarré, emphasized the historic significance of this agreement. "The action we are taking today goes far beyond a simple administrative commitment. It is a foundational moment in the construction of a national pact for employment," he declared.

"We are not operating from a spending perspective, but from an investment perspective in human capital."

The agreement, which is based on a strengthened partnership between the State, the private sector and social partners, is part of the dynamic of the National Transformation Agenda Senegal 2050, which places employment at the heart of development priorities.

According to Ndiack Sarré, Senegalese youth appear to be the primary beneficiaries of this reform. He also indicated that the authorities intend to transform this demographic potential into an engine of economic growth. "This agreement opens up new perspectives. It is now up to young people to seize these opportunities with commitment and ambition," he declared.

For his part, the Minister of Finance and Budget, Cheikh Diba, emphasized the economic dimension of this reform. He stated: “We are not operating within a spending framework, but rather an investment framework in human capital. Youth employment is a matter of economic sovereignty and social stability.”

For his part, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Public Service Reform, Olivier Boucal, hailed "a decisive step in consolidating the public-private partnership in the service of inclusive growth".

He indicated that the new convention introduces several major innovations aimed at improving the effectiveness of professional integration programs. These include strengthening apprenticeship and skills development programs, specific support measures for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, mechanisms promoting sustainable professional integration, and improved social protection.

"This is the price we must pay to build a more inclusive, dynamic, and resilient labor market."

The agreement also aims to better align young people's skills with the needs of the labor market, in a context marked by digital transformation and the emergence of new sectors. "Together, we must ensure that this instrument produces concrete and measurable results. Only then can we build a more inclusive, dynamic, and resilient labor market," the minister stated.

The Vice-President of the National Council of Employers (CNP), Cheikh Tidiane Sy, welcomed the initiative, which he considers a structuring framework for strengthening cooperation with the State. He reaffirmed the commitment of Senegalese employers to actively contribute to the creation of sustainable jobs, while calling for the transparent and effective implementation of the mechanism.

Cheikh Tidiane Sy also stressed the need for rigorous monitoring and mutual respect for commitments, in order to guarantee the real impact of the convention on the integration of young people.

Beyond its technical aspects, the "And Yombal Xey" convention embodies a renewed vision of public action, based on shared responsibility between economic and social actors.

It also aims to lay the foundations for a new social contract, focused on wealth creation, inclusion and social justice.