Based on a review of national legislation and the findings of their field-work, the authors assess the application of the Labour Administration Convention, 1978 (No. 150), in a sample of nine African countries. Their research focuses on three main issues: the relative importance given to each of the various functions of labour administration; the extension of those functions to workers in non-wage employment; and the shortage of human and material resources available to the administrations. In conclusion, the authors stress the current relevance and value of the ILO instrument, particularly for extending labour administration work to the informal economy.