By Michael Oche
Trade unions from Africa and Arab regions have resolved to build stronger collaboration in a bid to uphold the rights of migrant workers and also ensure fair recruitment practices for migrant workers.
The resolutions were contained in a communiqué reached at the end of a two-day workshop held in Algiers from 3-4 July 2023 and co-organised by the Arab Trade Union Confederation (ATUC) and the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa).
The trade unions highlighted the particularly dire situation faced by women migrant workers, in particular domestic workers, and migrants in an irregular situation.
They affirmed the urgency to contribute to reversing conditions that push people to migrate out of necessity rather than choice and expose them to human and labour rights violations.
Our correspondent reports that trade unions have been at the forefront of promoting practical initiatives that protect the rights of migrant workers.
Nigerian Pilot also recalls that in 2018 ITUC-Africa and ATUC solidified their collaboration on promoting rights-based migration governance by signing a through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
At the Algiers workshop, it was further resolved that trade unions from both continents will continue organising migrant workers into unions both in countries of origin and destination.
According to the communiqué, the unions agreed to “Continuing to work on fair recruitment practices through closer collaboration between unions in origin and destination countries, through expanding and utilizing the Migrant Recruitment Advisor platform, monitoring the implementation of Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements and production of advocacy and awareness raising materials.
“Continue advocating for Just Transition to address the effects of climate change on workers and communities, including through a study on the effects of climate change on jobs and migration patterns in Africa and the Middle East.”
Unionists from Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Jordan from the Middle East, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco from North Africa and from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana participated at the workshop.
The unions at the workshop also discussed ways in which unions can contribute to the achievement of rights-based migration governance that protects and fulfills migrant workers’ rights and contributes to sustainable development goals in both origin and destination countries.
