By Michael Oche
The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has said the outgoing year was very challenging for workers in Africa, but restated that their spirit and resolve to succeed remains undampened.
2023 saw an increase in attacks on the rights of workers by governments across the continent, prominent among which was the brutal assassinated of Swaziland Human Rights Lawyer, Thulani Maseko by agents suspected to be workng for the Swazi regime as well as the assault on Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) by agents of Imo State government.
Furthermore, the continent experienced diminishing purchasing power for workers due to increasing inflation.
ITUC-Africa general secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie in his end of the year message to workers in the Continent said, “our shared vision for a united, empowered, integrated and just Africa propels us forward, adding that “together, we have set ambitious priorities that will guide our actions in the coming year”
Our Correspondent reports that ITUC-Africa held its 5th Ordinary Congress this November in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme “Amka Africa”, which paved the way for the election of a new leadership.
Odigie who emerged general secretary from the delegates conference said towards the new year, ITUC-Africa priorities remain clear and unwavering.
“We shall continue to prioritise all workers without distinction – informal economy workers, young people, women, migrants and disabled persons in our organising quest. Of course, through our affiliates and partners, we shall push our trade union unity agenda steadily in the coming year and forward through definite and pragmatic actions,” he said.
He said further that, “We have also renewed our commitment towards consolidating our democracies by striving for the sanctity of the rule of law and citizens’ participation in democratic processes. In countries under military rule, we will continue our engagement with all concerned actors towards the return to civil, plural, and citizen-centred democracy. We have noted that sanctions against these countries should be more innovative and targeted at identified actors and not a blanket application akin to a scorned.
“Organising and recruiting new members will be at the forefront of our efforts. We are committed to accelerating our contributions to addressing our continent’s structural transformation challenges. Therefore, we shall stay the course on our advocacy for mineral beneficiation, manufacturing, and industrialization.
“Additionally, the preservation of health and safety at the workplace remains essential. Our dedication to contributing to the countering of endemic poverty, inequality, and misery through the advancement of well-funded, affordable and easy-to-assess social protection provisions will remain sharp and relentless.
“We have already launched a debt campaign during our 5th Delegates Congress to demonstrate our commitment to reversing the disproportionate budget-to-debt servicing ratio skewed against public financing of social protection provisions. We shall continue to demand better utilisation of loans, accountability, and citizens’ participation in general fiscal management. We shall continue to demand for just and fair lending behaviour from our creditors whilst pursuing debt-rescheduling arrangements that work for all.”
