The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has charged trade unions across the continent to abandon lamentation and embrace decisive action backed by constructive engagement with governments to confront the widening crisis facing African workers and people.
General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, Comrade Akhator Joel Odigie, made this charge at the opening session of the Commission 2026 New Year School of the continental labour centre in Lomé, Togo. He went on to stress that complaints alone would neither create jobs nor protect workers’ rights in a rapidly shifting global order. According to him, the moment demands organised, solution-oriented engagement capable of influencing policy and delivering real outcomes. “Our organisation was not created to complain—it was created to find solutions,” he said.
In his opening remarks, Odigie painted a troubling picture of a world in flux, warning that global instability and the weakening of multilateral systems are exposing African economies to severe shocks. “The world is in a serious storm—one we cannot ignore, and one we cannot pretend not to see,” he stated.
He cautioned that the rise of unilateral actions by powerful nations has created an unpredictable environment where economic decisions taken elsewhere can devastate livelihoods across Africa. “A single leader can wake up, take offence, and impose sanctions—50%, 80%—and overnight, economies collapse and jobs disappear,” he warned.
Against this backdrop, Odigie emphasised that African trade unions must organise, mobilise, and engage governments constructively to shape policies on job creation, security, and economic justice. He noted that while the labour movement has recorded notable achievements over the years, those gains are increasingly under threat. “The gains we have secured over the years are under serious attack, and we must defend them,” he said.
He linked the continent’s current struggles to persistent insecurity, rising unemployment, and shrinking economic opportunities, warning that without peace and stability, meaningful development would remain elusive. According to him, Africa continues to grapple with deep socio-economic distress, where young people are losing hope and human dignity is under pressure.
On climate justice, Odigie decried what he described as a global imbalance, noting that Africa contributes less than four per cent of global emissions but suffers disproportionately from climate-related disasters. “They pollute but resist paying for the damage,” he said, citing floods, displacement, and loss of livelihoods across parts of the continent.
He also rejected suggestions that Africa is vulnerable to recolonisation, insisting that the continent must take charge of its destiny. “We must find African solutions to African problems,” he said, urging governments and stakeholders to prioritise job creation, security, climate justice, and fair trade systems.
Also speaking, the President of ITUC-Africa, Martha Tinny Molema, underscored the need to rethink Africa’s economic model, warning that continued dependence on raw material exports cannot deliver sustainable development or decent employment.
“Experience has shown that trade liberalisation alone does not automatically lead to development,” she said, cautioning that without strong industrial policy and labour safeguards, open markets could deepen inequality, trigger job losses, and exert downward pressure on wages.
Molema highlighted the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area, describing it as a major opportunity for transformation if anchored in social justice, inclusive development, and decent work.
“We want AfCFTA to succeed, but its success must not be measured only by trade volumes,” she said. “It must be measured by the number of decent jobs created, the strength of domestic industries, and improvements in the living conditions of African workers.”
She stressed that trade unions must be fully involved in shaping trade and industrial policies, noting that decisions taken under AfCFTA have direct implications for employment and livelihoods. “Social dialogue must not be an afterthought; it must be embedded in the institutional architecture,” she said.
On climate transition, Molema warned that a market-driven approach could worsen inequality and undermine Africa’s development prospects, advocating instead for a just and inclusive transition that protects existing jobs while creating new ones and expands access to affordable energy.
“Without energy, there can be no industry. Without industry, there can be no decent jobs. Without decent jobs, there can be no social stability,” she said.
Both leaders stressed that Africa’s challenges are interconnected and require coordinated responses that align trade, industrialisation, climate action, and social justice, with workers placed at the centre of policy decisions.
They also urged workers globally to move beyond rhetoric and embrace practical strategies that can be implemented at national levels.
“If we remain passive, nothing will change,” Odigie concluded. “But if we organise, mobilise, and act, change is possible.”