No trade without labour, enhancing the voice of African workers in trade and investment

Sandton, South Africa (ILO News) - The approach of the ILO MNE Declaration brought together trade union representatives from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, and Botswana, along with representatives from the International Trade Union Confederation Africa (ITUC Africa) and the Southern Africa Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC). The event marked a milestone in the regional EU-funded programme SUSTAIN – Sustainable Trade and Investment in Southern Africa, outlining a way forward for strengthening trade union engagement in the space of trade and investment in Africa.

Trade Unions and trade

The workshop kickstarted with dialogue and discussion spaces among participants identifying key challenges and issues at country level on trade, investment and decent work nexus. ILO Specialist in Workers’ Activities Ms Hilma Mote noted that “Trade and investment have profound implications for labour markets and workers’ livelihoods” requiring trade unions in the region to be proactive and well informed when it concerns policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement.

Indeed, investment decisions, trade and market disruptions often have a direct and immediate impact on workers lives. While trade and investment can have a positive impact in terms of job creation, respect for labour rights and improved working conditions such as wages and occupational safety and health, many trade unions present documented many cases where this is not the case. Trade and investment, when not properly governed, can even lead to job losses and a race to the bottom in terms of working conditions. In addition, economies in the region are faced with high levels of informality that further hampers participation in trade and supply chains and undermine decent work.

In order to make trade and investment work for more and better jobs, an inclusive approach is required which involves and engages with workers' organizations from the onset. Trade unions play a critical role in this process as they represent the concerns and voices of workers. Proactive engagement with policymakers and decision-makers at national, subregional (Southern African Development Community - SADC), and regional level is essential.

Overcoming institutional barriers to enhance voice of workers in trade and investment

While this may seem self-evident, trade unions in the opening sessions of the workshop emphasised that they often face significant institutional barriers when attempting to engage with relevant line ministries on trade and investment matters both at the national and regional levels. Current social dialogue structures at the national level do not always allow to discuss broader development related issues such as trade and investment. against this background, the workshop discussed in depth 4 lines of action for trade unions for decent work in trade and investment supported by the SUSTAIN project in the different countries:

Social dialogue - Social dialogue can evolve from discussions strictly linked to labour law, wages, and similar issues to broader socio-economic topics shaping labour today, including artificial intelligence, just transition, and trade and investment. In this regard, examples were shared from South Africa through NEDLAC (National Economic Development and Labour Council), as well as from Namibia, highlighting how the SUSTAIN programme is supporting social dialogue on the decent work, trade, and investment nexus.

Evidence-based engagement - Social dialogue on trade and investment and high-level engagement with government officials requires strong evidence. Mr. Hod Anyigba, Chief Economist at ITUC Africa shared findings on the “growth paradox” in Africa, illustrating that increased trade and economic growth does not necessarily lead to more jobs unless trade policies take into consideration policy positions and proposals developed by workers’ organizations. If Unions want to be taken serious in trade and investment discussions, we need to have data and research available,

Subregional and regional coordination - The workshop developed strategies on how to advance decent work and respect for workers’ rights at subregional and regional levels through further enhanced coordination, and exchange of research and experiences between different member unions of SATUCC. The Executive Secretary of SATUCC, Ms. Mavis Koogotsitse, emphasized that decisions at the SADC level have significant implications for national policies, including trade and investment. This requires strong trade union coordination and dialogue at the SADC level. The same applies to advocacy for labour clauses within the AfCFTA, which currently lacks substantial reference to decent work in line with ILO standards. Participants agreed that at both levels, trade union unity and solidarity are essential to advance decent work.

Responsible Business Conduct - The workshop highlighted standards for responsible business conduct and how these are shaping trade and investment at both global and national levels. In particular, the workshop discussed country-level implementation of the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) alongside the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. These RBC standards can be used by trade unions to engage governments and enterprises in support of decent work. RBC standards, in addition to labour inspection, collective bargaining, and industrial relations, represent another important tool in the trade union toolbox to promote alignment of business operations with decent work principles. Participants also discussed how the ILO MNE Declaration enhances the agency of workers’ organizations, enabling them to take the lead in engaging with relevant actors in the areas of trade and investment. The MNE Declaration provides an internationally recognized framework to discuss and promote decent work outcomes within trade and investment processes. All 4 participating countries have appointed National Focal Points for the ILO MNE Declaration which can further facilitate partnerships and dialogue on inclusive approaches to trade and investment.

Commitment and communications

Delegations concluded the workshop in sharing their commitments for further actions and communications they wish to share with all.