Advancing trade unions for a sustainable and inclusive future in North Africa
The ILO, in collaboration with the Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV) and the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO), hosted a transformative workshop in Rabat, Morocco, focusing on climate action, gender-inclusive just transition, and green jobs.
28 November 2024
Rabat, Morocco (ILO News)- From 26 to 28 November 2024, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with ACTRAV and ITCILO, organized a regional workshop in Rabat to advance trade union best practices in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.
The three-day event built on the successful 2023 training programme, aiming to strengthen its impact and extend its significant results.
Fifteen trade union representatives from the three countries participated to share experiences, develop solutions, and document best practices in organizing for green jobs and just transitions, particularly for women in climate-sensitive sectors.
Key objectives included:
- Evaluate and share lessons learned: Reviewed action plans from previous trainings, developed solutions and documented best practices to enhance organizing efforts for green jobs and just transitions.
- Develop a strategic roadmap: Drafted a strategic roadmap for trade unions and identified key priorities for policy advocacy. The focus was om promoting decent work and gender equality within the framework of the 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
- Strengthened collaboration and advocacy: Strengthened trade union service provision through collaboration, unity of action, and advocacy skills. Emphasize was placed on promoting gender-inclusive green job opportunities and fostering diverse representation.
Participants engaged in horizon scanning and foresight exercises to identify megatrends and drivers of change that will shape future action on climate change, just transition, and gender dynamics.
Distinguished contributions
The workshop featured distinguished speakers, including Dr. Halim Hamzaoui, Director of the ILO Country Office for Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia; Marjaana Sall, Ambassador of Finland to Morocco; Wafaa Abdelkader, ACTRAV Specialist for North Africa and Jihane Bouraidah, Representative of the Moroccan Workers' Union (UMT). Their contributions underlined the importance of regional cooperation and the role of trade unions in advancing sustainable and inclusive labour practices.
A broader mission
This event is part of the ILO’s “Decent Work for Women in Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco” project, funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, which aims to enhance women’s participation in the labour force and their contribution to a green economy through job creation and entrepreneurship development.