By Michael Oche
Millions of African workers have called for what they describe as economic decolonization and democracy amid growing concerns over exploitation, poverty, and climate crises.
The call is contained in a statement by the workers represented by African Regional Organization of the IInternational Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) to commemorate the 2024 World Day for Decent Work.
African workers face harsh realities, including unsafe working conditions, limited access to social protections, and exploitation.
“Economic decolonization is the path to real, inclusive, and shared development,” ITUC-AFRICA general secretary, Comrade Joel Odigie said in a statement issued from the organisation head office in Lome, Togo.
“In a world still grappling with maddening and avoidable armed conflicts, Political Instabitity, state and institution capture, growing autocracy, fascism, growing economic inequality, growing and grinding poverty and climate crises, our call emphasises the urgency of the times. It accentuates that social justice cannot exist without peace and democracy,” Odigie emphasized.
Across Africa, despite these challenges, millions of workers remain resilient and defiant in the face of the harsh reality of exploitation, unsafe working conditions, and limited access to social protections.
“African workers are reaffirming their resolve to continue to struggle for economic decolonisation of Africa as a means of and path to real, inclusive and shared development,” ITUC-Africa general secretary stated.
He highlighted the rift of corruption manifesting in Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), assets stripping and looting, and rules-bending for gratification as glaring impediments against democracy delivering for everyone.
He said, “African workers and people are faced with embracing despair and hopelessness but opt to embrace hope and change. African workers are determined to continue their struggle to free civil and democratic spaces shackled by some governments driven by state paranoia.”
He explained that peace is a prerequisite for social justice, as it ensures a climate of stability necessary for implementing economic and social reforms that promote inclusion.
The statement read further, “Therefore, we use this occasion of the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW) to call on African and world leaders to push for and achieve cease-fires and halt hostilities anywhere and everywhere. We must silence the guns through dialogue and negotiations and reach compromises for peace now!
“We believe that peace and democracy are at the heart of shared development and social justice. They are the indispensable foundations for building equitable, inclusive, and stable societies. Without these two pillars, the quest for social justice, which aims to guarantee equal rights, a fair distribution of resources, and dignity for all, is compromised.
“Therefore, as we embraced and partook in the struggle to achieve rout colonialism and defeat apartheid in South Africa, we remain focused on advancing the unfinished decolonisation struggle. Our decolonisation struggle will be complete once our continent successfully achieves economic decolonisation. Our resolve to continue to work, press, and advocate for the true emancipation of our continent is a just and democratic right that will remain loud and tetentless. We shall remain champions for peace, democracy and social justice.
“We shall also continue working with our governments, employers, and other stakeholders to rein in unemployment and poverty, which trigger, exacerbate, and sustain conflicts. We will scale up our advocacy for skills development for young people to increase their employability, push for social protection provisions, and national minimum wage development and application without discrimination and exclusion of any category of workers. Equally, we shall sustain our call for the presence and practice of the rule of law ensure a good democratic culture and justice without pandering to scared cows’ flaws.”
He reiterated ITUC-Africa’s call for the selection of the African Union’s new Chairperson and Commissioners, who should focus on demonstrated competency, alignment with the values of social justice, and a solid commitment to advancing peace, democracy, and the rights and welfare of African workers.