By Michael Oche
As the African Union Commission (AUC) prepares for the election of its new Chairperson, African workers have identified eight key areas that they want the upcoming chairperson candidates to prioritize.
The AUC election is set to take place in February 2025, and the workers are urging candidates to address these critical areas to ensure Africa’s progress and prosperity.
The elections will be a significant opportunity for African leaders to shape the continent’s future and tackle the challenges facing its people.
Represented by the African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa), the workers emphasized the need for the next Chairperson and leadership to prioritize competence, values, and a commitment to the AU’s Agenda 2063.
The workers demand is contained in an open letter signed by Akhator Joel Odigie, General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, and addressed to African Union Member States and the Prospective Candidates in the Election of the AUC Chairperson.
The workers highlighted the AU’s progress in areas such as labour migration governance, economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and efforts to promote democratic governance.
However, they also identified critical gaps and outlined eight key issues the incoming leadership must address to drive social and economic transformation:
Odigie listed Democracy and Governance, Economic Hardship and Wage Suppression; Trade and Investment; Infrastructure and Free Movement, Environmental Degradation and Unregulated Mining as key areas.
Others include; Youth Employment and Industrialisation; women empowerment and social protection and trade union engagement.
On Democracy, the ITUC-Africa raised concerns over declining democratic participation and shrinking civil liberties, with a call for empowering citizens and ensuring accountability within democratic systems.
He said, “The African Union must champion a genuinely participatory democracy where citizens have a meaningful and effective roles in ensuring
accountability and shaping the future of their nations. Empowering human rights defenders and ensuring that civil liberties are respected are critical to rebuilding trust in democratic systems.”
On Economic Hardship and Wage Suppression, the letter noted that the global economic environment has left many African countries vulnerable to inflationary pressures, and responses to this challenge have been tepid.
“The cost of living crisis has left millions of Africans in hardship and misery. Moreover, wages, which should be a tool for improving the well-being of workers, are instead being used as instruments of suppression, with wages in many sectors being kept low, frozen, or even depressed. This practice exacerbates inequality and undermines the very fabric of our economies. A renewed focus on fair and liveable wages is essential to lift millions out of poverty and create equitable societies.”
ITUC-Africa said the workers want the new chairperson and leaders to prioritise the AfCFTA agreement and include the necessary labour recommendations in all the existing AfCFTA protocols.
“AfCFTA could increase intra African trade by over 50%, potentially reaching between $150 billion and $250 billion annually by 2030. This growth is expected to benefit critical sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and services, fostering economic diversification and deeper regional integration,” the letter noted.
ITUC-Africa sais the continent’s infrastructure gap remains a major obstacle. The Workers also called for investments in infrastructure and the implementation of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons to enhance regional integration.
The letter reads: the infrastructure gaps across Africa are widening. According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), Africa needs to spend between $130 billion to $170 billion annualty on infrastructure to close these gaps. Yet, the continent faces a financing shortfall of $68 bilton to $108 bilton annually. These gaps are in roads, energy, and water systems and the digital infrastructure required for Africa to compete in a globalised world. The next Chairperson and leadership of the AUC must prioritise infrastructure development, ensuring that projects are designed and implemented to benefit all Africans, particularly those in rural and underserved areas.
“Moreover, the free movement of people remains a critical issue. Although Africa has recorded some progress with visa-on arrival policies, many Africans still need to be subjected to visa restrictions, which limits integration and opportunites across the continent. The African Union must continue to push for the realisation of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, which will bolster intra African trade and deepen the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”
The ITUC-Africa said African workers reiterate that the office of the Chairperson of the AU Commission plays a central role in steering the continent toward a future of inclusive growth, social justice, and human and labour rights.
“As the representative body of African workers, ITUC-Africa urges that the selection of the new Chairperson and Commissioners should focus on demonstrated competency, alignment with the values of social justice, and a solid commitment to advancing the rights and welfare of African workers. “