Many jobs in Africa are informal with little or no job security, which leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation and poor working conditions, the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) has said.
In its May Day address, OATUU Secretary General, Arezki Mezhoud also said the inadequate number of decent, full and productive employment remains a major barrier to economic growth and social stability in Africa.
He argued that the issue of decent work is not only a matter of increasing the number of jobs but also ensuring that existing jobs are of good quality in addressing digital transformation and climate change.
Mezhoud added: “The issue of insufficient decent and productive job opportunities continues to be one of the most significant challenges facing the African continent. The high rates of youth unemployment and underemployment are a cause for concern, as they represent a wasted potential of the future workforce. These challenges are compounded by the slow pace of sustainable economic growth, economic diversification and the inadequate and relevant skills training offered to meet the needs of the modern labour market influenced by digitalisation. Unfortunately, many jobs in Africa remain informal, with little or no job security, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation and poor working conditions.”
According to him, a decent job should offer fair wages (living wage), social protection, opportunities for career advancement, and a safe working environment.
To change the current narrative, OATUU urged African Union (AU) member states to promote a dialogue-centred approach to the prevention and resolution of conflicts and establishing a culture of peace and tolerance as per the AU 2063 Agenda, saying peace and stability are crucial for workers as they create a conducive environment for economic growth and development.
OATUU also urged African governments to put in place practical policies and programmes on full and productive employment to create more formal sector jobs – infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, education, healthcare, tourism, and value-added manufacturing – on a large scale at a rate that can keep up with the rapid growth of the labour force and with linkages to informal sectors.
The regional labour body said prioritising infrastructure such as electricity, internet, roads, and affordable public transport to facilitate competitive advantage and ease the flow of goods and services under the framework to stimulate economic growth and create new job opportunities is crucial.
It charged African governments to put in place innovative approaches to tackling informality and promoting transitions towards formality to promote decent work.
Towards promoting decent work, OATUU urged all African governments to ratify and implement the ILO Conventions on OHS, which include the formulation, implementation and periodic review of a national policy and a national programme on OHS in consultation with employers’ and workers’ organisations.
It called on social partners to engage in social dialogue processes aimed at putting in place national strategies and policies on financing universal social protection to cover all workers including the informal economy workers.
OATUU also called on African governments, employers and trade unions to ensure that every worker in Africa earns a living wage so that they and their families can enjoy a decent life in all spheres of the economy including the informal sector, saying this can only be achieved through effective social dialogue.
The statement added: “A living wage is the minimum pay a person needs to afford necessities like food, shelter, and healthcare. In most cases, it is higher than the minimum wage, which is usually insufficient to cover all living costs in most African countries. It is argued that granting workers a living wage can lift them out of the poverty cycle and allow them to access their economic and social rights.
This can also contribute to closing the gender pay gap that puts women at a higher risk of suffering from poverty than men in Africa.”
OATUU observed that as the world celebrates May Day, Africa is still facing ongoing conflicts and insecurity challenges, particularly in regions and countries such as the Sahel, Sudan, and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It stated that conflicts have far-reaching effects on the socioeconomic fabric of nations, severely disrupting economic and production activities, workplaces, and jobs, and workers in Africa often have a hard time.
