The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has called on global labor movements to renew their commitment to social justice, democracy and ensuring a dignified life for all workers amid the rapid transformations in the world’s work space.
Speaking on Tuesday during a joint strategic meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) held in Turkey, Atwoli, who also serves as the president of OATUU, said that the global workforce is facing massive changes driven by digital technologies, the green transition, automation, and shifting employment patterns.
“We live in a time of rapid and far-reaching changes: the rise of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and automation; the climate crisis and the green transition; economic inequalities; geopolitical tensions; and shifting employment patterns,” Atwoli said.
However, he warned that in as much as these transformations create opportunities, they also expose millions of workers, especially in the Global South and Africa, to greater risks of exclusion and exploitation.
He urged labor organizations to rethink their strategies, strengthen solidarity and to advocate for inclusive development that ensures no worker is left behind.
Atwoli also mentioned some of the growing challenges which he says, demand both local and global responses, including mounting debt, informal employment, forced migration, and attacks on labor rights.
He went on to reaffirm ILO’s key role in safeguarding labour standards and advancing social justice, adding that engagements with governments, institutions and policy-makers should be intensified by the trade unions in order to shape the future of work.
To secure dignity and fair wages for workers in emerging and traditional sectors alike, the COTU Secretary-General appealed for the formalization of informal employment and expansion of social protection systems.
Atwoli’s remarks comes at a time when the African countries’ economies are facing challenges including youth unemployment, weak labor institutions, and widening inequality.
His appeal highlights the need for stronger global cooperation to ensure alignment of technological and economic progress with equitable growth and decent living standards for everyone.
