WSF - Bamako: Forming Alliances to Advance the Agenda for Decent Work
in Africa
Brussels, (ICFTU OnLine) Within the framework of the Bamako World Social Forum (Mali), the two international trade union
confederations, ICFTU and WCL, in partnership with the Global Progressive Forum (GPF) and Solidar, hosted a debate on
decent work.
"Poverty must be eradicated through employment" were the opening words pronounced by ICFTU Assistant General Secretary
Mamounata Cissé at this work session bringing together trade unionists, mainly African and European, and civil society
activists from around the world. Her ideas were reiterated by one of the WSF's main organisers and promoters, Aminata
Traoré, who warned that the concept of decent work was floundering. "If there is one region of the world where the
notion of decent work is relevant, it is clearly Africa," she affirmed, denouncing the empty promises of globalisation
and the practices of western multinationals, which exploit the continent's natural resources without any regard for the
welfare of its peoples.
The debate was enriched by the attendance of numerous women trade unionists, who were also accompanied by male trade
unionists in highlighting the gender dimension. Adrien Akouete, President of the WCL, insisted on the growing need for
trade unions to organise informal workers, especially women and young people.
The President of ICFTU-AFRO, Mody Guiro, stressed the crucial role to be played by governments in the implementation of
the decent work agenda and called for corporate responsibility to ensure that the agenda becomes a reality on the
continent. The views of Mali's employer organization were also expressed, through their president.
Thanks to the active participation of an ILO representative, the
significance of the ILO conventions was underlined as the cornerstone of the decent work agenda. Toolsyraj Benydin,
President of the DOAWTU, the WCL's regional organisation for Africa, insisted on the need to ensure that the
ratification of these conventions be followed up by their implementation on the ground, a task which relies on the
strengthening of social dialogue.
The conference was brought to a close with the conclusions of the AFRO and DOAWTU representatives, who emphasised the
ideas put forward by Harlem Désir, European Member of Parliament and Vice President of the GPF, for whom the battle
against neo-liberalism calls for alliances built on the issue of decent work between trade unions, civil society
organisations and other progressive forces.
The international trade union movement is set to move in this direction this year with the creation of a new
international trade union organisation and the consolidation of alliances with other civil society organisations.
The ICFTU represents 155 million workers in 236 affiliated organisations in 154 countries and territories. The ICFTU is
also a partner in Global Unions: http://www.global-unions.org/