Members of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana have called on African member States to ensure that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) has labour provisions to prevent the exploitation of workers in member countries.

According to the Trade Union Congress, standardizing labour requirements for countries under the agreement would create a level playing field for competition and promote decent work agenda that provides opportunities for better job creation, social protection, respecting rights of workers and freedom of expression.

The members made the call at a Social Partners Consultative Dialogue on AfCFTA, which was organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Accra.

Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, Director for Labour Research and Policy Institute of the TUC, explained that trade is known to affect employment. As such, he said it is necessity that unions are involved in the process leading to the establishment of the AfCFTA and its provision.

“It is about sharing our perspectives and ensuring that the process is fair and inclusive and would eventually benefit the country.

“We are extremely disappointed that such a mammoth, very monumental initiative could go on across the continent without the involvement of unions.”
Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo

Implementing Free Trade with About 55 Countries

Dr Kwabena Nyarko noted that implementing free trade with about 55 countries with different labour regulations and practices demand state parties to ensure decent wages and standard labour rights were met.

Mr Peter Joy Sewornoo, Senior Advisor to Secretary-General of AfCFTA, on his part, said in the absence of provisions on labour, current provisions demanded that protocols are implemented in accordance with national legislations.

“Even though at the continental level it may not mention explicitly the labour provision, once it provides for it being done in accordance with national legislations, then there is another way labour laws can be enforced.”
Mr Peter Joy Sewornoo

Mr Peter Joy Sewornoo, meanwhile, called for stronger collaborations and collective advocacy of labour unions on the continent to make recommendations that would push state parties to make such provisions.

Madam Inviolata Chinyangarara, Senior Technical Specialist, ILO Country Office, Abuja, said it was not late for trade unions to make input into the drafting of sub protocols of agreements such as youth and women in AfCFTA, being drafted.

Madam Inviolata Chinyangarara called on labour unions to engage the AfCFTA secretariat on labour clauses for trade agreements, adding that, trade is about goods, it is about services, but it is also about human beings.

The AfCFTA Is one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. It is a high ambition trade agreement, with a comprehensive scope that includes critical areas of Africa’s economy, such as digital trade and investment protection, amongst other areas. By eliminating barriers to trade in Africa, the objective of the AfCFTA is to significantly boost intra-Africa trade, particularly trade in value-added production and trade across all sectors of Africa’s economy.