AFRICAN REGIONAL ORGANISATION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION Creating a better world for workers in Africa and beyond

Programme Areas Structural Transformation For Africa’s Development

Three decades of implementation of the Structural Adjustments Programmes failed to either bring structural changes to African economies or address key structural constraints. The SAPs have rather deepened the primary commodity export-dependence that Africa inherited from colonialism and increased vulnerabilities to volatile world primary commodities prices. Moreover, the open trade, investment and financial regimes and policies have had little impact on wealth creation and led to substantial accumulation of wealth in the hands of the few outside the continent. Trade liberalization has exposed indigenous industries to unfair competition from abroad leading to deindustrialization and loss of high quality manufacturing sector jobs and degradation of domestic productive capacity. Together with extensive retrenchment of public sector workers, this has increased the rate of informalization and joblessness.

Videos (1)

News Related

5 June COMMENDING YOUR LEADERSHIP ON DEBT JUSTICE AND ANNOUNCING GHANA AS THE HOST OF THE AUGUST 2025 PAN-AFRICAN DEBT RALLY

On behalf of the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa www.ituc-africa.org), I would like to extend our deep appreciation for your bold, principled, and visionary remarks delivered at the African Union Conference on Debt in Lomé, Togo, in May (…)

27 May Terms of Reference (ToR): Informal Cross-Border Trade (ICBT) in Africa Comprehensive Analysis and Strategic Integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

Background and Justification Informal Cross-Border Trade (ICBT) is integral to intra-African trade, accounting for approximately 30-40% of trade flows in various African regions, significantly sustaining livelihoods, especially among women and youth (Bouet et al., 2018; UNCTAD, 2019). Women (…)

9 May ITUC-Africa Press Statement on the African Union Conference on Debt

The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) warmly welcomes and fully supports the convening of the African Union Conference on Debt in Lome, Togo, under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency Faure Gnassingbé, President of the Republic (…)

30 April THE 11TH SESSION OF THE AFRICAN REGIONAL FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ARFSD-11) - A Key Milestone for Sustainable Development in Africa

The Eleventh session of the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11) took place from April 9th to 11th, 2025, at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda. Organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Government of Uganda, (…)

27 April Open Letter to the Government of South Africa: African Workers’ Priorities for the 2025 G20 Presidency

Dear President Ramaphosa, On behalf of the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa www.ituc-africa.org), I extend warm congratulations to South Africa as it assumes the presidency of the G20 in 2025. This historic occasion, the first G20 (…)

16 April The TOOLKIT for Trade UnionEngagement in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

Forward The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents a groundbreaking opportunity for Africa to redefine its trade dynamics, drive inclusive economic growth, and improve the livelihoods of millions. At the same time, it introduces a crucial challenge for labour unions to ensure (…)

16 April An Impact Analysis of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in its Post-Implementation Phase (2021-2025): A Trade Union Lense

Abstract The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), established in 2018 and operating since 2021, is a significant endeavour designed to merge 54 African states into a single market including over 1.3 billion individuals and a collective GDP surpassing USD 3.4 trillion. The AfCFTA seeks (…)

9 April Policy Brief: Human Rights-Based Approach to Trade in Africa: A Trade Union Perspective

This policy brief examines the integration of human rights principles into African trade policies, focusing on the role of trade unions in advocating for equitable and inclusive trade practices. Africa’s trade andscape, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), (…)

7 April ITUC-Africa Statement on the Economic and Labour Impact of President Trump’s Tariffs and his appetite for unnecessary and avoidable trade wars

On April 2, President Trump announced flat-rate tariffs of up to 25 percent on key African exports from countries such as Lesotho, South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. Global markets have reacted strongly, with the New York Stock Exchange declining markedly immediately after the announcement, (…)

14 March ITUC-AFRICA STATEMENT ON AfCFTA AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUCAfrica www.ituc-africa.org) calls for urgent action to ensure that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) fosters economic transformation while safeguarding workers’ rights, social justice, and (…)

28 February ITUC-Africa and trade unions mobilise against Africa’s indebtedness in Ivory Coast

The debt crisis in Africa has reached alarming proportions, jeopardizing social and economic progress across the continent. Many African governments, including Côte d’Ivoire, have resorted to excessive borrowing to finance development, infrastructure and public services. However, the burden of (…)

17 February CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

On behalf of the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa www.ituc-africa.org), which represents over 18 million workers on the continent, I extend our heartfelt congratulations on your election as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (…)
12 /96 articles dans cette rubrique

Documents

Conference on democracy and governance

2 July 2015
Technical document Structural Transformation For Africa’s Development

ITUC Calls for UN to Step Up Africa Famine Action

From : ITUC-CSI-IGB
29 Aug

The ITUC has expressed its deep concern about the unprecedented drought and famine in the Horn of Africa, in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, calling on the UN to dramatically scale up action to deal with the on-going human tragedy.

7 September 2011
Human and trade union rights Somalia Structural Transformation For Africa’s Development
4 / 4 articles sur cette page