An opening marked by strong commitments
The opening ceremony brought together trade union leaders, government representatives, employers and international partners, all united by their commitment to decent work and social justice in Africa.
The spokesman for the Intersyndicale de Côte d’Ivoire, Comrade Mamadou Soro, General Secretary of the Humanisme trade union center and Vice-President of ITUC-Africa, expressed the warm fraternity of the Ivorian people towards all participants. He stressed the importance of trade union solidarity and collaborative dialogue between Ivorian trade union organizations and their government.
For his part, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Labor and Social Protection reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with social partners to promote the employability of young people and improve working conditions.

A strong message from ITUC-Africa
In his introduction Speech, the General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, comrade Akhator Joel Odigie underscored the stark economic realities confronting African workers. He stressed that while economic growth remains steady across the continent, its benefits have largely failed to reach the working class. “We firmly believe in the need to build an Africa that works for every African” he declared. The GS emphasized the need to move beyond the outdated narrative of Africa as the world’s backwater, insisting that with collective effort, the continent’s rich resources and economic potential can create shared prosperity.

Unable to travel to Côte d’Ivoire due to the devastating floods in her country, ITUC-Africa President Marta Molema sent a message of solidarity, read by Rose Omamo, the organization’s Vice-President.
In her message, Ms. Molema stressed the urgency of addressing the key challenges facing African workers today, including employability, decent wages, peace and economic transformation for social justice. She highlighted the rapidly changing labor market, shaped by digitization and platforms, and called for comprehensive labor law reforms to protect workers in informal and platform-based jobs.
"The modern working environment is undergoing profound changes. Digitization and the rise of the gig economy have fundamentally altered how and where work is done. Many of our comrades now work in virtual spaces and under flexible employment arrangements, including informal jobs, which, while offering opportunities, expose workers to risks such as precarious contracts and lack of social protection. It is our responsibility to advocate a comprehensive reform of labor law that recognizes these new forms of employment." she declared.

The Government’s commitment
Participants were honored by the presence of the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Robert Beugre Mambe, who officially opened the forum on behalf of the President of the Republic.
In his speech, he paid tribute to the unions for their contribution to the social truce prevailing in Côte d’Ivoire, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to pursuing social dialogue in order to ensure a peaceful social climate conducive to economic development.

An action-packed edition
Over the next few days, participants will take part in plenary sessions, thematic workshops and working commissions, covering topics such as:
 The employability of young people and the adaptation of training to the requirements of the job market.
 A living wage, an essential condition in the fight against precariousness.
Peace and economic transformation, drivers of inclusive and sustainable development.
 Strengthening the trade union movement, to increase its influence in shaping public policy.

One of the highlights of this year’s event will be a large-scale union mobilization caravan in favor of social justice, scheduled to close the forum.

By inaugurating this 15th edition of the New Year School, ITUC-Africa is reaffirming its ambition to make trade unionism a key player in development and social justice in Africa.