Trade Unions

Background

The African Union recognizes the critical role that Africa’s labour movement can play in the growth, development and prosperity of the continent. In 2009, through its Citizens and Diaspora Organizations Directorate (CIDO), the AU established the AU-OATUU (African Union-Organisation of African Trade Union Unity) partnership forum as part of efforts to implement the strategic pillar on Shared Values.

The principle objective of the partnership is to create a structured platform for cooperation that can harness the support of organized labour toward the integration and development efforts of the African Union.

Since 2009, the AU and OATUU have successfully organized annual partnership forums bringing together representatives of trade unions from across the continent to deliberate on matters of policy design, influencing and implementation.

Achievements

• Called for ratification, harmonization and implementation of international and national labour legislative frameworks.
• Informed the Joint Labour Migration Program (JLMP) which provides the governing architecture for the AU’s approach to migration and development and helped to establish a framework for its implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• Developed a roadmap for the popularization of AU’s Agenda 2063 framework and identified specific roles that can be played by trade unions in its implementation and monitoring.
• Advocated for a people-centric AU whose prosperity is driven by the energy, commitment and enthusiasm of the African people
• Shaped the conversation on peace and security in Africa with a special focus on how workers can contribute to peace and security and what governments can do to ensure social stability.

Factsheet

Download the AU-OATUU factsheet here

Contact Information
Website: www.au.int/en/cido
Email: cido@africa-union.org
Facebook and Twitter: @AUC_CIDO
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