ITUC-Africa Warns: Workers Risk Being Left Behind as AfCFTA's 9-Nation Review Begins
With growing concerns that African workers might be excluded from the continent's rapid free trade agenda, ITUC-Africa is set to review the extent of trade unions' involvement in shaping the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
A crucial accountability moment is approaching as a three-year labor-focused AfCFTA advocacy project nears its conclusion, with a Closure and Evaluation Workshop scheduled for November 19-20 in Nairobi.
Despite the AfCFTA's widespread acclaim for its potential to boost intra-African trade, drive industrialization, and expand economic opportunities, unions emphasize the ongoing vulnerability of workers.
According to Comrade Akhator Joel Odigie, General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, the swift liberalization of Africa's markets could "bypass workers entirely" if labor protections are not firmly integrated into national and continental policy frameworks.
Odigie highlights the anxiety surrounding the rapid liberalization of markets, which often leads to increased competition, precarious work, and the erosion of labor standards unless robust safeguards are in place.
This concern prompted ITUC-Africa, with support from SASK, to launch a multi-country initiative across Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia.
The project aimed to amplify the voice, visibility, and influence of trade unions during the AfCFTA's implementation, a crucial effort to prevent workers' issues from being overshadowed by market-driven priorities.
As the project concludes in December, Odigie views the Nairobi workshop as a pivotal moment for the continental labor movement.
The gathering will "take stock of achievements, challenges, and lessons learned," providing unions with a self-assessment opportunity before defining their engagement strategy from 2026 to 2029.
Delegates from a dozen countries, including women and youth representatives, researchers, SASK partners, and AfCFTA-focused observers, will assess the effectiveness of unions in influencing national consultative processes and continental policy discussions.
A central question arises: Has the project empowered unions to shape AfCFTA implementation, or are workers still at risk of being left behind by the pace of economic reforms?
Organizers believe the evaluation will "reposition unions for the future," identifying successes, failures, and areas requiring immediate reinforcement.
ITUC-Africa posits that the discussions will also address a deeper dilemma: How can African workers benefit from the AfCFTA without becoming victims of a liberalized continental marketplace? The organization asserts that a bold and coordinated labor front is essential to ensure the agreement promotes decent employment, equality, and social justice.
While the workshop marks the end of a significant project phase, it is expected to energize the labor movement for the years ahead. Unions hope the outcome will strengthen cross-border solidarity and refine strategies for evidence-based advocacy and social dialogue.
ITUC-Africa emphasizes that the Nairobi gathering signifies "the closure of a successful phase" but, more importantly, sets the stage for renewed and deeper engagement to ensure the AfCFTA benefits not only markets but the millions of workers whose labor drives Africa's economies.
