Lom©:The International Trade Union Confederation-Africa (ITUC-Africa) has expressed concern about the declining protection of women workers against gender-based violence and harassment. This issue was highlighted by Mr. Joel Odigie, General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, during the organization’s Women’s Conference held in Lom©, Togo.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the conference, themed “Trade Union Feminism and the Implementation of ITUC-Africa’s Transformative Gender Agenda,” addressed the gaps in protecting women workers despite progress in their participation and leadership roles. Odigie emphasized the need for increased efforts in ratifying the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 190 on Violence and Harassment, noting that current progress is insufficient.
ITUC-Africa has developed a sexual harassment policy and is urging affiliated unions to adopt it to enhance workplace safety. An assessment conducted by the African Labour Research and Education Institute (ALREI) revealed significant challenges, including inadequate funding, weak protection against gender-based violence, poor reporting mechanisms, and limited structural changes. The assessment involved 57 responses from 51 unions across 27 African countries.
Odigie highlighted that while there have been increased efforts to organize women since August 2024, with 49 respondents noting such efforts, only 28 reported documented growth in women’s membership. He stressed the importance of adequate funding and institutional support to build a transformative movement.
Mrs. Gladys Branche, Chairperson of the ITUC-Africa Women’s Committee, mentioned that the conference would evaluate progress since the adoption of the gender transformation agenda in Cotonou. The committee adopted a 14-point resolution two years ago, focusing on campaigns for the ratification of ILO Conventions 190 and 189, recognizing care work, and demanding 50 percent representation in decision-making bodies.
In her keynote address, Prof. Akua Britwum from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, called for trade unions to recognize social reproduction as a form of wealth generation and to place care at the center of negotiations. She advocated for public provision and the examination of patriarchal control of social reproduction and its societal impacts.