ITUC-Africa statement on the AfCFTA and sustainable development.
Joel Akhator Odigie, General Secretary of ITUC-Africa
The African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUCAfrica) calls for urgent action to ensure that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) fosters economic transformation while safeguarding workers’ rights, social justice, and sustainable development. This statement aligns with the discussions at the Fifty-Seventh Session of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development.
Ensuring a just and inclusive AfCFTA
While AfCFTA presents an opportunity to enhance intra-African trade and industrialisation, its success depends on policies integrating trade facilitation with strong labour protections, fair wages, economic inclusion, and social justice. Governments must ensure that trade-led growth creates decent jobs and advances Africa’s sustainable development goals.
ITUC-Africa’s key recommendations
- Embed Labour Standards in AfCFTA—Trade agreements must include binding commitments to the International Labour Organization (ILO) Core Labour Standards and institutionalise worker representation in trade policy bodies such as the National Implementation Committees (NIC) of AfCFTA.
- Reform Financial Systems – African governments should advocate for fairer global financial structures, mobilise domestic resources, and support small businesses and workers through inclusive financing.
- Advance Digital Transformation – Investment in digital trade platforms, e-commerce, and digital literacy programs is critical to Africa’s economic competitiveness.
- Strengthen Labour Protections – Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and exportoriented industries must uphold fair wages, safe working conditions, and intense labour inspections.
- Promote Free Movement of People – Ratifying the African Union Free Movement Protocol will ensure global labour mobility and skills recognition.
- Sustain investment and commitment to advancing trade facilitation—a collaborative approach to infrastructure, technology, and skills development remains critical to keeping the continent’s integration and industrialisation aspiration alive.
Call to Action
ITUC-Africa urges the African Union Commission (AUC), AfCFTA Secretariat, ECA, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and national governments to align AfCFTA implementation with decent work principles. Development partners and the private sector must also commit to trade policies prioritising workers’ rights and social inclusion. ITUC-Africa and its partners remain committed to working with all stakeholders to build a just, inclusive, and sustainable trade regime that benefits all Africans.
Akhator Joel Odigie
General Secretary of ITUC-Africa
Nelly Nyagah
Nelly Nyagah is the Head of Communications at Labour Research Service.
