African trade unions have called for a greater role in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), emphasizing the need for decent employment, stronger social protection, and industrial growth. The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) and the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) led the call in Nairobi, alongside trade union representatives from eight African countries. They stressed that expanding trade across Africa must go hand in hand with protecting workers' rights.
The trade unions highlighted concerns over the experiences of informal traders operating across African borders. A July 2026 study by the African Labour Research and Education Institute found that informal traders, particularly women and young people, face unofficial payments, discretionary enforcement, and sexual harassment. The study, which focused on the Busia border, revealed that traders encounter multiple charges, confiscation of goods, and limited access to information on AfCFTA procedures. These challenges hinder the benefits of increased trade from reaching workers and vulnerable groups.
COTU-K Assistant Secretary General Adams Barasa emphasized that the continental trade framework should protect basic labor rights, including freedom of association, collective bargaining, and safe work. He called for AfCFTA implementation to be tied to industrial policies, regional value chains, and skills development. Barasa also stressed the need for social protection measures and environmental sustainability to ensure that the benefits of increased trade reach workers and vulnerable groups.
The trade unions urged governments to introduce simplified trade arrangements for informal traders and improve facilities and infrastructure at border points. They also called for trade unions to be represented in national AfCFTA implementation committees to give workers a direct role in decisions affecting trade and employment. ITUC-Africa Secretary General Joel Odigie emphasized that workers should have a direct role in shaping how continental trade is implemented.
Odigie highlighted the importance of including workers and their representatives in discussions on trade policies, citing their practical knowledge and ideas to contribute. He called for improved border management to make it easier and fairer for people moving goods and services across countries. The ITUC-Africa Secretary General emphasized that workers must be at the heart of the trade implementation process.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is an African Union flagship initiative aimed at creating a single African market for goods and services. The agreement was signed in 2018 and entered into force in 2019, with trading under the framework beginning in January 2021. ITUC-Africa, which represents trade unions from across Africa, works to promote workers' rights, social justice, and economic policies that include workers.
The trade unions' call for a greater role in AfCFTA implementation reflects their commitment to ensuring that the agreement benefits workers and promotes industrial growth across the continent. Key stakeholders, including governments, trade unions, and workers' organizations, must work together to address the challenges faced by informal traders and ensure that the benefits of increased trade reach workers and vulnerable groups.
Key points
- African trade unions demand a greater role in AfCFTA implementation to prioritize workers' rights and decent employment.
- Informal traders face significant challenges, including unofficial payments and sexual harassment, when operating across African borders.
- Trade unions call for simplified trade arrangements, improved border infrastructure, and representation in national AfCFTA implementation committees.
