Strengthening Active Participation of Trade Unions in Africa in the ILO Supervisory Mechanism

OBJECTIVES: The specific objectives of the training activity were to: i. Provide trade unions with adequate knowledge, capacities and practical tools to engage and participate actively in the International Labour Standards system and its supervisory mechanism; ii. Capacitate trade unions with knowledge and skills to implement tailored campaigns to promote the ratification of relevant International Labour Standards; iii. Provide an update on the ILC 2023 Discussions and Conclusions for policy influence at national level; iv. Capacitating workers’ organisations to influence national policy outcomes that are pro-decent work through integrating ILS in national development processes such an the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs), Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs), among others; v. Understand the ILO Supervisory Mechanisms, ILS and ratifications with gender lens; and, vi. Mapping and sharing of good practices and experiences of trade unions use of the ILS supervisory mechanism and, possible replication in the targeted countries. By completing the elements of the training programme, participants were able to: i. Use the ILS Supervisory Mechanism to report on and engage social partners for the promotion and protection of workers’ rights including gender equality; ii. Use the knowledge and tools to claim workers’ rights through the ILO supervisory mechanism; iii. Advocate for national ratification and application of ILS and use the ILO supervisory mechanisms to ensure compliance; iv. Articulate entry points for trade union advocacy and engagement with the African Union for scaling-up of interventions and for sustainability of results once the project has come to an end; and, v. Develop priority trade union actions and strategies indicating how they will translate the knowledge learnt in the course into practical actions at national level. CONTENT: Part 1- Online Phase- This phase particularly focused on: i. Crafting and adoption of ILS; ii. Ratification and domestication of ILS; iii. Realities and challenges faced by trade unions in effectively participating in the ILS supervisory mechanisms; iv. Introduction to the ILO Supervisory Systems: CEACR, CAS, CFA, Commission of Inquiry; and, v. The role of workers organizations in the crafting and adoption of the ILS. The week l introduced a module through webinars, self-guided and tutor-led eLearning. Part 2- Face-to-Face in Nairobi, Kenya – Building on the online phase, the participants had an in-depth training based on thematic areas’ discussions and conclusions adopted at the 111th session of the International Labour Conference (June 2023); interlinkages between the UN system and ILS supervisory mechanism; dealing with violations of selected ILO Conventions; integration of gender in the ILS supervisory mechanism and processes; preparation for ratification campaigns; and, development of trade union action plans for effective participation in the ILS supervisory mechanism at national level.