Trade and Decent Work for Africa

The aim of this course is to better understand the trade and labour market nexus and its implications for the Africa region in terms of decent work and sustainable development. It considers broader labour market implications of trade and investment policies including employment, but also workers’ rights, working conditions and other aspects of decent work (such as OSH or social dialogue). The course aligns with broader policy and regional development frameworks including the African Union’s Agenda 2063; and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. OBJECTIVES The overall objective of the training course is to build capacity, increase knowledge and improve dialogue between the participants concerning the trade and labour nexus by presenting analysis and discussing new findings on the effects of trade on the labour market. At the end of the course, participants will be able to better advise their institutions on • the linkages between trade and decent work, • formulation of trade (and investment) policies to facilitate dialogue and support, • decent work, • domestic policies for the promotion of sustainable development. CONTENT The course consisted of: • Globalization, trade and decent work: Overview, trends and role of ILO • Assessing the impact of trade on decent work • Trade, Agriculture and Gender: Case Study of Malawi • Skills and trade: Skills for economic diversification • Trade and SMEs: Formalization and decent work • Trade Policy and International Labour Standards: Approaches, Practices and Lessons Learned • ILO’s Labour provisions in trade agreements Hub • The Potential of AfCFTA to Promote SDG8 • Eradicating child labour and forced labour in and through trade • Trade and decent work: the approach of the ILO MNE Declaration