SV
Joel Odigie, General Secretary of ITUC Africa, at a press conference during an AfCFTA workshop in Kenya, surrounded by union leaders from ITUC affiliate organisations and regional trade union federations. Photo: LRS.
Publicerad 2026-06-01
Alla impact stories

Trade unions take their place in African trade policy

Workers’ voices are gaining greater influence in key trade and economic policy decisions across Africa after having long been excluded from both the negotiation and implementation of the AfCFTA agreement. Through sustained advocacy by our partner organisation LRS, workers are now more effectively represented in these processes.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) covers over a billion people and could have a major impact on jobs, industry and economic development across the continent.

Despite this, trade unions were long excluded from both the negotiations and the implementation of the agreement.

Thanks to support from the Palme Center’s partner organisation, the Labour Research Service (LRS), the situation has now begun to change. Trade unions in nine African countries have strengthened their knowledge of trade policy, developed joint demands and pushed to gain influence over how the agreement is to be implemented.

This work has yielded concrete results.

In both Rwanda and Namibia, trade unions have now secured seats on the national committees responsible for implementing the AfCFTA. This means that, for the first time, workers’ perspectives are represented in key decisions on trade and economic policy.

This change marks an important step towards trade policy in Africa taking greater account of working conditions, employment and social justice.