Somali Labour Movement Participates in 104th Session of International Labour Conference

A delegation from Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU), representing workers of Somalia, is attending 104^th session of the International Labour Conference with the expectation of the Somali workers in both public and private establishment, millions of unemployed Somalis and other oppressed working class expects nothing short of effective representation resulting in making the employer/employee relationship very cordial and the government respecting and protecting workers fundamental rights.

Meanwhile, the theme of this year’s conference is: “Building a Future with Decent Work”.  The issues on the agenda for this year conference are: application of International Standards, Conventions and Recommendations; facilitating transition from the informal economy to the formal economy – Standard setting and double discussion; small and medium-sized enterprises and decent and productive employment creation; recurrent discussion on the strategic objective of social protection, under the follow up to the ILO declaration on Social Justice for a fair globalization.

FESTU, represented by Omar Faruk Osman, FESTU General Secretary and Mohamed Musse, FESTU International Relations Officer, shared a stage with Global Trade Unions such as International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa).

“We expressed our grave concern for the ongoing infringements of the right to defend workers’ rights in Somalia. We presented a report on the conditions in which Somali workers are currently working and the position of Somali trade unions concerning transition from informal economy to formal economy and application of international labour standards in Somalia,” said FESTU General Secretary Omar Faruk Osman.

The FESTU delegation also deliberated on the trade union movement and the imperative of political power for the working class’ self-emancipation within Somalia’s transition to peace and stability.

The focus of the ILO Conference 2015 in Geneva is the World of Work, the Director General of the ILO, Mr Guy Ryder has said. At the presentation of his annual report to the Conference during the week, Mr Ryder observed that the “world of work continues to confront challenges of formidable proportions”, adding that the presence of the conferees suggested they “expect the ILO to respond effectively, with its member states, to these challenges”.

On its part, Mr Ryder declared, the  ILO is leading by example by embarking on a Conference “that combines innovation with ambition” by way of “using new working methods” that would shorten the Conference (from three to two weeks) without loss of effectiveness in addressing issues which affect the working lives of millions in all parts of the world.

Since arrival in Geneva, the FESTU delegation has been holding bilateral meetings with sister federations, ILO officials, ITUC and ITUC-Africa leaders who are also attending the 104^th session of the ILO conference.