The 2-Days OATUU-ACTRAV Workshop on ILO Centenary: Advancing Social Justice, Promoting Decent Work, Role of Trade Unions took place at The Sarova Hotel, in Nairobi-Kenya on 17th & 18th September 2019.
As Outlined at the Opening Ceremony the Objectives of this seminar were to:
- Create awareness on ILO Centenary Declaration and its content
- Popularize the Global Commission Report on the Future of Work and its Recommendations
- Discuss and adopt national trade unions strategies and actions on the promotion and implementation of the ILO Centenary Declaration 2019.
To achieve theses objectives, Dr. Mohammed Mwamadzingo, the Director of ACTRAV-AFRICA made two presentations titled Work For a Brighter Future (Report the Global Commission on the Future of work) and ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work, 2019 respectively.
From his presentations, the Forth Industrial Revolution represents “the age when devices and algorithms influence our behavior”. It is based on the integration of virtual and physical production systems. This Revolution is set to bring changes in the world of work. Which will affects either positively or negatively the Future of Work.
Dr. Mohammed said, according to the World economic Forum 5.1 million Jobs will be lost by 2020 (depending on countries). It is important to note that Internet eliminated about 500.000 Jobs but created about 1.2 million other jobs. He added “The number of jobs wont reduced but the quality of jobs will changed”. In order to deal with this situation that the ILO adopted the Centenary Declaration on the Future of Work, 2019.
The ILO Centenary Declaration on the Future of Work, 2019 looks at the major challenges and opportunities for the Future of Work,ranging from technology to climate change, from demographic shifts to the need for news skills. It provides guidance for Dealing with these pressing issues and a platform for cooperation with other organizations in the International System.
According to The Global Commission report on the Future of Work which recommends a Human centered technical and economic model. Trade Unions should :
-Invest in people capabilities
-Invest in the instructions of work
-Invest on decent and sustainable work
Trade Unions should take responsibility in:
–Reinvigorating the social contract
-Responsibilities of the ILO
-Responsibility of the multilateral system.
According to discussion and delegates views, Trade Unions should:
– Continue preaching the 4th revolution.
-Invest in researches to know how the future is going to look like
-Strengthen the tripartite consultation and national social Dialogue
-Invest on Youth (“Capture the Youth and Enjoy the future”)
– Educate young people on unionization
-Promote Solidarity and Cooperation between Unions
– Seize the opportunity of new technologies to reach the youth
– Organize forum to popularize and create awareness on the report of the declaration
Trade Unions should prioritize the 7 operatives areas outlined in the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work (2019) when planning their future activities; For, the seven operative areas are likely to influence the ILO Strategic Framework for 2020-2023.