The Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) has commemorated May Day 2026 with a strong message of solidarity to workers across Africa and the world, highlighting the urgent challenges confronting labour in a time of global instability. 

In its statement, OATUU highlighted key challenges including unemployment, declining living standards, weak social protection systems, and threats to workers’ rights and democracy. The Organisation reaffirmed its commitment to social justice, economic sovereignty, and the protection of workers across the continent. 

OATUU also called for urgent action to create decent jobs, improve workers’ purchasing power, expand social protection, promote gender equality, and ensure access to healthcare and education. It also seized the opportunity to condemn war, exploitation, and the abuse of migrant workers, while expressing solidarity with workers in crisis-affected regions. 

OATUU urged African workers and its affiliates to mobilise and defend their rights, while reaffirming support for the International Labour Organization (ILO) as a key pillar of global labour protection. 

For more details, find the statement below.