The Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) was pleased to host the President of the International Union of Trade Unions of Workers in Agriculture, Food, Commerce, Textiles and Allied Industries (UISTAACT), Mr. Aliou Ndiaye at its headquarters in Accra.
During his visit, Mr. Ndiaye was warmly welcomed by the Secretary-General of OATUU, Mr. Arezki Mezhoud. The two leaders engaged in fruitful discussions, particularly around opportunities for collaboration between OATUU and UISTAACT in the agro-food sector— an area of growing importance for Africa’s socio-economic development.
Mr. Ndiaye also inquired about the possibility of leveraging OATUU’s observer status with the African Union (AU) to access and disseminate critical information on the state of the agro-food industry across the African continent. Recognizing the significance of this sector for Africa’s workers and economies, Mr. Mezhoud welcomed the idea and proposed several pathways for engagement.
Notably, the Secretary-General suggested:
- Organizing conferences or symposiums dedicated to foster dialogue, share knowledge, and shape policy recommendations in the agro-food sector.
- Establishing a dedicated Secretariat for Agricultural Workers in Africa to coordinate research, advocacy, and support for workers in agriculture and related industries.
- Initiating these efforts by first conducting a comprehensive assessment of the current status of the agro-food sector across Africa to inform future actions and collaborations.
Both parties expressed optimism about the potential for these initiatives to advance the rights, welfare, and productivity of agricultural and food sector workers across Africa.
