The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions called for a three-day general strike in March 2002 to protest against "post-election harassment of workers". Pointing to an attempt by police to monitor a closed union council meeting last week, the ZCTU said in a statement it feared the government planned to curtail union activities. New laws over the past year have significantly curtailed the right of protest in Zimbabwe.

Over 100 African trade union representatives of the independent, free, democratic trade union movement affiliated to the ICFTU and ICFTU-AFRO, including representatives of the CLC, AFL-CIO, ACILS, ITS’s, ILO, IMF, World Bank, met in Nairobi, Kenya during the ICFTU-AFRO Regional Conference on “The Challenge of Globalization in Africa: The Role of Trade Unions in Promoting Policies of Balanced Development” held from 27-29 May 2002.

The Conference adopted a series of work programmes related to challenges of globalisation, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Poverty Reduction Sttrategic Papers (PRSPs), and trade union capacity building.

 

At the request of the ICFTU/AFRO I have prepared a project document on “Strengthening the Research Capacity in the Trade Union Movement in Africa” for submission to the Bureau for Workers’ Activities, International Labour Organisation (ILO/ACTRAV).

The project is intended to assist ICFTU/AFRO and its affiliates in reinforcing their research structures and developing policies in dealing with external and internal problems they are facing due to social, political and economic reforms. The activities planned under this project are aimed at assisting the ICFTU-AFRO to build capacity to be able to play desirable roles of contributing to the current wave of social and economic adjustments in Africa.

1. Trade Unions and Child Labour in Uganda: A Workers’ Education Handbook

Compiled and Edited by Mohammed Mwamadzingo, Ouma Mugeni, and Harriet Mugambwa. Published by the Bureau for Workers’ Activities of the International Labour Organisation in co-operation with National Organisation of Trade Unions.

Brief Summary:
Child labour is an old scenario in the Ugandan society but only a few people or organisations have bothered to understand its causes, effects and ramifications. There is little information available, and many people are not able to differentiate between “child labour” and “child work”. To some, child labour is taken to be a form of corporal punishment administered to children.

The purpose of this handbook is to offer information and capture the interest of the general reader on the importance of eliminating child labour in our midst. The principle message is that the fight against child labour belongs to everyone: governments, employers, trade unions, international organisations, teachers, social workers, parents, children themselves, experts and civil society organisations must all play their part.

To download the handbook, please visit www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/actrav/genact/child/download/ugaman.pdf

 

2. Workers’ Education Manual on Trade Unions and the Challenge of HIV/AIDS in Uganda:

Compiled and Edited by Mohammed Mwamadzingo, and Rose Nassanga. Forthcoming publication by the Bureau for Workers’ Activities of the International Labour Organisation in co-operation with National Organisation of Trade Unions.

For further information on activities of ACTRAV Regional Specialist in Workers' Education for Anglophone Africa, please contact:

Mr. Mohammed H. Mwamadzingo
Regional Specialist in Workers' Education
c/o ILO Harare
E-mail: mwamadzingo@ilo.org