
UASA Media Release: 21 October 2024
In Picture: Participants of the Youth Capacity Development Workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Statement by Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the trade union UASA:
UASA, as part of organised labour, attended today’s IndustriALL Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Youth Capacity Development Workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The workshop’s theme, Reinforcing the Role of the Youth in Driving a Transformative Organizational Agenda for Advancing Human and Labour Rights in IndustriALL Sectors in SSA, reflected the importance of youth empowerment in shaping the future of labour movements across the continent.
The workshop aims to enhance young workers’ capacity in SSA to take on leadership roles and influence policies that impact workers’ rights, needs and advocacy across various industries. UASA, representing its young members, highlights the importance of engaging youth in the labour movement, as they bring new perspectives and innovation to address challenges that impact the modern workplace.
The workshop tackled a range of topics, mainly focusing on the future of the regional youth committee in SSA, including:
• Reflection on the impact of the current work of the youth committee
• Challenges to the implementation of the youth strategy
• Discussion on the reconstitution of the youth committee
• Recommendations/proposals that will be submitted before the regional EXCO
The workshop further focused on several aspects that young workers can contribute to broader campaigns for labour rights, including influencing national, regional, and global policy changes. The importance of youth-led campaigns that address specific issues facing young workers, such as unemployment, underemployment and access to quality education and training was also the centre of discussions during the workshop.
Unemployment among the youth remains rampant in South Africa. Hence, young people are encouraged to be innovative in several ways, including recruitment, collective bargaining and advocacy to ensure that young workers’ rights are advocated for along with the relevant skills and opportunities they need to thrive in the workforce and contribute to their communities.
IndustriALL Regional Youth Committee Chairperson Akedi Dume reminded the youth of the importance of unity in the Sub-Saharan region to ensure the growth and exposure of young workers to the trade union movement.
“The sustainability and future of trade unions is in the hands of young workers because they are the leaders of tomorrow. Unionists must develop strategies to ensure that the rights and needs of workers are protected and promoted on all levels.”
UASA believes that investing in youth leadership is essential for the sustainability of unions and ensuring that they remain relevant to the changing needs of the workforce.
UASA’s participation in the workshop was a significant step toward reinforcing the role of young workers in driving a transformative agenda for human and labour rights in the region. Through leadership development, advocacy and collaboration, UASA is committed to empowering young workers to take on critical roles in shaping the future of labour movements in Sub-Saharan Africa.
By fostering a new generation of leaders, UASA and its counterparts across the region can ensure that the labour movement remains robust, inclusive and responsive to the changing needs of workers in the modern economy.
UASA encourages all the youth in the IndustriALL Youth Committee to lead by example, be the voice of the workforce and be active participants in policy and decision-making processes at all levels in their respective unions and local governments.
For further enquiries or to set up a personal interview, contact Abigail Moyo at 065 170 0162.