Two African trade unions sign agreement

Accra, Oct 16, GNA- Two African national unions on Saturday signed a bilateral agreement under which they would cooperate to ensure industrial peace in their respective countries for economic growth.

They are the Construction and Building Materials Workers Union (CBMWU) of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers Union (NUCECFWWU) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Mr Samuel Badu Aniapam, National Chairman of CBMWU, signed on behalf of his union while Mr Samuel O. Adeoye, President, NUCECFWW, signed for his union after a two-day conference held in Accra. Under the agreement, the unions are expected to exchange programmes, network their projects and increase collaboration with trade unions and shareholders within the sub-region.

In a communique, the two unions appealed to their governments to commit more resources for the establishment of certificate awarding skills training centres for the youth.

The communique appealed to the governments of Ghana and Nigeria to ratify Article 167 of the International Labour Organization Convention on Health and Safety in the construction industry, which was adopted in 1988, as well as enacting laws to protect construction workers.

They decided to collaborate with the National HIV/AIDS Commissions of both Countries to create awareness and curb the spread of the virus. The two unions also decided to educate their members to raise their academic standards and improve their knowledge in trade unionism to enable them to face challenges at work places.

The communique said their respective governments should ensure that migrant workers receive their social benefits without any impediments.

"CBMWU and NUCECFWW should double their efforts in organizing those in the informal sector and extend social protection to all construction workers."