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afrol.com, 5 September - African trade unionists have issued a reminder to their governments and employers that they are ready and willing to enter into social dialogue, although not under any circumstances. "The promotion of social dialogue" is the title of the three-day pan-African trade union conference that opened today in Casablanca, attended by some 50 trade union leaders from 40 African countries. The conference, organised by the African Regional Organisation of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU-AFRO), was opened this morning by Mahjoub Benseddik, general secretary of the Moroccan Labour Union (Union marocaine du travail - UMT). "Social dialogue is a culture in which it is the force of your arguments that count, not the argument of your force. It turns a natural difference of interests into a shared responsibility" stated the Moroccan trade union leader, before examining the economic and social situation in Africa, which he pointed out, was "suffering from the rules and restraints of the global market, without reaping any of the benefits". While critical of the international financial institutions, unscrupulous employers and a globalisation that has exacerbated inequalities, trade unionists focused their attention in the first day of discussions on governments who, recalled Mahjoub Benseddik, "have a duty to guarantee the respect of trade union freedoms and fundamental workers' rights, without which no dialogue is possible". Picking up the Moroccan trade unionist's theme, ICFTU-AFRO General Secretary Andrew Kailembo severely criticised the anti-union repression rife in Morocco, pointing to the arrest, imprisonment and dismissal of UMT activists. He called on the Moroccan government to ensure the respect of trade union rights and put an end to the "criminalisation" of trade union activities. The trade unionists' appeal was directed at all the governments' in the region, however. Renewed growth, conflict prevention and stability were all goals that social dialogue could make an important contribution to, said the trade unionists. "Unfortunately, we still have to remind the government of these things all too often, and social dialogue remains conspicuous by its absence" commented Madia Diop, general secretary of the national workers' confederation of Senegal (CNTS), speaking on behalf of the ICFTU General Secretary. Africa, recalled Mohsen Ben Chibani of the ICFTU, holds the unenviable record of the highest number of trade unionists arrested in the world. "80% of the arrests recorded by the ICFTU over a one year period were in Africa" he specified. The Conference, which will examine the role of employers, international institutions and the trade unions themselves is due to adopt a statement on Wednesday which will serve as the basis of the social dialogue described as "essential" to the future of the continent. The ICFTU represents 216 national trade union centres from 145 countries, and speaks on behalf of 123 million trade unionists worldwide. Its African regional organisation, AFRO, represents 15 million workers in 50 African countries.
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