Africa-Press – Kenya. Central Organization of Trade Union Kenya Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has urged the government to ensure climate-friendly jobs for its workers.
Atwoli further urged the government to ensure workers rights like secure employment, fair wages, safe working conditions, social protection, social dialogue and labour rights and standards are observed.
He was speaking on Friday during the launch of a Covid-19 response and strategy to support trade unions recover from the negative impacts of the pandemic.
“We call upon government’s and key players to increase their engagements with trade unions on awareness and implication of Sustainable Development Goal number 8,” Atwoli said.
During the day, trade union movements mobilise to tackle global economic and problems employees face and way forward.
He said today the world is different because of the Covid 19 pandemic.
The Cotu boss said trade unions in Africa and throughout the world played a major role in protecting jobs and lives immediately after Covid-19 was declared a pandemic.
“Through the ability of a union to negotiate for better pay and conditions and defend workers rights, many trade unions entered into Memorandum of Understanding with government and employers to not only safeguard jobs but also ensure that workers were safe at their place of work,” he said.
He said the strategic document speaks on how Cotu and affiliated unions can manage emerging issues like organizing around the informal sector and how to work with key partners especially in the supply chain.
Atwoli noted that even before Covid-19, the world of work was still undergoing changes that required strategic thinking to overcome.
“For instance, technology and issues surrounding climate change were already proving to be a disruption enough to the world of work as we had known, “Atwoli said.
Edited by D Tarus
