The Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has urged leaders from around the world to take proactive measures and enact necessary changes to address pressing issues in labor.
While addressing the International Labour Conference (ILC), in Geneva on June 5, Atwoli called for a renewal of the social contract to rebuild trust and social cohesion.
“COTU Kenya welcomes the Director General’s report which proposes a renewal of social contract being a pillar that we have all along relied on it in the pursuit of the promise made in declaration of Philadelphia 10th of May 1994,” he said.
Atwoli Calls for Renewed Social Contracts for Workers
Atwoli said a functioning and futuristic social contract is fundamental to the existence of just societies which they all acknowledge as an imperative and essential ingredient for achieving universal lasting peace.
“Social contract was established to fight poverty, combat social exclusion and disintegration, create productive employment
and awaken a new awareness of social responsibility,” Atwoli said.
“We must all remember social dialogue is our time tasted tool which has for a long time served us well for over the years and helped us to successfully navigate many daunting challenges in crisis in industrial relations practice.”
He further acknowledged that over the years many people across regions are losing trust in the way governance is exercised whether at the national level or the international level.
“People feel disillusioned, abandoned and since they are not benefiting from the gains of our economic progress this trend is unsustainable and does not potent well for the humanity,” COTU secretary said.
“The situation is worsened by lack of focus and attention on the social protection by many governments.”
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COTU Sec Gen Asks Govt to Collaborate with Labor Organizations
Furthermore, he emphasized that the International Labor Organizations (ILO) should work together with governments to ensure that there is robust investment in social protection infrastructure not only in Kenya but in many other Countries of the world.
He said that while ILO has the institutional means at her disposal to spearhead the renewal of the contract there might be need for a relook into the bureaucracy of the organization with the aim of boosting effectiveness and productivity.
Atwoli said they are encouraged by the timing of the discussions which has happened a few months before the convening of the 2nd world summit for Social Development spearhead by the United Nations (UN) in 2025.
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He added that the Summit will afford them an opportunity to concretize the organizations priorities in order to better and entrench ILO in the UN system.
“We see this as an opportunity for ILO constituents to reflect on the extent to which we have exercised collective responsibility we owe each other including the mainstreaming of workers who have not been benefitting from a fair share economic progress achieved so fare,” he stated.
Subsequently, he called for a renewed focus by the government and ILO industry of informal so that to ensure that there are strategic investments in that sector that aims at formalization of the informal sector for more provision of employment in Africa.
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