FESTU Statement on World Day of Decent Work
Somalia

Mogadishu, 7 October 2011

The Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) joins the international labour movement on the occasion of the World Day of Decent Work in calling for a global economic policies that promote decent jobs and social protections for the working class. It is our firm view that the global economy can only be improved if and only if trade unions are full social partners in economic policy formulation in their respective countries.

On the eve of World Day of decent Work, the Executive Committee of FESTU in their meeting of 6 October 2011 called on Somali politicians to work towards peaceful Transition from conflict to peace through national government by restoring Somali people’s sense of opportunity, trust, dignity and hope.

The transition must create opportunity for social and economic change in the country. Reconciliation and peace-building processes should advance the rights of workers to help initiate economic and social recovery and restore livelihoods.

Somalis have been trapped in a brutal cycle of bloodshed and poverty for several years. Many of Somali youth who are unemployed but carrying guns urgently need to be provided with jobs and opportunities to earn a decent living.

To resolve the conflict and restore durable peace in our country, job creation and income generation must be given priority in order to provide the means for survival and recovery for the people of Somalia who suffered for 2 decades. FESTU believes that decent work is vital to peace, reintegration, economic growth and durable stability in Somalia.

FESTU aligns itself with the position of International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on Decent Work by affirming that an economy based on increasing numbers of precarious and casual workers undermines sustainable and equitable economic development. As such, global policy makers in general and leaders of the G20 nations in particular should seek a new and higher level of cooperation among the social partners in order to change the trajectory of the global economy towards a state of affairs where the rights of workers are respected and worker friendly economic policies are implemented.

It has been proven repeatedly that a policy based primarily on austerity measures is sure to have grave socio-economic consequences which end up making matters worse rather than better. A solution based on the creation of decent jobs is therefore the only way out of this global economic crisis.

Executive Committee Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU)

—  National Secretariat Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) Taleex Street, Mogadishu, Somalia Telephone: +252615557008