ITUC-Africa Calls for Decent Jobs for Youth in Africa

On the 2026 World Day for Decent Work, ITUC-Africa, a pan-African trade union organization, called for African leaders to prioritize decent job creation. In a statement signed by Secretary-General Mr. Joel Odigie, the organization highlighted the importance of engaging Africa's growing youth population through access to quality employment and economic opportunities.

Odigie urged African governments, the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, and employers to place decent work at the center of economic policies, advocating for living wages and universal social protection for all workers, including young, informal, migrant, and platform workers. He emphasized the need for fair labor migration practices and the protection of migrant workers' rights.

The statement noted that ITUC-Africa represents 18 million workers across 52 countries and stressed the challenges faced by young Africans, particularly young women, in securing decent livelihoods. The organization aims to mobilize domestic resources to enhance job creation and address issues like illicit financial flows and unsustainable debt.