ITUC OnLine – East African Network for Human and Trade Union Rights to Meet in Rwanda to Integrate Human and Trade Union Rights Aspects in the EAC Common Market Protocol

Brussels, 5 October 2010 (ITUC OnLine): As the East African Community (EAC) is a creating a common market, the East African HTUR network, established last July in Nairobi as part of the ITUC HTUR programme, will meet in Kigali on 6 and 7 October to debate about the integration of a clause on human and trade union rights in the Common Market Protocol of the EAC.

The Nairobi meeting last July identified specific challenges for the Eastern African sub-region and came up with a specific action plan. The two-day meeting in Kigali is a spin-off of the one in Nairobi.

Participants from UDT (Djibouti), CETU (Ethiopia), NOTU (Uganda), COTU (Kenya), CESTRAR (Rwanda), COTRAF (Rwanda), CSB (Burundi), COSYBU (Burundi), TUCTA (Tanzania), ZATUC (Tanzania), the Arusha-based East African Trade Union Confederation (EATUC) and ITUC-Africa will discuss and exchange experiences on trade union rights, social dialogue and tripartism, and look at ways to enhance the promotion and implementation of the ILO’s Decent Work agenda through its integration in the EAC Common Market Protocol.

“It is essential for the respect of trade union rights in Africa to make sure that this clause is added to the Protocol,” said Sharan Burrow, ITUC general secretary, “as this would be a significant step towards a better implementation of the ILO’s eight Core Conventions on workers’ rights.”

The ITUC represents 176 million workers in 151 countries and territories and has 301 national affiliates. http://www.ituc-csi.org  and http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018