AfCFTA: NLC Calls For Protection of SMEs Against Big Firms
” says interest of workers , others not consider
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described as ‘a rush’ the launched of Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) without considering the interest of key stakeholders.
While alluding to the fact that key stakeholders like government, employers and workers interest were not put into consideration, the Congress called for the protection of Small and Medium Scale business in Africa against the financial strength of big Firms.
According to a communique issued at the end of a Virtual Workshop Organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) with the Support of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) and SASK, the movement said there are the crises of affordable credit as the interest rate in many African countries.
The communique which was signed by the NLC AfCFTA focal person , Comrade Echezona Asuzu reads”Unions must engage the AfCFTA on an issue based and paradigm-based approach taking into consideration their challenges and expectations on Decent Work and already secured Collective Bargaining Agreements.
“Trade unions should keep an eye on the demand for Labour Protocol with specific demands that strengthen the position of workers in terms of earning power and job security.
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“Trade unions should be interested on how the AfCFTA ensures that international and national labour standards are respected.
“Investment in building capacity on the AfCFTA especially in terms of knowledge capacity must be of priority concern to trade unions. Trade Unions cannot engage or negotiate on a protocol that they do not really understand.
“Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that small scale and medium scale businesses in Africa are protected from the market efficiency and financial strength of big firms since it is the small and medium enterprises that drive economic growth.
“Rules of Origin must be adequately tuned to eliminate dumping of products or services by firms with interests and operations outside the continent under the guise of tariff liberalization.
“There is need to clarify the purpose of the liberalization of services – is it to build the capacity of local service providers through collaboration with foreign capital or to allow foreign capitals to overawe and take over the business of local service providers including through transformation of ownership equity of firms that started out initially as indigenous concerns?
“There is need to properly integrate the vulnerable groups especially women and youth taking into consideration their peculiar needs for economic expansion and growth.
“There is need to ensure that trade liberalization is founded on market integration with eyes on the factors of production.
“Trade integration with tariff liberalization is important but it should be facilitated through conscious efforts to eliminate artificial borders, improve on physical infrastructure (both soft and hard infrastructure) in African countries, and ensure that the fundamentals established under AfCFTA BIAT (Boosting Intra-African Trade) are pursued.
“Trade Unions’ engagement with the AfCFTA should be guided by timelines with specific demands on the concluded protocols and the protocols yet to be concluded. This is to ensure that these protocols serve the interest of Africa and trade unions.
“Trade Unions should organize the voices of workers both those who belong to formal trade unions and those in the informal economy especially non-wage workers for effective mainstreaming of Decent Work in the AfCFTA.
“Trade Unions should engage with other stakeholders especially the National Office on Trade Negotiation in order to amplify and mainstream the concerns of workers and trade unions.
“Trade Unions need to have the AfCFTA conversations in informal circles both on the streets and in markets”.
The workshop with the theme “Effective Trade Union Engagement with AfCFTA” was organised for
Network of NLC Affiliate Unions Desk Officers on AfCFTA.
End.
