African labor groups meet in Nairobi to discuss migration and AfCFTA

African labor organizations and employer groups are convening in Nairobi to address labor migration and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA) is participating in an African Union tripartite meeting aimed at developing a common continental approach to the Doha Dialogue on labor migration. Discussions focus on protecting migrant workers' rights, the portability of social benefits, and the harmonization of regional migration policies. The Mozambican delegation is sharing national experiences regarding the regularization of migrant workers and social protection.

Simultaneously, trade unions from several African nations, including Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria, have called for workers to be central to the AfCFTA implementation. Union leaders argue that trade expansion must be coupled with industrial policies, skills development, and the protection of basic labor rights—such as collective bargaining and equality—to ensure that economic growth translates into decent employment and social protection for vulnerable groups.