African trade unions told to invest in research

By MANGOA MOSOTA

The work of trade unions in Africa has been hampered by inadequate research, a Cabinet minister and a trade unionist have said.

Labour Minister John Munyes and Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary-General Francis Atwoli said trade unions in the continent face huge gaps in research that undermine their performance, hence poor service delivery by workers.

"Lack of research has eroded the capacity and effectiveness of these bodies. Most of the trade unions are weak," said Munyes.

Mr Atwoli said lack of advanced information has negatively affected majority of the organisations.

"Moreover, most of the trade unions have not come up with credible proposals and relevant alternative development policies and programmes," he argued.

Mr Munyes said a policy framework is urgently needed to address the inadequacies of the unions. "With the policy in place, they will give interventions to various issues such as child labour," said the minister.

POLITICAL UNREST

The duo was speaking in Kisumu as they officially opened a training workshop on Research and Methodology on Employment and Social Issues in Africa.

The forum attracted about 50 delegates from Zambia, Swaziland, South Africa, Botswana and Malawi.

Atwoli said research by trade unions would look at how political unrest in Africa affects workers.

"For instance in Kenya, the 2007 post-poll violence led to the killing and displacement of hundreds of people, which greatly affected their performance," he argued.

The two said research on workers’ unions will also seek a solution to the often-acrimonious relationship between employers and their employees.

Meanwhile, Munyes has said the Government will blacklist employers who do injustice to their workers.

"We have firms in Kenya that employ workers for up to 20 years and then wind up without giving them terminal dues," he said, adding that the Government will take stern action against such companies.