Workers in Somalia today join the rest of the world in celebrating Workers’ Day amid growing concern over their welfare as the economy continues on its downward spiral and workers are getting poverty salaries.
The main labour movement, the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU), today commemorated this international day by saluting “the workers who endure the worst forms of abuse and exploitation”.
“Today, we celebrate workers’ day in a country where very few people are still in formal employment, workers are verbally employed & dismissed with no written contracts, 1972 undemocratic labour code is de-facto law of the land, where a government minister believes that he must have a say on the name and existence of a national trade union, a country where almost all workers are informal economic workers and the remaining workers, including civil servants, are earning poverty wages. So today is workers’ day in a country with no formal workers” said Omar Faruk Osman, General Secretary of FESTU.
FESTU has used the occasion to accuse the previous government of failing in its major responsibilities of creating decent jobs, promoting investment, paying its own workers and setting the tone and foundation for economic progress and development.
“Creating decent jobs, eradicating poverty and reducing inequality has to be the top priority for the new federal government with the support of business and trade unions as these are key ingredients to economic success” insisted FESTU General Secretary.