Tema: The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is conducting a comprehensive three-day conference in Tema, titled 'Union to Union Cooperation for Enhancing Advocacy on Just Transition and Climate Change'. This initiative aims to facilitate knowledge exchange among members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
According to Ghana News Agency, Ms. Inviolata Chinyangarara, ILO Senior Specialist for Workers Activities/ACTRAV, emphasized the significance of this event as it unites unions from the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Ghana Trades Union Congress. The objective is to collaboratively share insights and experiences on programs that promote just transitions and address the effects of climate change on workers and workplaces.
During the conference, participants will engage in technical sessions focused on ILO policies related to just transition and climate change. Ms. Chinyangarara mentioned that discussions will explore the role of social dialogue, highlighting the critical involvement of unions in advocating for climate change discussions at national levels. Additionally, attendees will conduct field visits to relevant ministry departments and agencies involved in climate-related issues.
The conference aims to produce actionable plans for implementation in Ghana and Nigeria, ensuring that the collaboration between the two workers' federations extends beyond this event. Ms. Chinyangarara highlighted the importance of the conference, noting that the transition affects decent work and climate change impacts are causing job losses, exacerbating poverty, widening inequalities, and affecting international labour standards. She stressed that workers should be central to influencing climate change policies as they are directly affected.
Mr. Joshua Ansah, Secretary General of the TUC, emphasized the urgency of climate change, noting that working people are already experiencing its impacts through shifting weather patterns, rising livelihoods, and growing inequality. He underscored the importance of the Just Transition principle, ensuring that climate policies do not worsen existing inequalities or compromise worker wellbeing in pursuit of environmental progress. He called for trade unions to be integral to climate solutions, shaping policies, defining priorities, and safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
Mr. Alex Frimpong, CEO of the Ghana Employers Association, acknowledged the intertwined nature of climate action and economic transformation. He highlighted that the shift to low-carbon economies will reshape the world of work, disrupting some industries while creating new ones. He warned that if not managed well, this transition risks exacerbating existing inequalities and undermining decent work, but if approached correctly, it could foster innovation and resilient labour markets.
Mr. Marwan Adamu Mni, an official from the Nigeria Labour Congress, stated that the conference aims to strengthen climate change relations between the two national labour federations and develop a regional common position on climate change and just transition. This is particularly pertinent in preparation for significant climate change engagements like the Conference of Parties (COP 30) in November in Belem, Brazil. He emphasized that climate is a workplace reality, affecting workers, their families, and communities, making it crucial for trade unions to be actively involved in discussions on mitigation, adaptation, and building resilience toward a low-carbon green economy.
