African trade unions advance social dialogue strategies for rural and agricultural workers

African trade unions advance social dialogue strategies for rural and agricultural workers

More than 50 trade union representatives and labour experts from 20 African countries are exchanging knowledge and developing practical strategies to strengthen the representation of rural and agricultural workers, facilitate access to social protection and advance social dialogue.

31 August 2026

Participants from across Africa join a panel discussion at a regional exchange forum, sharing country experiences and innovative collective bargaining and social dialogue approaches for rural and agricultural workers, Egypt, 08/2026. © ILO

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Cairo, Egypt, 31 August 2026 - The five-day knowledge exchange, taking place from 31 August to 4 September 2026, aims to translate learning and experience into concrete trade union action. Participants will develop national, subregional and regional roadmaps reflecting different contexts and priorities.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is organizing the initiative through a collaboration between its Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV) in Geneva and Turin and the ILO Cairo Office, under the "EU for Haya Karima" project, funded by the European Union.

Entitled "Strengthening Social Dialogue for Rural and Agri-Plantation Workers: Trade Union Responses and Strategies," the initiative places social protection within a broader decent work approach.

The Cairo exchange builds on a two-week online learning programme organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO) in June 2026, which addressed challenges facing rural and agricultural workers, alongside evidence, international experience and lessons learned.

Workers' organizations at the centre

In her opening remarks, Hilma Mote, Regional Desk Officer for Africa at the ILO ACTRAV said: "This workshop is about more than learning. It is about building strategies. It is about strengthening trade union power. It is about ensuring that workers in plantations and rural economies are visible, organized, protected and represented."

She added: "Let us leave Cairo with renewed determination to advance social dialogue, strengthen collective bargaining and promote decent work throughout Africa's rural economies and agricultural value chains."

Hilma Mote emphasized that trade unions must ensure that rural workers are not treated as an afterthought within national labour movements. They must be central to our organizing agendas.

"Let us leave Cairo with renewed determination to advance social dialogue, strengthen collective bargaining and promote decent work throughout Africa's rural economies and agricultural value chains.

Hilma Mote, Regional Desk Officer for Africa at the ILO ACTRAV

Speaking on behalf of Eric Oechslin, ILO Cairo Office Director, Marielle Goursat, Social Protection Specialist at the ILO Cairo Office, underscored: "Achieving universal social protection requires effective institutions and sustainable financing, but it also requires social dialogue. Workers and their organizations must have a voice in identifying gaps, shaping solutions to extend coverage and ensuring that social protection systems respond to workers' realities."

"Achieving universal social protection requires effective institutions and sustainable financing, but it also requires social dialogue.

Marielle Goursat, Social Protection Specialist at the ILO Cairo Office

Representing the Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF), Eid Morsal, Secretary-General of ETUF, emphasized: "Our message is clear: There can be no comprehensive social protection without reaching workers in rural areas, no strong trade union organization without expanding the membership base, and no sustainable development without decent work that safeguards workers' dignity and rights."

Our message is clear: There can be no comprehensive social protection without reaching workers in rural areas.

Eid Morsal, Secretary-General of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation More than 50 trade union representatives and labour experts from 20 African countries take part in introductory group sessions at the opening of a regional knowledge exchange for rural and agricultural workers, Egypt, 08/2026.

Strengthening decent work in rural economies

Rural and agricultural workers play an essential role in economies, food systems and supply chains across Africa. At the same time, the nature of rural employment, including informality, seasonal work, geographical dispersion and diverse employment relationships, can create challenges in accessing social protection and strengthening workers' representation, collective bargaining and social dialogue.

Against this backdrop, participants will explore approaches to addressing these challenges, with discussions covering extension of social protection coverage, wages, occupational safety and health and child labour, as well as transformations affecting the world of work, including climate change, just transition and digitalization.

The programme will also draw on trade union experiences from across Africa, including approaches to collective bargaining and workers' representation in the shea butter sector in Ghana, the cocoa sector in Nigeria and among agricultural workers in Tunisia.

As part of the programme, participants will undertake a one-day study visit to Salhia Company in Egypt, providing an opportunity to connect the discussions with practical experiences related to agricultural work, production and supply chains.

Participants exchange perspectives and experiences during group interactive sessions to strengthen trade union strategies for rural and agricultural workers, Egypt, 08/2026.

Reflecting on the diversity of experiences brought together through the exchange, Wafaa Abdelkader, Workers' Activities Specialist at ILO Cairo Office, said: "Here in Cairo, on the banks of the Nile-a river that connects communities, sustains livelihoods and brings life across Africa- we are reminded of the value of connection. We come from different countries, bringing diverse experiences and trade union traditions, but we share a common commitment to advancing decent work for rural and agricultural workers."

She continued, "This week, our aim is to turn that connection into action: to learn from one another, build on our experiences and translate that learning into practical strategies that can make a difference for workers."

Our aim is to turn that connection into action: to learn from one another, build on our experiences and translate that learning into practical strategies that can make a difference for workers."

Wafaa Abdelkader, Workers' Activities Specialist at ILO Cairo Office

Beyond Cairo

The process will continue beyond Cairo. A follow-up meeting is planned for 2027 to take stock of progress, exchange experiences and identify effective approaches that could inform further trade union action.

By linking learning, practical action and follow-up, the initiative seeks to support workers' organizations in strengthening the representation of rural and agricultural workers and facilitating access to social protection, thereby contributing to the advancement of decent work and more inclusive and resilient rural economies across Africa.