By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC-Africa, has raised fresh concerns over the continued prevalence of workplace violence and harassment in Nigeria and across Africa, six years after the adoption of the International Labour Organization’s Convention 190, C190.
C190 is a landmark global treaty aimed at eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work.

In a statement marking the sixth anniversary of the adoption of ILO Convention No. 190 (C190) and Recommendation No. 206 (R206), ITUC-Africa’s General Secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie, lamented that millions of workers across the continent remain exposed to abuse, intimidation, and violence due to the slow pace of ratification and implementation of the convention.

According to the statement: “Six years ago, on 21 June 2019, the International Labour Conference made history. For the first time, the world of work gained a binding international instrument dedicated exclusively to addressing violence and harassment: ILO Convention No. 190 (C190) and its accompanying Recommendation No. 206 (R206).

“It was a landmark achievement, secured through years of tireless advocacy by trade unions, women workers’ movements, and civil society organisations across the globe.

“Violence and harassment at work, including gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH), remain among the most pervasive yet least prosecuted violations of workers’ rights across the African continent. “From domestic workers in private households to nurses in understaffed clinics, from garment workers on factory floors to women agricultural labourers in export crop supply chains, the evidence is clear and compelling: far too many workers—overwhelmingly women—continue to endure abuse, intimidation, and violence as a condition of their employment.

“Six years after its adoption, progress on ratification and implementation across Africa remains limited. Only a small number of African states have ratified C190, leaving the majority of workers across the continent without the full legal protections envisioned by the Convention.

“ITUC-Africa recognises and commends those member organisations and affiliated federations that have developed enabling policies on violence and harassment to guide their operations and engagement. We also salute those organisations that have undertaken, and continue to undertake, advocacy efforts for the ratification of C190 in their respective countries.

“We acknowledge the work of our sisters and brothers who have integrated the Convention’s provisions into collective bargaining campaigns, workplace policy negotiations, and national social dialogue processes. Their efforts represent exactly the kind of trade union action that C190 was designed to support.

“On the anniversary of the adoption of ILO Convention No. 190 and Recommendation No. 206, ITUC-Africa calls on African governments to ratify C190 without further delay; enact or strengthen domestic legislation that gives full effect to its provisions; allocate adequate resources for enforcement; and establish accessible, confidential, and survivor-centred reporting and redress mechanisms for workers who experience violence and harassment.

“We call on employers and business organisations to adopt zero-tolerance policies on violence and harassment in the workplace and to implement prevention programmes developed through genuine consultation with workers and their representatives.

“We urge trade unions and workers’ organisations across Africa to deepen the integration of C190 into their operations, organising, bargaining, and advocacy work; strengthen solidarity with women and men workers, informal workers, domestic workers, and other vulnerable groups who are disproportionately exposed to violence and harassment; and build the knowledge and capacity of shop stewards, organising teams, and union representatives to identify, address, and prevent GBVH in the workplace.

“Furthermore, we call on the International Labour Organization (ILO) and international partners to scale up technical assistance and capacity-building support for African states undertaking ratification and implementation; centre workers’ voices—especially those of women workers—in all programme design; and ensure that enforcement mechanisms are adequately resourced and remain independent.

“Six years after the adoption of C190 and R206, Africa must move from commitment to action. Every worker has the right to a world of work free from violence and harassment. The time to deliver on that promise is now.”