Date: Monday, 29 October 2018
Confederation of Horn of Africa for Trade Unions Established – Eritrea to lead
– Objective: to promote free movement of people in the region.
– Headquarter: Addis Ababa
29 Oct 2018 – (EP) A two-day founding Congress of Horn of Africa Confederation of Trade Unions (HACTU) conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The objective of the establishment of the Confederation of trade unions of eight East African countries, namely, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and South Sudan, is to promote free movement of people in the region, and actively engage for better life of workers and the people, report indicates.
In an election conducted at the founding Congress, Mr. Tekeste Baire, Secretary-General of the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers (pictured) was elected as President of Horn of Africa Confederation of Trade Unions (HACTU) and Mr. Kassahun Follo, President of Ethiopia’s Trade Unions Confederation, as Secretary-General.
After his election as president, Mr. Tekeste Baire said the confederation will play a significant role in defending the rights of workers and also in promoting peace and stability in the region.
The structure of the HACTU comprises president, two deputy presidents, and secretary-general. The headquarters of the Confederation is decided to be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
It is to be noted that a delegation of the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions conducted a working visit in Eritrea from 1 to 4 September of this year.
The 44-member Ethiopian delegation led by Mr. Kasahun Filo met and held talks with Mr. Tekeste Baire and other Eritrean officials of the confederation on the development of bilateral relations.