TUC condemns constant interferences in the affairs of the Federation of Somali Trade Unions by the Minister of Labour in Somalia.

HE Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmaarke
Prime Minister
Federal Republic of Somalia
Mogadishu
Somalia
22.04.2015

Dear Prime Minister

Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU)

On behalf of the TUC General Council, I should like to express our growing concern over the recurrent problem of constant interferences by the Minister of Labour in the affairs of the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU).

As we pointed out in our earlier letter, it is claimed that Labour Minister Abdiweli Ibrahim Sheikh Mudey intervened in the selection of trade union delegates to the 42nd session of Arab Labour Conference (ALO), to be held this month in Kuwait City. We also understand that the Minister concerned is involved in a campaign to remove FESTU representatives from the ILO Decent Work country programme in your country, thereby preventing them from making a valuable contribution to the protection and promotion of workers’ rights. Moreover, it is alleged that the Minister has given instructions to his officials to prevent FESTU from organising events to mark the Labour Day -1st May. Finally, in an apparent attempt at disinformation, the Minister, in his letter dated 14 April 2015, has informed affiliates of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), of which FESTU is a member, that Omar Farouk Osman is no longer the general secretary of his organisation.

I should like to emphasize that your country, as a signatory to ILO Conventions 89 and 98, is obliged to uphold the rights and entitlements of workers and their representatives enshrined in them. I urge you to ensure that FESTU is allowed to functions as the legitimate national trade union centre in line with its mandate and that Mr Omar Faruk Osman, in his capacity as its general secretary, represents his organisation without any interference from the Ministry of Labour. We shall have no choice, but to raise the issue at the ILO if the delegates elected by workers are denied the opportunity to represent them at international fora.  

Yours sincerely

Frances O’Grady

General Secretary