The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has called for equal pay for women workers and greater representation of women in leadership and decision-making positions across the continent.
The demand was made in a statement to mark International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, themed “For All Women and Girls: Rights. Justice. Action.”
In the statement signed by its General Secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie, ITUC-Africa joined the global community in celebrating African women, acknowledging their immense contributions to social and economic transformation. Odigie noted that despite their resilience and leadership, deep structural inequalities persist, limiting women’s full participation in economic and political life.
“While some progress has been made, deep structural inequalities remain. African women continue to face the combined impact of the climate crisis, violent conflicts, rising inflation, illicit financial flows, and shrinking civic space,” Odigie said.
He added that although women often bear the heaviest social and economic burdens, they remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces.
The labour body stressed that achieving justice for African women requires ensuring they are free from violence, exploitation, and economic insecurity. It warned that conflicts and political instability across parts of the continent continue to expose women and girls to gender-based violence, displacement, and loss of livelihoods.
Highlighting economic challenges, ITUC-Africa noted that women workers, particularly those in informal and precarious employment, are disproportionately affected by rising food prices, inflation, and cuts to public services.
The organisation urged African governments to enact and enforce equal pay legislation to close the gender wage gap and expand opportunities for women in the formal labour market. It also called for the expansion of universal social protection systems, including maternity protection, childcare services, healthcare, and income security in old age.
ITUC-Africa further urged governments to ratify and implement key international and regional instruments aimed at protecting women, including the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the workplace and the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.
By Michael Oche, Abuja
