International records / OpenAlex research

Freedom of Association and the Protection of Trade Union Rights in Africa

From the time that trade unions first emerged in Africa, they have suffered crude treatment and abuse from their governments. The picture is very grim as there is endemic violence against trade unionists including harassment, intimidation, torture, disappearances, arrests; murder, dismissals, threats, and attacks. In the case of Nigeria, the abuses were particularly severe during several years of military rule from 1984 to 1999. Although Nigeria has returned to democratic governance since 1999, the attack on trade union rights continues. This article argues that through such behaviour, the gov…