The Somali Congress of Trade Unions (SOCOTU) today held a press conference in Mogadishu, hailing what it described as a “clear stand for justice” by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Credentials Committee regarding Somalia’s worker representation.
SOCOTU President Mohamed Haji praised the Committee’s decision, delivered on 12 June 2025 during the 113th International Labour Conference, as a landmark acknowledgment of the need for transparency, inclusivity, and fairness in selecting Somalia’s Workers’ delegate to the ILO.
“This is a victory for the principle that Somali workers are not invisible,” Haji said. “The ILO has made it clear that our government must consult all representative organizations not just one and base decisions on objective, verifiable criteria. That is justice.”
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, in its response to the Credentials Committee, admitted it had consulted only one organization it deemed most representative, but provided no documentary proof of that claim or evidence of broader consultations.
The Committee concluded it could not confirm compliance with Article 3(5) of the ILO Constitution, urging the Ministry to ensure that, where more than one representative workers’ organization exists, future nominations be made in agreement with all and based on documented, objective criteria.
At the press conference, SOCOTU announced plans to expand its “Visibility and Justice” campaign, aimed at securing inclusive consultations, strengthening labor rights, and building alliances with unions across Africa.
“The Committee’s decision is a reminder that representation is a right, not a privilege,” Haji declared. “We will continue to demand it in Geneva, in Mogadishu, and everywhere Somali workers’ voices must be heard.
