The Executive Director and Chief Economist of the International Trade Union Confederation–Africa (ITUC-Africa), Dr. Hod Anyigba, has cautioned that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will not achieve its transformative potential unless governments design industrial policies that prioritize workers’ welfare, fair wages, and job security.
Dr. Anyigba said while AfCFTA offers immense opportunities for economic integration and trade expansion, the benefits could remain uneven if countries fail to link trade liberalization with strong labour protection and social justice frameworks.
“Trade agreements cannot succeed in isolation from the people who drive production,” he said in an interview. “Without worker-centered industrial policies, AfCFTA risks becoming a market for goods, not a platform for inclusive growth.”
He noted that many African economies are currently pursuing industrialization strategies that prioritize capital and investment inflows over employment quality.
“We must shift from measuring success by GDP growth alone to measuring how trade improves living standards and working conditions,” he said.
According to Dr. Anyigba, the informal sector, which accounts for over 80 percent of Africa’s workforce remains largely excluded from AfCFTA discussions, even though it is central to cross-border trade and small-scale manufacturing.
“AfCFTA must not become an elite business club,” he warned. “If we fail to formalize and support informal traders and small manufacturers, we will have a continental trade area that benefits few and marginalizes many.”
He called on member states to integrate decent work principles into their national AfCFTA strategies, including policies that guarantee social protection, occupational safety, and skills upgrading for workers in industrial value chains.
“Industrialization should create stable, decent jobs not precarious employment,” he stressed. “We must ensure that the trade regime promotes fair wages, gender equality, and the right to collective bargaining.”
Dr. Anyigba emphasized the importance of strong social dialogue between governments, employers, and trade unions to ensure fair distribution of AfCFTA gains. “Social dialogue is not a luxury, it’s the foundation of inclusive trade governance,” he said.
He further warned that ignoring labour dynamics could undermine the sustainability of AfCFTA, as growing inequality and poor working conditions could fuel social unrest and erode trust in the integration process.
“The success of AfCFTA must be measured by the quality of jobs it creates, not just the volume of goods traded,” he concluded. “Trade must work for people, not just profits.”
