The Concept Note

1. Background
The nature of work has undergone and continues to endure pervasive and fundamental changes. This has largely been occasioned and exacerbated by humankinds’ exploits in technology, the demographic explosion, environmental challenges, and the fragmented globalization of production and employment. These consequential changes are reflected in profit-driven business models anchored in prop-capitalistic economic doctrines, among others. Thus around the world, in economies at all stages of development, profound changes in the nature of work are underway (ILO, 2017).
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2. Purpose
The 2018 New Year School shall:

• Discuss the changing nature of work and its implications for African workers
• Dissect the link between the changing nature of work and growing inequalities
• Agree on trade union strategies to aptly respond to the changing nature of work
• Formulate a strategic continental trade union response to support efforts geared towards narrowing income inequalities.

3. Participation and format
The school shall bring together about one hundred participants drawn primarily from the ITUC-Africa affiliates, comprising General Council members, ITUC-Africa Women Committee and Youth Committees; the sub-regional trade unions organizations, labour researchers and educators, Global union federations (GUFs); continental and international CSOs, academia and media amongst others as well as ILO representatives.

The sessions will be conducted over a four-day period. The methodology shall consist of a mixture of plenaries; seminar- style presentations, panel discussions and thematic working groups.

8th Edition of ITUC-Africa New Year School
Theme: “ The changing nature of work and growing income inequalities: African trade union responses ”

13-16 February 2018, Lome, Togo (FOPADESC conference centre, ITUC-Africa)
— - AGENDA ---