In this episode, we discuss the pressing topic of Just Transition with sustainable development and economics expert Dr. Martin Kaggwa, and reflect on how to align the goals of environmentalists and the responsibilities of labor rights organizations towards the challenge of ensuring the transition to renewable energy is just and equitable.

Dr. Kaggwa is an academic, researcher, consultant, and currently the Executive Director at the Sam Tambani Research Institute, an organization that conducts research that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for workers, specifically within the industries of energy and mining in South Africa. SATRI was founded in collaboration with the National Union of Mine Workers and the Mineworkers Investment Trust.

In this episode, we spoke with Kevin Willcutts from the United States Department of Labor about the importance of building solidarity between governmental organizations and Labor Unions in the fight to eradicate child labor from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Kevin is the Deputy Director of Technical Assistance and Cooperation with The Office of child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking at the US Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs. He engages with government officials around the world to build an international network that is united against the exploitation of children.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we spoke with Mavis A. Koogotsitse from the Southern Africa Trade Union Co-ordinating Council (SATUCC) about how to uplift the voices of women and shift gender dynamics within trade unions in Southern Africa.

Mavis is the executive secretary of the Southern Africa Trade Union Co-ordinating Council. SATUCC represents “all major trade union federations in the Southern African Development Community.” (SATUCC) The council encompasses 16 countries with a membership of over 5 million people across the region.

In this episode, we speak with Matthew Parks from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) to discuss the Southern African Labor perspective regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the digressing stances that Southern African Countries have taken at the United Nations.

GUEST: Matthew Parks is the Deputy Parliamentary Coordinator at COSATU, a congress of over 20 unions across South Africa, representing more than 2 Million workers across the nation. COSATU is dedicated towards a “unified democratic South Africa, free of oppression and economic exploitation.” (COSATU)

The COVID-19 Pandemic has truly been a perfect storm of inequality across Africa, where existing systemic labor issues involving race and gender have been exacerbated by the health crisis sweeping the world. 

In this episode, we continue our conversation with an ILO expert, discussing how the pandemic has affected the female and youth work force in Southern Africa, detailing the fight against labor inequity in the region.

Guests: Bernd Mueller is an Employment Specialist with the ILO Decent Work Team for Eastern and Southern Africa. He provides technical guidance and support to the Organization’s members and constituents on designing and implementing employment creation policies and initiatives. He also is the ILO Regional Coordinating Specialist on employment matters in Africa."

The COVID-19 impact on Africa has led to widespread economic security with varying impacts across the regions of Africa. Much recent research indicates that Southern Africa has been uniquely impacted compared to other regions, pushing millions of workers into extreme poverty.

We explore what are the broader regional implications of COVID-19 on Southern African countries and hear from an ILO expert on why it is so important to understand this crisis from a labor perspective.

Guests: Bernd Mueller is an Employment Specialist with the ILO Decent Work Team for Eastern and Southern Africa. He provides technical guidance and support to the Organization’s members and constituents on designing and implementing employment creation policies and initiatives. He also is the ILO Regional Coordinating Specialist on employment matters in Africa.