Ambassador Kjemprud, CETU President Kassahun Follo greets trade union meeting
On Monday, 25 February, the Norwegian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Jens-Petter Kjemprud, and the President of the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU), Kassahun Follo, greeted participants at the CETU-LO/Norway Education and Training Programme in Addis Abeba.
A delegation from the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO/Norway), visiting Addis Abeba for the event, and a number of members from CETU, will discuss trade union issues and work together to enhance international trade union cooperation during the five-day event. Specifically, the meeting will seek to strengthen the direct cooperation between the unions of construction workers both in Norway and Ethiopia.
The Ambassador, greeting the delegates at the opening of the meeting, emphasized the important role trade unions historically have had in building the Norwegian welfare state, and encouraged participants to consider the positive effect strong trade unions can have in a nation's development strategy and the overall combat against poverty. "Trade Unions around the world are not only crucial for improving the working environment, but more and more it is documented a strong correlation between securing a good working environment and achieving improvement in productivity" the Ambassador commented, adding that strong unions can also be a powerful force for social justice: "In a number of countries, no social reform can be implemented without the support from the unions." Drawing attention to the strong economic growth in Ethiopia the last few years, the Ambassador said the challenges in the labour market will increase as investments grow and new technology is being introduced, something the trade unions should be prepared for.
The Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU) was founded in 1977 as the All-Ethiopian Trade Union (AETU). Today, CETU has nine National Trade Union Federations with a membership of apx 350,000 members. More information is available by writing CETU at cetu@ethionet.et.
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO-Norway) is Norway’s largest and most influential workers’ organisation. About 835 000 workers are affiliated to the 23 national unions which in turn are affiliated to LO. About 50 per cent of LO’s members are women. More information can be found on http://www.lo.no/portal/page/portal/LONO/PAG_LO_ENG .