In collaboration with the Moroccan Workers’ Union (UMT), the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is holding its 46th Congress in Marrakech from October 13 to 19, MAP reported. More than 2,000 participants representing 754 unions from 154 countries are expected to attend.
The meeting will set the ITF’s global vision for the next five years, with a focus on advancing workers’ rights, promoting equality, enhancing safety, and ensuring the sustainability of the global transportation sector.
In his opening speech, UMT Secretary General Miloudi Moukharik said it was a significant move to hold the ITF Congress in Morocco, the first time ever in any African or Arab country. He said the ITF is a powerful force in preserving the rights and accomplishments of transport workers globally.
Moukharik congratulated Morocco on its selection as host and highlighted the country’s continuing socio-economic dynamism, investment in renewable energy, and major infrastructure projects that are reshaping its diverse industries.
The congress is taking place against the backdrop of global geopolitical, environmental, and technological crises that pose major risks to working-class rights, especially those of transport workers, he said. He asserted that collective action is essential to protecting worker gains in the face of mounting difficulties.
The ITF’s President, Paddy Crumlin, agreed with Mokharik saying that the congress is an important opportunity for the federation to focus on topics such as labor rights, health and safety, gender equality, and youth participation in union activities.
He reiterated the ITF’s core values of combating racism, discrimination, and inequality, and said that the global transportation workforce must benefit from the world’s development and prosperity. Crumlin also said it is important to understand Morocco’s transportation and infrastructure development, as well as its rich cultural legacy, as a setting for international cooperation.
Stephen Cotton, Secretary-General of the ITF, took the opportunity to highlight the critical role that transportation workers play in the development and well-being of nations around the world.
The difficulties confronting the ITF today, especially those posed by climate change and rapid technological breakthroughs, he said “necessitate a concerted effort from all union members to ensure a better future for transportation workers.”
Cotton hailed the congress as a place for free and candid debate, allowing participants to create the ITF’s five-year roadmap.
During the congress, delegates will discuss a wide range of issues affecting the global transport industry, including the improvement of working conditions, the fundamental right to strike, combating workplace discrimination, ensuring gender equality, and addressing the new technologies challenges. Topics such as health and safety, worker welfare, and sustainability in transport are also high on the agenda.
Participants in the congress will work on strategies to address challenges and ensure that labor rights are upheld in the years to come. The discussions are expected to shape ITF’s future policies and actions, setting the stage for a safer, fairer, and more sustainable transport industry.