Eritrean Ensuring Workers Interests NCEW’s Central Goal

Eritrean news: NCEW has been striving to realize these sound goals the past 19 years, provided the organization of workers’ capacity is voluntary for their own good sake. There are five different branch workers’ confederations embraced under this parent Confederation that operate underpinning more or less equal human capital. Likewise, each branch confederation has its own associations at the regional or national levels. The organization of workers per se is in an industrial manner. There are yet many industrial workers that have to be organized under the umbrella of the NCEW. The principal initiative for such organization is the Labor Proclamation of Eritrea that guarantees an optimal working environment between employees and employers, says Mr. Tekeste Baire, the Secretary General of NCEW.

Many potential workers have left their respective jobs so as to safeguard national sovereignty since 1998. Eritrean workers have proven readiness in the impressive achievements accomplished thus far owing to the multifaceted national development venture. Hence, wide-ranging development programs are being carried out through the Warsay-Yikalo Campaign with active youth participation, including workforce. This experience would help them to upgrade their skills in their respective fields they have been performing thus far. Accordingly, the NCEW will definitely have a plan to organize those participants of the campaign in due course, the Secretary General added.

The Eritrean government is working vigorously for the success of the nation-building process, especially in human resource development through creating conducive atmosphere for upgrading the competence of nationals. To this end, a number of schools, colleges and other training institutions have been opened in different parts of the country in the post-independence period. As such, almost every citizen has already become beneficiary of this opportunity which is provided by the Government. Besides, various activities have been undertaken in the infrastructure development focusing on the construction of micro-dams and water reservoirs, as well as putting in place agricultural infrastructure facilities Thus, young graduates from the newly opened institutions of higher education would absolutely have a place to participate and enrich their knowledge through practical works. Apparently, those graduates already have proved their competence in different job position. The global financial crisis has resulted in numerous problems, particularly in U.S and European countries. Yet, many scholars in this area of study are trying their level best to bring about recovery to the prevailing crisis. However, still several employers are forced to close down their firms and millions of workers are being lay off due to the global economic meltdown.

The International Labor Organization emphasized the need for taking urgent and coordinated action on the part of the international community to tackle such a crisis. Despite the fact that the global economic crisis has strong impact on a number of countries in the world, it has relatively a little effect on Eritrea’s economy thanks to the Government’s well thought-out policy of self-reliance pursued since the days of the armed struggle for independence. The Eritrean people are well-known by their culture of hard work as regards improving their standard of living. Mr. Tekeste stated: “The economic meltdown may somehow has an impact on us, but undoubtedly it has no grave effect in the nation’s economy as it does in other countries.” It is undisputable fact that steadfastness and active participant of workers during the TPLF regime’s war of aggression was quite remarkable. Almost all the nation’s workforce in different work position voiced their determination to practically safeguard the nation’s sovereignty. This being the case, the few ones who stayed in the workplace were performing multiple-tasks at once. The participations are amazing even in taking care of the families of those who were in the frontier as to safe guard the sovereignty of the country and to protect the life of their people just like what it was during the thirty years struggle time, explained the Secretary General. As a member of the International Labor Organization and the Africa Workers confederation, the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers have been working diligently in opposing the unjust Resolution 1907 adopted in the name of the Security Council imposing sanctions against Eritrea which was passed on 23 of January 2009. The NCEW is taking concerted action to echo the voice of truth and annul the unjust sanctions resolution that constitutes a brazen act not only for Eritrea but also for any nation to that matter. Thus, wide-ranging activities have been carried out to this end, including creating awareness among the world public, especially in African countries like Kenya, Libya, Sudan, Ghana, South Africa, he elaborated. “We have an experience of solving our problems in a tripartite way, which has been pursued for many decades. Eritrea has been a model in this area and this modeling has been raised in different meeting in Africa. If any thing happens to the employees, it is solved between the employees and employer. And the government has a responsibility to develop the economic level, natural resources and the stability of the industry. Hence, if any thing happens, the government intervenes as third party to discuss and to solve the existing problems. Hence, the social dialogue is necessary to discuss, exchange ideas, to analyze and to evaluate the work thus far accomplished so as to upgrade the development of the country and the living standard of the workers”, Mr. Tekeste elucidated. The National Confederation of Eritrean Workers has been working tirelessly to upgrade the skill of the employees. The NCEW is offering various on the job-training courses to its members in collaboration with construction companies, private and governmental companies, as well as other institutions. Apart from this, the confederation with its own expenses is giving trainings to the employees in different firms and places. In line with this objective, it has begun providing weekly and monthly training programs to workers in Massawa and its environs. The same applies to the Gash-Barka region, as offering such training would enable the workforce there to secure job opportunities in the ongoing mining activities in the region. A building complex is also under construction in Asmara city that would serve as a platform for employees to exchange their experiences. It is crystal clear that enhancing training course has a vital role to play in upgrading the all-round competence of workers who could make significant contribution in the national development drive. Such training programs would also enable workers to get acquainted with speedy technological advancement. Close coordination on the part of confederation, government and private institutions is prerequisite for the effective outcome of the training being provided, by Mr. Tekeste emphasized. Moreover, the Secretary General outlined the programs envisaged for implementation in the next 5 years. Organizing workers and the firms as well as their administration is very essential for the strength of the companies. Giving briefings on the plans of the firm to the respective employees and accept their fee back would indeed make due contribution in ensuring the wellbeing and sustainability of the firm. Thus, organization of employees and the employers represents a cornerstone for strengthening the economy of the company and the nation at large. Giving trainings is one of the main tasks that the confederation is working within or out of the country. It is through capacity building that any firm would develop. Besides, ensuring the safety of workers is one of the main concerns of the confederation. In view of the fact that guaranteeing the health of employees is the cornerstone for the firm’s development, the confederation in collaboration with the Ministry of Health is working vigilantly to safeguard the interests of workers, Mr. Tekeste said.

Related posts: