The Ambassador of Italy in Mogadishu Pier Mario Daccò Coppi met today with the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Yusuf Mohamed Adan to discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation. Accompanied by the Secretary General of the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (Festu), Minister Adan - reports a note - expressed his government's gratitude for Italy's historic support to Somalia in the area of social issues and in strengthening the trade union movement.
The Secretary General of Festu emphasised the ties consolidated over decades of bilateral exchanges, particularly between Festu and CGIL, up to the most recent projects, implemented together with Nexus Emilia Romagna and financed by AICS, aimed at promoting, in the difficult Somali context, the transition from informal to formal work and with it decent and inclusive working conditions. The Somali minister then recalled Italy's decisive role in fostering important progress not only in the national sphere - such as the recent approval of new legislation in line with the principles of the International Labour Organisation to replace the Somali Labour Code dating back to 1972 - but also in enabling Somalia to participate and make a constructive contribution within the International Trade Union Confederation and the Horn of Africa. Thanks to Italy's support,' the minister concluded, 'today Festu is a strong, autonomous, representative and democratic trade union, the bearer of those values that are proper to the Italian trade union movement, of promoting workers' rights and peace.
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