The International Trade Union Confederation Africa (ITUC-Africa) has blamed worsening inequality, austerity measures, insecurity, and governance failure for the growing wave of desperate migration from the continent.
Presentation at UN Migration Review Forum
In a presentation at the Second 2026 International Migration Review Forum organized by the United Nations in New York City, the labour body said migration across Africa was increasingly driven by crisis rather than choice. ITUC-Africa argued that the continent's migration challenge reflects deeper fractures within the global economic system, characterized by injustice, economic imbalance, and the failure to guarantee dignity and decent work.
While warning that Africa is losing not only wealth but also its future workforce, ITUC-Africa stated: "Migration today reflects the fractures of our global system, which is defined by injustice, economic imbalance, and a failure to deliver dignity and decent work for all."
Conflicts and Economic Exclusion
The continental labour body warned that conflicts in regions such as Sudan and the Sahel continue to displace millions of people, forcing workers and their families into dangerous migration routes. However, it stressed that insecurity was only one dimension of the crisis, noting that economic exclusion, weak labour markets, and failing public institutions were equally responsible for pushing Africans out of their home countries.
The General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, Joel Odigie, who signed the statement, aimed at rising inequality and what the body described as kleptocratic practices that divert public resources away from social investments. Citing the 2026 inequality report by Oxfam, the organization said wealth concentration among a few elites continues to widen while workers face stagnant wages and declining social protection.
Austerity Measures Worsen Unemployment
According to the labour group, austerity measures adopted by many African governments are worsening unemployment and poverty, especially among young people. "Our African governments are implementing austerity measures that continue to place the burden of adjustment on workers. Cuts to public services, wage suppression, and reduced social spending are pushing young people into precarity," ITUC-Africa noted.
The organization further lamented that billions of dollars are lost annually through illicit financial flows, depriving African economies of resources needed for development, job creation, and resilience-building.
Labour Migration Agreements Under Scrutiny
On labour migration agreements, ITUC-Africa warned that many bilateral arrangements increasingly prioritize labour export over workers' rights, with trade unions often excluded from negotiations. It also argued that migration should not be treated merely as an 'economic escape valve,' insisting that labour mobility frameworks must be grounded in rights, standards, and social dialogue.
The organization, however, pointed to positive examples such as Spain's regularisation efforts, which it described as evidence that humane migration policies can both protect workers and support economic growth.
Support for Migrant Workers
ITUC-Africa said it was working through the Africa Trade Union Migration Network (ATUMNET) to support migrant workers across borders by providing legal, organizational, and practical assistance. In collaboration with the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration, the organization said it is also advancing migrant resource centres and skills development initiatives across the continent.
The group stressed that Africa's youthful population could become a major economic advantage if supported through investment in skills development and fair mobility frameworks. It also called for migration governance systems that are gender-responsive, noting that women migrant workers remain vulnerable to exploitation and violence despite their contributions to economies and communities.
Xenophobia and Afrophobia
Raising concerns over growing xenophobia and 'Afrophobia', ITUC-Africa accused political actors of weaponizing migration to distract from governance failures and inequality. It said: "Migration is increasingly used to fuel hate, Afrophobia, xenophobia, and extremism. This is a deliberate political strategy that diverts attention from inequality and governance failures."
