FESOJ Concluded Trade Union Rights Training for Trusted Persons from Local Media Outlets in Mogadishu

Mogadishu, Thursday, July 28, 2022: With support of the Finnish Foundation for Media and Development (VIKES), the Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) has concluded one-day training workshop on trade union rights with trusted persons from ten media houses operational in Mogadishu held on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at Sahafi Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia.

The main purpose of the training program was to strengthen the awareness of the trusted persons on the importance of joining with a trade union to defend the labour rights of the media workers, and to train the newly elected trusted person in their tasks to address the labour rights issues as well.

Twenty-four trusted persons in attendance were selected from twelve media stations in Mogadishu including Radio Risaala, Radio Dalsan/TV, Radio Goobjoog/TV, Radio Himilo, Radio Wadaag, Radio Star FM, Radio Kulmiye, Radio Kaah, Radio Qaran and Radio Mustaqbal.

“The significance of the training is to strengthen the advocacy campaign for improving the working and wellbeing situations of journalists working both in the private and public media sector, and cooperate in the starting collective negotiations.” Farah Omar Nur, Secretary General of the Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) said in his opening remarks.

The importance of joining with trade union, collective bargaining agreement, increasing the education of the journalist, negotiation skills, equal payment, the ethics of the employment, and conflict resolution at the media center conducted by the trusted person were among the main topics discussed during the one-day training program.

Furthermore, the key themes presented for discussions during the training sessions were focusing on the difficult conditions in which journalists work currently, the challenges for fair salaries and how journalists among themselves can organize and promote positive changes.

During the training sessions, details was given on the fact that united workers are never defeated as they have the power to influence bargaining at the workplaces.

The key roles of the trusted persons in engaging negotiation with the employer and addressing disagreements between the employees and the employer was also well explained and presented.

The one -day training workshop was significant for improving the capacity building for the trusted persons from the media houses in Mogadishu on labour rights. The training was also needed for promoting the awareness of the journalists to understand their employment rights and the value of trade union membership to protect their work rights.

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