FESOJ and VIKES conclude labour rights training in Garowe for 25 journalists
Garowe, 29 July 2018 – The National Union of Somalia Journalists (NUSOJ) and the Finnish Foundation for Media and Development (VIKES) today concluded a two days labour rights training for 25 journalists in Garowe, Puntland State of Somalia which is part of an ongoing NUSOJ and VIKES led trainings funded by the European Union to capacitate 150 Somali journalists on their labour rights and how to organize.
The training benefited local reporters from private and public media operating in Garowe to enlighten them about their labour rights of the journalists including the need to have written contracts among other labour rights issues unknown in Somalia and how the journalists can better organize themselves at their respective company level to defend their rights and improve their working conditions.
The training commenced on 28 July and was officially closed today by the Director of Media, Puntland Ministry of Information,
Telecommunication and Culture Mr. Saleeban Siciid Nur who welcomed NUSOJ and VIKES training on labour rights and how to organize insisting the training will help Puntland media to know their labour rights and as well as highlight their plights.
Chairman of Puntland Media Association (MAP) Mohamed Dahir Ceynsane also attended the opening ceremony and praised the NUSOJ and VIKES for extending the labour rights training to Puntland and also for highlighting the benefits of trade union membership.
Topics covered during the training included labour rights as a press freedom, trade union membership and its benefits, how to organize at the company lever and as a trade union, problem solving at the workplace and collective bargaining agreement benefits. The training culminated with a panel discussion between the journalists and media directors or employers who brainstormed about Garowe journalists labour rights.
“We are extremely happy to see our journalists get this rare opportunity to take part in such an important training about their labour rights. The media in Puntland is growing rapidly and I believe this special training has come at the most opportune time. We urge the journalists to maintain high standards of ethics and also hope they will get their fair dues,” Director Siciid added.
NUSOJ Chairman Mahir Jama Aden said the training is part of a nationwide labour rights training funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by NUSOJ and VIKES. He stressed that journalists labour rights is of good value to their employers because if journalists sign a contract and their working condition improve then they are likely to be motivated to work even harder for their employers.
“NUSOJ and VIKES is happy to roll out the labour rights and how to organize training for Somalia journalists. Today Garowe journalists are part of 50 journalists trained so far and we plan to also conduct similar trainings in 4 other Federal States. We hope to reach 150 journalists who will in turn train their peers. Our objective is to ultimately see each journalist in Somalia working under a contract in order to safeguard their individual rights and benefits,” Mahir added.
NUSOJ Secretray General Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu thanked Media Association of Puntland (MAP) and their Chairman Mohamed Dahir Ceynsane for welcoming & hosting NUSOJ team in Garowe “This is not the first time we receive such a warm welcome from our affiliate MAP and our collaboration has been going on since past several years so, I do hope it shall strengthen” Moalimuu said.
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