(10-06-23) MOGADISHU — The Somali Congress of Trade Unions (SOCOTU) has levied accusations of corruption against the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Bihi Iman Cige in a press conference on Saturday. These charges particularly revolve around the Somali Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), a project designed to foster fair work conditions throughout the country.
“The Somali Congress of Trade Unions (SOCOTU) has concerns about the implementation and execution of the DWCP, as supervised by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Federal Republic of Somalia (MOLSA)”, a statement from SOCOTU elucidated.
SOCOTU further disclosed a clandestine conversation held between Minister Bihi and representatives of the International Labor Organisation (ILO), the signing party of the DWCP in Geneva on Friday, outside of Somalia. The allegations highlight the suspicious absence of a third party who was expected to be present at the signing of the program.
“Discussions about the project were conducted covertly, beyond Somali borders, primarily between Minister Bihi and ILO leaders. Ideally, these negotiations should have been three-dimensional, legal, and held within the country’s legal institutions”, the SOCOTU statement revealed.
In addition, the union has urged an investigation into the delegation selected by Minister Bihi for the International Labor Conference (ILC), casting doubt on the credibility of the team selected to represent Somalia’s labour interests.
According to the General Federation, “Minister Bihi appears to have unilaterally chosen the ILC delegation to conceal corrupt practices within the DWCP in Somalia. We therefore strongly urge a comprehensive investigation into the legitimacy of the delegate members”.
Finally, the General Federation of Somali Labor Unions implored Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Bare to thoroughly examine the methodology employed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in administering the efficient work project in Somalia.
