Labour Movement Programme

FES Kenya, with its roots and history in the German and international labour movement, works with its Kenyan partners to support an independent and democratic labour movement both at national and at the international levels for the promotion of workers’ rights. FES Kenya cooperates with the Central Organisation of Trade unions-Kenya (COTU-K) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC-Ke) and their affiliates to promote decent working conditions and labour standards. FES Kenya sees trade unions as crucial actors with a democratic mandate to represent working people across Kenya, which gives trade unions the ability to effectively shape a broader agenda of social justice for its members and non-members in Kenya.

FES Kenya supports trade unions to serve formal and informal workers by becoming more influential, representative, and independent. This is the prerequisite for a successful mobilization of their power resources, both locally and across state borders and working together with others. Through trade unions, employees can shape Kenya’s ongoing transformation processes economically, socially and politically – ultimately aiming for decent work and social justice.