This workshop is in line with the “Union to Union” program 2024 on ‘Building Union Power for Democratic Rights, Media Freedom and Decent Work initiated by the International Federation of Journalists IFJ. The workshop brought together more than 25 journalists from various audio-visual, print and online media, all from the city of N'Djaména.
The workshop addressed crucial aspects of the profession, including freedom of association, employment contracts, labour disputes, journalists' collective agreements and working conditions, the physical and social safety of journalists, gender equality and equity in the media, digital technology and the employment of journalists.
The opening ceremony was presided over by the Minister of Communications, Dr Boukar Michel. In his opening remarks, the president of the UJT, Mr. Abbas Mahamoud Tahir, said that this workshop is in line with the trade union training policy that the UJT intends to implement in order to broaden the base of the union. Abbas Tahir emphasised that there is a need to recruit young journalists to defend journalists' labour rights. He called on young journalists to join the union.
IFJ representative, Mrs. Sokhna Dia, in her solidarity statement, encouraged the integration of young journalists, especially young female journalists from the UJT, in view of the multiple threats encountered in the exercise of their profession, to be able to ensure their protection and guarantee the defence of their rights. She insisted on the active participation of young female journalists in the decision-making positions of the Union and press organizations. She expressed the hope that the present workshop would serve as a catalyst for a large number of young journalists to join the union.
The objectives of the workshop were centred on the need to raise awareness among journalists and media workers on the national laws and international conventions relating to the labour rights, as well as to encourage young journalists to reflect on policies for youth in the reform of unions; and to promote a union culture among journalists through the fight for a decent wage, for effective social security and to defend their rights.
More than 25 journalists, men and women, are now involved in building a decent and remunerated working environment in the media sector in Chad, based on respect for the rights of all. These men and women are informed and trained on journalism and its employability in relation to the digital revolution.