NCSC, FESTU Launch National Initiative to Promote Safe and Respectful Public Workplaces

Mogadishu (SONNA) – The National Civil Service Commission (NCSC), in partnership with the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU), has concluded a three-day national training programme, launching a nationwide initiative to strengthen respectful, safe and professional workplaces across Somalia's public service.

The training, supported by the Ministry of Finance through the World Bank-funded Recurrent Cost and Reform Financing (RCRF) programme, brought together more than 50 participants from federal government institutions to enhance workplace ethics, professional conduct, gender equality, occupational safety, and measures to prevent violence and harassment.

Opening the programme, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Amina Hussein Ali reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to ensuring safe and respectful working environments across the public sector.

"Eliminating violence and harassment in the workplace is essential to building an effective public administration and delivering quality services to the Somali people," she said.

Chairman of the National Civil Service Commission Hassan Abshirow Mohamed said the initiative supports efforts to build a modern civil service founded on professionalism, integrity and accountability.

"A modern Civil Service depends not only on technical competence but also on a workplace culture built on dignity, mutual respect and accountability," he said.

FESTU General Secretary Omar Faruk Osman described the programme as a significant step toward promoting decent work and strengthening workers' rights in Somalia.

"Every worker is entitled to dignity, equality and a workplace free from violence and harassment. This initiative marks the beginning of a sustained partnership to make respectful and violence-free workplaces the norm throughout Somalia's public sector," he said.

The training was developed in response to recommendations from a recent workplace assessment across federal institutions, which highlighted the need to strengthen workplace ethics, grievance mechanisms and institutional capacity to prevent misconduct.

NCSC and FESTU said the initiative will continue through nationwide training, awareness campaigns, institutional capacity-building and policy support to foster a culture of dignity, equality, safety and professionalism across Somalia's public service.