The ALRN has embarked on a number of studies and has successfully completed the study on the hospitality sector. In 2007 May, the NPC meeting held in Johannesburg decided to accept membership of three organisation as follows: Labour Research Services (LRS), Botswana Federation of Trade Unions and Centro de Formacao e de Pesquisa Laboral (CFPLa, Angola).

Current research

The network just finalised research papers on "The role of trade unions on Rural Youth Employment in Africa. This project was done in collaboration with ILO, pretoria. The main person spearheading the project from ILO side was Dr. Mohammed Mwamadzingo (ILO specialist on workers education,Pretoria). It is evisioned that the research papers will be compiled in a book and used at the ILO general conference on decent work in 2008. Thus far, the Network members who participated in this research project will attend this meeting next. The countries that have participated in this project are: Namibia (LaRRI), South Africa (NALEDI), Botswana (BFTU), Zambia (ZCTU), Zimbabwe (LEDRIZ), Malawi (MCTU), Tanzania (TUCTA), Kenya (COTU), Uganda (NOTU), Ghana, (GTUC), Zanzibar. To date, we have had four meetings. The first meeting was held in Kenya, Kisumu, where the terms of reference were drafted in December 2006. The second meeting was held in Ghana, Accra in May 2007, where the papers were presented and commented upon. The third and the fourth meetings were regional meetings. Thus Eastern and West African countries met in Kenya, Mombasa at the beggining of July. The Southern African countries met in Botswana at the end of July (24 - 28 July). From the onset of the project, it was agreed that the participation of our labour movement was very crucial to this project. Thus trade union members representing the National centres from the respective countries were invited and present at all these meetings.

Upcoming Research

Chinse Construction study - BWI Africa contacted the secretariat in December 2006 about the possibility of the Network to conduct this study on their behalf. So far, we commented on the terms of reference and the study should commence as soon as the funds are available from SASK.  It is envisiged that this tsudy will commence in September as SASK has indicated that they are ready to fund the study. Countries participating are: South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and /or Angola, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Namibia

Chinese Investments  in Africa - This is a network study which is a direct request from the trade union leadership in Africa. This request was made in November at the APADEP political leadership meeting held in November 2006. In this regard, the Network drafted a proposal to raise funding for this study. SASK/FNV has indicated that they are willing to fund the study. Meanwhile, the network (using funds from the secretariat) has commissioned NALEDI to conduct the literature review, which will form the basis of the study. This literature review will be presented at the ALRN AGM in November 2007.The actual fieldwork will start as soon as funds have been made available. Countries participating are:      Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa , Namibia, Angola, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya and Malawi. Additional countries might be added depending on the availability of researchers in the respective countries.

2007 Annual General Meeting

The 2007 ALRN AGM will be held in Kenya, Nairobi on the 4 - 7 November. This year's AGM will be held in Collaboration with APADEP and Global Network. The main objective is to strengthen the synergies in the different networks work and cut down on travelling costs.