Trade union body claims repression worse

THE International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) says the number of countries experiencing physical violence and threats against workers has risen alarmingly.

The annual ITUC Global Rights Index said the number of countries had risen 10% in just one year, as attacks on union members had been documented in 59 countries, fuelling growing anxiety about jobs and wages.

ITUC said the report showed corporate interests were being put ahead of those workers in the global economy, with 60% of countries excluding whole categories of workers from labour law.

“Denying workers protection under labour laws creates a hidden workforce, where governments and companies refuse to take responsibility, especially for migrant workers, domestic workers and those on short-term contracts,” said Sharan Burrow, ITUC general secretary.

“In too many countries, fundamental democratic rights are being undermined by corporate interests.”

The ITUC Global Rights Index 2017 ranks 139 countries against 97 internationally recognised indicators to assess workers’ rights. It found that the Middle East and North Africa was the worst region for treatment of workers, with the Kafala system in the Gulf still enslaving millions of people.

“The absolute denial of basic workers’ rights remained in place in Saudi Arabia. In Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen, conflict and breakdown of the rule of law means workers have no labour rights guarantees.

Not paid

“In conflict-torn Yemen, 650 000 public sector workers have not been paid for more than eight months, while some 4 million private sector jobs have been destroyed. The occupation of Palestine means workers are denied their rights and the chance to find jobs.”

The 10 worst countries for workers’ rights in 2017 are Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

The report’s key findings included:

84 countries exclude worker groups from labour law.

Over three-quarters of countries deny some or all workers their right to strike and collective bargaining.

Out of 139 countries surveyed, 50 deny or constrain free speech and freedom of assembly.

The number of countries in which workers are exposed to physical violence and threats increased by 10% (from 52 to 59).

Unionists were murdered in 11 countries, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Mauritania, Mexico, Peru, The Philippines and Venezuela.

Conditions in Africa also deteriorated, with Benin, Nigeria and Zimbabwe the worst performing countries with many workers suspended or dismissed over legitimate strike action. – ANA