Asia/Global

 

According to a report by the International Trade Union Confederation, the number of workers killed worldwide because of their involvement in trade union activities has increased by from 115 in 2005 to 144 in 2006.

The report, entitled ‘2007 Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights’, shows Colombia as the world’s deadliest country for workers but egregious trade union rights violations are seen not only in developing countries but in developed countries such as Australia and the US as well.

In the Philippines in 2006 33 labour activists were murdered. In Nepal trade unionists also faced heavy-handed repression; three were shot dead during mass demonstrations that eventually brought the king’s absolute rule to an end. More dismissals and arrests took place in response to collective action in Asian than in any other region in the world; at least 4,800 workers were dismissed , and 2,800 arrested, for their trade union activities during the year.

Other forms of violations include torture, enforced disappearance, harassment and intimidation, dispersal of trade union strikes, denial of workers’ trade union rights (i.e., right to join or form unions, be involved in collective bargaining agreements, etc.) as well as – more in industrialised countries – through changing labor-related legislation at the expense of workers.

Just to show the facts, the report presented around 5,000 cases of arrests and 8,000 dismissals of workers. The workers’ sin: involvement in trade union activities and the practice of their rights as workers.

The report comes in English, Spanish, French and German. See: http://survey07.ituc-csi.org/getcontinent.php?IDContinent=0&IDLang=EN