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15 June, 2011
The ICEM, as the global trade union federation representing 20 million workers in the mining, energy, chemicals, and materials industries, together with EMCEF, the European Mine, Chemical, Energy Workers’ Federation, are following with concern present discussions towards establishing a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Colombia.
Free Trade Agreements represent opportunities to improve labour and human rights in more countries around the world, and can increase access to international markets for developing countries. An FTA between the European Union (EU) and Colombia would, however, symbolically endorse the appalling labour rights violations in the most dangerous country in the world for a trade unionist, and also significantly weaken the pressure on the Colombian government to fulfill its human rights obligations.
The EU signing one of its very first FTAs with a government that has been so clearly complicit in the abuse of labour and human rights is an insult to workers everywhere, and to the core principles of freedom and justice. The effect of this FTA on Europe would be political, not economic, as only 0.3% of EU trade is with Colombia.
Norway, and initially the US, blocked their own FTAs with Colombia, citing human and labour rights concerns. The EU must follow this example.
It is important to note that Colombia is already bound by strong language requiring adherence to key UN and ILO human and trade union rights conventions, under the EU Generalised System of Preferences (GSP+). This agreement instructs the European Commission to mount an investigation and ultimately suspend GSP+ status where key UN and ILO rights conventions are breached. Disregarding repeated UN and ILO recommendations, the European Commission renews Colombia’s GSP+ status without investigation.
So replacing current “binding” labour standard provisions with weaker, “non-binding” provisions in an FTA is not reasonable. Labour rights in the FTA’s Sustainable Development chapter are not subject to the FTA’s dispute settlement mechanism. If Colombia were to breach a central clause on human rights, there would be no mechanism available to suspend the agreement.
There have been 200 trade unionists killed in Colombia in the past three years, simply for exercising their basic rights. The murders are carried out by the army, police, and paramilitaries. Perpetrators are not being brought to justice, and are free continue to act
with impunity. The death tally this year is already over 30. Activists are also silenced by imprisonment on false charges.
The ICEM and EMCEF are absolutely opposed to the EU-Colombia FTA while our sisters and brothers in Colombia continue to be brutally murdered and violently intimidated.
We support and will work closely together with all trade union initiatives of our affiliates all over the world.
One source to take action against the EU-Colombia FTA, or to learn more about the situation facing workers in Colombia is Justice for Colombia.