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11 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 20/2002
A pledge by the Venezuelan government that it will respect trade union rights has been welcomed by the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
Last Friday, Venezuelan labour minister María Cristina Iglesias said she accepted that the country's labour law should be changed so as to lift some current restrictions on trade union freedom. This is in line with recommendations made by a mission from the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO), which visited Venezuela last week. Iglesias also said she would be taking steps to boost employment.
"The Venezuelan government's assurances are to be welcomed," said ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs today. "However, it must take full and urgent steps to guarantee trade union rights in practice, including full recognition of the country's trade union movement at all levels. Labour rights are essential to democracy in Venezuela - a fact that the ICEM and others emphasised during last month's coup."
The military putsch on 12 April against the constitutional government of Venezuela was reversed within two days, but it profoundly shocked the nation.
On 12 April, ICEM Regional President Luiz Gonzaga Ulhoa Tenório issued a statement condemning the coup and calling on ICEM-affiliated unions in the region to do likewise, in order to defend the rule of law and human and trade union rights. Gonzaga also urged the UN and the Organisation of American States (OAU) to investigate human rights violations by the putschists, and he insisted that OAU member governments should not recognise the "provisional government" set up by the coup leaders.
Trade unions and other democratic organisations within Venezuela mounted big demonstrations against the coup. By the evening of 14 April, the "provisional government" had been ousted and constitutional rule was restored.