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15 October, 2000Yearly report by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions documents trade union rights violations and repression in 113 countries.
GLOBAL: Because they stood up for workers' rights against the state or unscrupulous employers, at least 140 trade unionists last year were assassinated, disappeared, or committed suicide after threats were made against them. These and other facts can be found in the ICFTU's Survey 2000, which details violations of trade union rights in 113 countries during the period from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 1999.
Nearly 3,000 people were arrested, more than 1,500 were injured, beaten or tortured and at least 5,800 were harassed because of their legitimate trade union activities, says the report. Another 700 trade unionists received death threats.
Approximately 12,000 workers were unfairly dismissed or refused reinstatement, sometimes with government complicity, because they were active members in a trade union. At least 140 strikes or demonstrations were repressed by governments, sometimes with the support of employers using strikebreakers, while 80 of the 113 countries mentioned in the survey restrict the right to strike altogether.
In Latin America the survey documents ruthless repression, in Asia attacks and interference, in Africa arrests and imprisonment, in Eastern Europe severe restrictions and non-payment of wages, and in industrialised countries a growing trend to union-busting activities.
To read the complete report or to search for information concerning a particular country, download Survey 2000 or contact the ICFTU by e-mail on [email protected] or by fax on: +32-2-201-5815.
The report exists in English, German, French and Spanish.
Source: ICFTU
Nearly 3,000 people were arrested, more than 1,500 were injured, beaten or tortured and at least 5,800 were harassed because of their legitimate trade union activities, says the report. Another 700 trade unionists received death threats.
Approximately 12,000 workers were unfairly dismissed or refused reinstatement, sometimes with government complicity, because they were active members in a trade union. At least 140 strikes or demonstrations were repressed by governments, sometimes with the support of employers using strikebreakers, while 80 of the 113 countries mentioned in the survey restrict the right to strike altogether.
In Latin America the survey documents ruthless repression, in Asia attacks and interference, in Africa arrests and imprisonment, in Eastern Europe severe restrictions and non-payment of wages, and in industrialised countries a growing trend to union-busting activities.
To read the complete report or to search for information concerning a particular country, download Survey 2000 or contact the ICFTU by e-mail on [email protected] or by fax on: +32-2-201-5815.
The report exists in English, German, French and Spanish.
Source: ICFTU