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7 November, 2000Trade unions stage protests as the Chávez government prepares for changes in the labour law.
VENEZUELA: Tension is mounting in Venezuela as the government of Hugo Chávez persists in its attempts to consolidate the president's power and dismantle the independent trade union movement. Since his election in December 1998, Chávez has managed to crush much of his opposition. He has launched a National Constituent Assembly which approved a series of decrees allowing government authorities to obstruct the normal functioning and independence of trade union organisations and pushed through a constitution giving added power to the presidency.
Now the threats against the Venezuelan trade union movement are increasing, with a national referendum planned on December 3 which calls for changes in the labour law and would give "legitimacy" to government intervention in the internal affairs of trade unions.
National and international trade unions say the referendum is illegal and the International Labour Organisation warned it will bring the case before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The Venezuelan government measures would constitute a breach of the country's international obligations as a member state of the ILO. ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association, ratified by Venezuela in September 1982, prohibits any government interference in trade unions and recognises workers' fundamental rights to form and join unions of their own choosing. Freedom of association is also enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
Although Chávez promised to improve the situation for the country's impoverished masses, the reality shows that poverty has increased to include over 80 per cent of the population.
Now the threats against the Venezuelan trade union movement are increasing, with a national referendum planned on December 3 which calls for changes in the labour law and would give "legitimacy" to government intervention in the internal affairs of trade unions.
National and international trade unions say the referendum is illegal and the International Labour Organisation warned it will bring the case before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The Venezuelan government measures would constitute a breach of the country's international obligations as a member state of the ILO. ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association, ratified by Venezuela in September 1982, prohibits any government interference in trade unions and recognises workers' fundamental rights to form and join unions of their own choosing. Freedom of association is also enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
Although Chávez promised to improve the situation for the country's impoverished masses, the reality shows that poverty has increased to include over 80 per cent of the population.