Mass Dismissals at Municipal Council in Guatemala
The first measure taken by the newly elected authorities in the municipality of San José el Rodeo in San Marcos was to dismiss, on 16 January, all of its unionised employees. This unacceptable act, condemned by the trade union movement, implies the total destruction of the union representing municipal workers.
Kuwait and Bahrain unions become first in the Gulf to forge an official trade union relationship with Nepal
Gulf states are relying on as many as 15 million migrant workers from Asia to grow their economies. As the economies of Kuwait and Bahrain thrive on migrant labour, Nepal’s largest employer is the Gulf states, where families depend on making money overseas.
Fiji: Military Entrenches Dictatorship with New Laws
A new decree introduced by Fiji’s military rulers on January 5 have cemented the dictatorship of self-styled leader Commodore Bainimarama, leading to a chorus of criticism from trade unions, human rights advocates, church leaders and governments.
Nigeria: International Trade Union Movement Urges Government to Seek Peaceful Resolution to Conflict
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria are staging an indefinite general strike, launched on 9 January, in protest at the government’s removal of fuel subsidies - a unilateral decision taken without consulting the social partners and which has led petrol prices to double.
Brazil: Petrochemical Multinational Refuses to Negotiate with Union
The International Trade Union Confederation has joined with its Brazilian affiliated organisations, the CUT, Força Sindical, UGT and CNPL, in expressing grave concern at the anti-union practices of the petrochemical firm VALE Fertilizantes in Araucaria.