Syria: Regime’s Continued Violence Risks Spread of Conflict
With more than 3,000 people killed to date, the Syrian authorities show no sign of seeking a peaceful end to the violent repression engulfing the country. Despite mediation efforts by Turkey, and an agreement with the Assad regime brokered by the Arab League, the President’s security forces are continuing to kill innocent civilians engaged in peaceful protest.
Progress on Jobs As G20 Puts Real Economy Back in the Race
The international trade union movement said “the G20 is back”. Leaders have engaged again with the tensions in their own constituencies. The progress came after union delegations met with 14 heads of government before and during the summit and the heads of all the major multilateral bodies including the UN, ILO, World Bank, OECD, WTO and IMF.
Bahrain: the ITUC Reaffirms Its Solidarity with the Union under Media Attack
For months, pro-government press has demonized trade unionists and pro-democracy activists, falsely accusing them of any number of crimes against the state. A November 1 article in ALWATAN goes one step further, in actually declaring the dissolution of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU), an affiliate of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). Fortunately, the reports of its death are greatly exaggerated. Despite the sacking of dozens of union leaders and nearly 3,000 workers, most of whom are union members, as well as a scurrilous media campaign meant to discredit the union, the GFBTU remains a vital, democratic and non-sectarian force in Bahrain today.
Cambodia: Child Labour in a Climate of Violence and Intimidation Towards Union Members
The ITUC is releasing today a report on core labour standards in Cambodia, coinciding with the Trade Policy Review of the country at the WTO. The report finds poor compliance with international labour standards, especially with regard to trade union rights, child labour and forced labour.
G20 Leaders Must Put People Before Bankers
G20 leaders must meet the demands of working people at the G20 summit in Cannes on 3-4 November 2011 and deliver on their promises to reform the financial sector.