IMF and World Bank meetings: The ITUC calls on measures to prevent a next recession and protect workers’ rights
Despite the IMF’s forecast this week that the present phase of stronger economic growth will continue into 2019, but perhaps not beyond, the ITUC has deep concerns about current developments in the global economy.
Brazil: Decision to Jail Lula is a Travesty of Justice
The 5 April decision to allow the imprisonment of former Brazilian President Lula is the latest in a series of abuses of his legal rights.
“Lula was found guilty by a lower court on the basis of no evidence, something that the lower court judges themselves have admitted. Now, with the military threatening to intervene, Supreme Court judges have, by the narrowest of margins, again bowed to powerful business interests which want to undo forever Lula’s achievements in fighting poverty and inequality in Brazil. Lula is Brazil’s most popular politician by a huge margin, and the judicial persecution of him is aimed at stopping him becoming President again,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
Trans-Pacific Trade Agreement Criticised by Trade Union Centres
The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement (TPP11), signed by Pacific Rim governments in March has been strongly criticised by several trade union centres, including those from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, both for its content and the way it was negotiated. Eleven Pacific Rim countries continued negotiating the pact, in most cases without any serious public consultation, after the US withdrew from the talks.
ITUC Launches Migrant Worker “Recruitment Adviser” Platform
The ITUC has launched a new web platform to help protect migrant workers from abusive employment practices, by providing them with peer-to-peer reviews about recruitment agencies in their country of origin and destination.
ITUC Condemns Israel Over Gaza Killings
The ITUC has condemned Israel over the killing of 16 people and the wounding of several hundred in Gaza on Friday.
