Limitations on the right to protest
The history of trade unions is a history of struggles for greater social justice and against dictatorship, both in societies and at the workplace. Often accused by their opponents of being unreasonable, unable to understand economics and dinosaurs of the industrial past, there can be no doubt in retrospect that in most battles trade unions have been on the right side of history.
While business has unhesitatingly engaged with dictatorships around the world in its pursuit of profit, trade unions were and are at the forefront of bringing about democratic change in many countries. The right to strike, a minimum wage, the eight-hour working day, paid vacations, social security – all are milestones in the long struggle of trade unions for social justice.
Notwithstanding a spate of trade reforms initiated by International Labour Organisation (ILO) in recent years, the full realisation of union rights in West Asian countries still remains a far-fetched dream.
This region has earned the dubious distinction of being a part of the world where exercising trade union rights amounts to fiddling with danger. In certain sectors, like the oil industry in Iraq and the construction industry in Bahrain, workers regularly complain of harassment and mistreatment. There have been many instances where governments have attempted to interfere in trade union affairs. In countries such as Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, political tensions have severely hampered trade activities.
A common phenomenon in all these countries has been limitations on freedom of association and disparity between practices and ratified ILO conventions. As a result, the freedom to bargain collectively and right to protest is both severely restricted. Click here to read more...
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