SOLIDAR at the 107th ILO Conference – Fighting for Trade Union Freedom in Egypt and Algeria

SOLIDAR at the 107th ILO Conference – Fighting for Trade Union Freedom in Egypt and Algeria

The first week of SOLIDAR’s mission to the ILO Conference* was dedicated to the work of the standard setting committee on violence and harassment in the world of work. Together with its members** and partners from Algeria (SNAPAP Women) and Bolivia (FENTRAHOB – Domestic Workers Union), SOLIDAR called for the adoption of a binding instrument to end violence at work and contribute to the realization of women’s rights.

In the second week of the ILO Conference, SOLIDAR will observe proceedings in the Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) and will focus on two countries: Egypt and Algeria.

SOLIDAR will support its partner from Egypt, the Center for Trade Unions and Workers Services (CTUWS), in its fight for freedom of association in Egypt. Despite the conclusions of the CAS at the 106th ILO Conference last year, the situation for trade unions in Egypt has seriously worsened. With the adoption and ratification of law 213/2017 in December 2017, several restrictive measures have been taken against independent trade unions in violation of ILO Convention 87.

Over the last three months alone, a disturbing number of violations took place during the regularization of trade unions’ legal status, notably the blatant obstruction of the process by the authorities, the imposition of a model  trade union constitution, involvement of the national security forces, unjustified requests, to name but a few***.

SOLIDAR will also follow the case of Algeria through its partner from Algeria (SNAPAP). Contrary to Egypt, Algeria is on the black list this year and therefore already tabled for discussion in the CAS. Freedom of association has also been seriously undermined over the last year. The country’s very restrictive law (Law 12-06 of 2012) offers discretion to the government to refuse the registration of associations, and to arbitrarily suspend or dissolve associations’ activities, not to mention the personal attacks, harassment and arrests.

SOLIDAR calls on the Government of Egypt and the Government of Algeria to live up to their responsibilities and take the necessary steps to comply with their Constitution as well as with ILO Convention № 87 on freedom of association and the protection of the right to organize. To this end, a “direct contacts” mission should be established with the participation of independent trade unions. The EU, for its part, will take a strong stance and put fundamental rights back at the heart of its relations.

*The SOLIDAR mission to the ILC is part of SOLIDAR’s wider campaign to #FightInequalities and promote women’s right #SDG5 #SheisWe to be launched during the European Development Days in Brussels #MakeEuropeSustainable for ALL

#SheisWe #FightInequalities #MakeTheWorldSustainable for ALL

** The following SOLIDAR members are attending the 2018 ILC: FOS (Belgium), SOLIDAR Switzerland, CGIL (Italy), OGBL Solidarité syndicale (Luxembourg)

*** CTUWS report can be requested here.