info@uuiraq.org

 

Iraqi Interim Government confirms the Decree Nr. 16 of IGC which means violation of the freedom of trade Unions in Iraq.

On January 28, 2004 the Iraqi Governing Council -IGC passed resolution number 16, signed by Mr. Adnan Pachachi , president of IGC which endorses the executive bureau of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions-IFTU as the official and legitimate representative of  labour movement in Iraq. This means that all other trade unions and labour organisations, which came as the result of free election by workers, are illegal and unofficial. This decision is in sharp contradiction with the international principles set by ILO, article 87 and 98 of ILO conventions which declare that establishing labour unions is the right of the workers themselves, and that governments must not intervene in this issue.

Unconditional Right  of workers of Organisation and strike should be guaranteed in Iraq.

This confirmation of   Decree Nr. 16 of the Iraqi Governing Councils by the Iraqi Interim Government is violation of freedom of trade unions and continuation of the same policy which regards accordingly independent labour unions and  organizations as illegal and illegitimate. This came while we have been heavily engaged in struggle to establish democratic trade unions and labour organization, which ensure the full intervention by workers and their free elections.

 

 In May 2004 we presented an appeal to ILO demanding full implementation of the ILO conventions Article Nr.87 and 98: (please look to this Address )

 

 http://www.uuiraq.org/english/Labour_Unions.htm.

 

At the same time we started an international campaign to defend labour rights in Iraq and until now hundreds of labour unions and activist supported our appeal and demanding full implementation of ILO conventions in Iraq specially freedom of trade Unions.

Here is the translation of the decision of Iraqi interim Government from Arabic language to English with an original copy to many institutions, administrations organisations in Iraq from Mr. Ayad Alwai prime Minster   in Arabic.

 

 

IFTU's trade union recognition confirmed by Iraq's interim government

In a statement issued on 10 July 2004 the Iraqi interim government confirmed that IFTU is a legal and legitimate body that represents Iraq's labour movement."

Official memo No 743 sent on 10 July 2004 to state ministries and agencies stated that the former Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) had recognized the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions IFTU as a legal and legitimate trade union movement in its Decree NO 16 on 28 January 2004. The Current Interim Government considers the former IGC's Decree No 16 is still valid and therefore the IFTU and its president Rasim Al-Awady are a legal and legitimate trade union movement.

 

 

We call labour unions and activists and freedom loving people worldwide to support our appeal and to demand full implementation of the ILO convention article nr.87 and 98 in Iraq.

 

Thanks for your solidarity for freedom of trade unions in Iraq .

 

 

 

Aso Jabbar

Representative of Union of Unemployed in Iraq -UUI and Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq -FWCUI abroad

16. August 2004