The IFTU recently held two seminars for trade unionists in Baghdad on 6 and 7 March 2005 on the proposed labour code. In particular the seminars were intended to inform Iraqi trade unionists about the progress and content of the discussions which have been taking place in Amman, Jordan with the assistance of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the Middle East Office of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The IFTU has joined with other trade unionists to commit itself to establishing a Labour Code which incorporateskey ILO Conventions into the new Iraqi Constitution, which will be put to a referendum later this year.
The IFTU has called consistently for the repeal of the 1987 Labour Law introduced by the regime of Saddam Hussein and sees the campaign for positive labour rights as an essential step in building a strong and united trade union movement and overcoming the problems and difficulties currently facing Iraqi unions.
- Statement ends -
Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU):
c/o UNISON,
1 Mabledon Place,
London WC1H 9AJ.
Tel?: 00 44 79 76 84 68 68
Email: abdullahmuhsin@iraqitradeunions.org