ILO rejects Venezuela complaint

On June 12, the International Labor Organization rejected a request by Fedecameras, Venezuela's largest employer group, to open an investigation into supposed abuses of workers' rights in Venezuela. Fedecameras's ILO delegate walked out in protest at the decision. The application was supported by the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV), but opposed by the National Union of Venezuelan Workers (UNT), which was formed after CNT supported a bosses'-led shutdown of the oil industry inn 2002-2003. Since its inception, the UNT has won almost every workplace ballot over coverage against the CTV. According to Venezuela's vice-minister of labour, Ricardo Dorado, the application was rejected by ILO's general assembly because Venezuela had made considerable progress in trade union freedoms. Explaining the British Trade Union Congress' opposition to the motion at a May 25 public meeting in London, TUC deputy-secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Let me make it clear: we will resist any attempt to turn the ILO into a political football ... The achievements of the Venezuelan government are truly impressive, and we support them."

From Green Left Weekly, June 22, 2005.

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From GLW issue 630