Labor & Employment Law

ILO Praises Egypt?s First Steps on Workers? Rights

By James Parks

For decades under former President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt was one of the countries often cited by the International Labor Organization (ILO) as restricting or denying workers? freedom to join a union. This week, the ILO praised the new Egyptian leaders for taking the first steps towards recognizing that basic human right.

ILO Director General Juan Somavia said:

The recognition of the rights of all trade unions to be registered and conduct freely their legitimate activities opens the door for a new era where the right to freedom of association will be fully respected in law and in practice.

The right of all workers and employers in Egypt to form and join organizations that are independent and genuinely representative is a major step in the revolutionary changes taking place in Egypt.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on March 17, 2011 (boomark / email).