International Day of Action for Colombia

ICFTU Online... 151/260906

International Day of Action for Colombia

Brussels, 26 September 2006 (ICFTU Online): The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) is responding to the call from the Colombian trade union movement to declare 26 September an International Day of Action to support the "Tripartite Agreement on Freedom of Association and Democracy". The ICFTU is deeply concerned by the delays in setting up the office of the ILO Permanent Representation in Colombia.

On 1 June 2006, at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, the three Colombian trade union centres (CUT-CGT-CTC) signed that agreement with representatives of the Colombian government and the employers. A key aspect of the agreement was to establish an ILO permanent representation in Colombia, which would be responsible amongst other things for promoting concerted practices, social dialogue, freedom of association and democracy. Though arrangements for social dialogue have been restored (albeit with varying effects), the main objectives of the agreement are far from being achieved.

The ICFTU has written to the Colombian government urging it to set up the ILO Permanent Representation in Colombia as soon as possible, starting with the nomination by the ILO Director-General of a high-level Permanent Representative who enjoys the confidence of all the interested parties - the government, the employers and workers - and the international community.

The ICFTU represents 155 million workers in 241 affiliated organizations in 156 countries and territories: http://www.icftu.org ICFTU is also a member of Global Unions: http://www.global-unions.org

Ends

© Scoop Media