Helsinki (17.06.2011 - Juhani Artto) "Recent events in the Arab world came as much of a surprise to us, and no doubt to everyone else too", says Kari Tapiola* who works as a special adviser to ILO's Director General Juan Somavia. In the last few months Tapiola has mainly been working on issues arising from ILO's involvement in the Arab countries.
The ILO has a long history in many parts of the Arab world. Within the region there is a huge need for assistance revolving around issues covered by the ILO's mandate: employment, social justice, trade union rights etc. The changes now taking place will most certainly add to requests for ILO's services, Tapiola goes on.
The long presence in the region provides the ILO with a solid basis to continue its work and advance its principles there. ILO has built up an extensive network of contacts and the experience it has gained through various projects enables the Organisation to understand each country's special features so that the proper approach is adopted in respect of particular circumstances. Fortunately too, the ILO also enjoys much needed trust earned from its past efforts.
The trade union movement in the Arab world is characterized by broad diversity, Tapiola explains. And what does that mean in real or concrete terms? The following are some country specific remarks or 'nutshells', formulated by the ILO special adviser:
Algeria and Morocco – trade union organizations have been able to develop and enjoy for a longer period a certain independence from those in power.
Tunisia – The UGTT has traditionally been a strong trade union and it has been able to influence solutions in the society. It has been pluralistic and unified. This enabled it to have a decisive role in the democratization process. Now other unions are being formed outside the UGTT. Currently employment, investment and social dialogue are at the forefront of the issues to be dealt with.
Libya – during the Khaddafi era there have not been independent and strong trade unions.
Syria – the trade unions have been part of the political system and express their support to the President.
Egypt trade unions have been part of the political power structure. However, independent trade union organizations have been established and grown in the last five, six years outside the official federation. The government has proclaimed that it respects freedom of association, and the amendments to the legislation which makes trade union pluralism possible.
Jordan the relatively large freedom to organize has not led to strong unions. Organizing rights for the Palestinians living in Jordan have been limited.
Lebanon – the trade union structure is divided along political and religious lines, as everything else in the country.
Oman – the ILO played an important role when the union confederation was established in February 2010.
Kuwait – trade unions have functioned for several years, and there have not been any recent conflicts.
Bahrain – in the last ten years the ILO has invested a lot in developing legislation for independent trade unions and the functioning of the labour market. However, the recent conflict between the trade unions and the government has turned very ugly, and the free functioning of the unions is in danger. The ILO is currently trying to help in restoring social dialogue in the country, but the situation is tense.
Qatar and UAE most of the work in these two countries is done by immigrant labour that has no real opportunities to organize.
Saudi Arabia – workers' committees that have been set up in large enterprises in the recent ten years could represent union organizing in embryonic form. However, little has happened since the initial steps.
Yemen – the trade union confederation is an ITUC affiliate but it seems to have surrendered its autonomy to the country's leadership. There are signs of different views in some union organizations.
Palestine trade unions function in difficult circumstances. The ILO is supporting in East Jerusalem a 'legal clinic' to assist Palestinians working in Israel who otherwise cannot present their claims to employers in court. A new ILO report on the situation in the occupied territories has been published for the International Labour Conference.
Tapiola mentions one other current fact of the trade union movement in the Arab world. "The ICATU (International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions) appears to be badly disunited. It has not agreed on the issues surrounding the Arab spring. The only statement it has made concerns the repression of union activists in Bahrain."
Promising development in Egypt
In Egypt, the ILO began to cooperate, at an early stage, with the independent trade unions. "There was an ILO project to encourage social dialogue but not much progress towards real freedom of association took place. In April 2010 the old and new unions agreed to be at a conference together, but it failed totally."
At present, under the interim government, appointed by the military council, labour issues are in much better hands, Tapiola says. "The Minister of Labour Ahmed El Borai is an expert in labour legislation and his expertise has for many years been also most helpful for the ILO's work."
The ILO's critical stand has had an impact on Egypt. When the democratization process began, the military leadership gave El Borai a central role in managing labour issues.
In March 2011 ILO's Director General Juan Somavia was invited to be present when El Borai announced at a press conference Egypt's recognition of trade union rights. "If the labour legislation drafted by El Borai will be accepted, the old union federation's monopoly will break down."
The right to strike is a controversial matter in present day Egypt. The military council has banned violent actions in connection with strikes, but it has not intervened in most of the numerous strikes that have taken place.
*The interview was conducted on June 7 at the SAK Congress in Tampere. Kari Tapiola has worked in the past as the international secretary of SAK.