Freedom of Association Freedom of Association

and Collective Bargainingand Collective Bargaining

GCC Leadership Summit 08

18 June 2008

Dubai, UAE

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right Organize Convention, 1948 (C.87)

1. That no distinction are made among those entitled to the right of association 2. That there is no need for previous authorization to establish organizations 3. That there is freedom of choice with regard to membership of such organizations

Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (C.98)

Protection of workers against acts of anti-union discrimination from employers Protection of workers’ and employers’ organizations against acts of interference by each other Promotion of collective bargaining All workers are covered (with exceptions) No distinction based on grounds of occupation, sex, color, race, religion, age, residence, marital status, nationality, political opinion

ILO Conventions & Labor Laws

Right to Organize

Right to Collective Bargaining Right to Strike

Migrant Workers

Situation of Migrant Workers

•False promised on salaries• fraudulent recruitment•breach of contract, •non payment or delayed payments of wages, • hazardous working condition•poor living condition,

Situation of Migrant Workers

•sponsor system•passport confiscation•ban to join strike & demonstration•not covered by labor laws and social protection

Positive Steps:•Prohibits dismissal for union activities (Bahrain/Oman)

•Monitoring on wage payments (bank accounts & fines for non-payments (UAE)

•Set-up mobile dormitories & health care (UAE)

•Confiscation of passport is now illegal (UAE)

•Framework of collaboration with India and Philippines (UAE, Qatar & Kuwait)

RecommnedationFreedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining remain absent, if not limited and restrictive

Ratify ILO Conventions 87 and 98Amend Labor Laws to make it responsive and in accordance to the International Standards