The Executive Secretary of the Arab Trade Union Confederation Meets with the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament

Ms. Hind Ben Ammar, Executive Secretary of the Arab Trade Union Confederation, representing both the ATUC and the International Trade Union Confederation, is conducting a working visit to Iraq from 22 to 29 August. The mission carries multiple objectives, particularly in light of the organizational and legislative challenges facing the Iraqi trade union movement, which require comprehensive support and solidarity with the efforts of democratic Iraqi unions to secure legislation on trade union practice in line with fundamental International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.

In her meeting with the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, and in the presence of Mr. Karim Lafta Sandal, President of the General Federation of Workers’ Unions of the Republic of Iraq, Ms. Hind Ben Ammar affirmed that the Iraqi trade union movement—representing the voice of millions of workers and laborers—is today facing major challenges due to the absence of an open and fair trade union law. Such a law is essential to guaranteeing freedom of association and ensuring trade union activity can be exercised with full independence, in line with the Iraqi Constitution and the international conventions ratified by Iraq, particularly ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, and ILO Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining.

Ms. Ben Ammar outlined the negative consequences of the absence of this fundamental legislation and its impact on stimulating productivity and advancing development. She stressed that Iraq has a democratic foundation that can foster broader participation in economic and social decision-making through the social partners, on the basis of a trade union law aligned with international standards that guarantees full independence for unions.

For his part, the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, expressed his understanding of the demands of the Iraqi trade union movement and his full readiness to support their efforts in this regard, by ensuring their participation in the stages of drafting the trade union law.

Ms. Hind’s visit to Iraq will continue until 29 August, during which she will hold meetings with a number of Iraqi social actors, which will be reported on in due course.