End Violence Against Trade Unions Policy Connection
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Policy Connection
En EspañolOne of the core labor rights as defined by the International Labor Organization (ILO) is the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. When trade unions face violent repression, these basic rights cannot be exercised. ILRF works to ensure that government policies protect this core right and ensure that workers do not face retribution for their organizing efforts.
The ILRF has been one of the lead organizations to use labor protections in the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) to ensure that workers' right to organize is respected. GSP is a trade preferences program which allows duty-free access to U.S. markets for certain products from certain countries. In order to qualify for the program, countries are expected to meet certain labor conditions.
Most recently, ILRF has filed a request to the office of the U.S. Trade Representative to review the GSP status of the Philippines due to the widespread violence facing trade unions in that country. You can read the complain online here.
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Trade Union Violence in the Philippines
ILRF filed a petition against the Philippines under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program on June 22, 2007. The complaint alleges that the Philippine government systematically denies workers the rights of freedom of association, the right to organize and to form and join unions.