The Trades Union Congress formally protested over an internal Oil Ministry memo which urges managers to use Saddam's law banning public sector unions
British trade unions have accused the Iraqi government of using Saddam Hussein's laws which ignore the right of oil workers to join unions, IRNA reported.
In a letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) formally protested over an internal Oil Ministry memo which urges managers to use Saddam's law banning public sector unions against workers in the oil industry.
Barber urged the Iraqi premier to make it clear that people that people working for the Iraqi government are "free to join trade unions and that those unions are free to bargain with their employers." "I would also reiterate our call on you to repeal Saddam Hussein's labour laws and introduce long-delayed new labour laws in conformity with ILO (International Labour Organisation) core conventions," he said.
The protest comes after the TUC said it was informed by its sister organisations in southern Iraq of instructions issued by legal advisor of the Iraqi oil ministry, Laith abd al Hussein Shahir, not to deal with trade unions that are not registered.
"The memo indicates that the minister had advised that it is forbidden for any union member to be part of any committee formed in the companies because the unions are not legitimate and are illegal in the public sector," Barber said.
