Wednesday, August 31

Iraqi government Decree 875 marks critical moment in post-Saddam politics

The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions London Office reports on the latest developments in respect of trade union and workers' rights in Iraq.

On 8 August, 2005 The Council of Ministers of the Iraqi Republic issued a Decree No. 875, which was signed by the Cabinet General Secretary and which marks a critical moment in post-Saddam Iraqi politics.

The Decree 875 revokes the former arrangements announced under the Transitional Law, for trade unions to operate and function without undue interference or harassment from the state.

Decree 875 reads:

"The Decree No. 3 issued by the Governing Council in 2004 led to the formation of a government Committee responsible for Labour and Social Rights headed by Naseer al-Charderdi. This Committee is no longer have the responsibility and. In its place a new Committee is established comprising the Ministers of Justice, the Interior, Finance, the Minister of State responsible for the Transitional Assembly, the Minister for Civil Society, and the Minister of National Security.

"This Committee must review all the decisions taken to oversee the implementation of Decree no. 3 since its publication in 2004 and must take control of all monies belonging to the trade unions and prevent them from dispensing any such monies.

"In addition I am proposing a new paper on how trade unions should function, operate and organise."

Signed
Dr Fahdal Abass
(Cabinet General Secretary) 7 August 2005.

This decree was copied to the following:
The Prime Minister of Iraq, Mr al-Jaafri;
The Under Secretary of the Council of Ministers;
All Ministries;
All Ministers of State;
The Supreme Federal Court;
The Council of the Judiciary;
The Head of the implementation Committee of Decree No. 3 (2004), Naseer
al-Charderdi;
All members of the above Committee;
The Cabinet General Secretary

No comments: