Re: role of Third World governments

The relationship between organized labour and Third World governments appears to be a combination of confrontation and (some) cooperation, if the stand of the ICFTU (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) is any indication. The ICFTU, which has member unions in 145 countries on 5 continents, confronts governments on issues of labour rights, human rights, women's rights, etc. On the other hand, the ICFTU has also been supportive of certain demands of the governments of G77 and the South Summit - notably: "strong trade union support for developing countries' demands on debt relief, the capital transaction tax (Tobin tax) and means to address the AIDS pandemic" (ICFTU ONLINE 30/06/00). Some Third World governments appear to be "hardline" anti-labour, whereas others are more supportive of labour demands. ICFTU mentions a "hardline" group, including China, Egypt and Libya, as being especially obstinate in rejecting labour demands during the South Summit in April 2000.