The Right to Comment and Respond About Labor Movement:  The Democratic Depth of Yemen [Archives:2002/05/Law & Diplomacy]

archive
January 28 2002

Dr. Paul Pasch
Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Sana’ a
[email protected]
Tel. 79-06638
Please allow me to comment on Ambassador Abdu Fare’ s Numan article “Labor Movement: The Democratic Depth of Yemen” that appeared recently in your paper. As the representative of a German political foundation operating in Yemen and cooperating with the Yemen General Federation of Workers Trade Unions, I would like to clarify two aspects of this article. The YGFWTU is by all means a very respected player in the international labor movement. The Yemen General Federation of Workers Trade Unions is an active member of the International Labor Organization for many years, as well as the Arab Federation of Trade Unions and is fully affiliated to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions since November 2001. Furthermore, YGFWTU maintains fruitful cooperation and relations with many Trade Unions around the world. With regard to the democratic procedures within the Yemen General Federation of Workers Trade Unions, it is correct that general elections have not been conducted since 14 years. The reasons for not persuing the necessary reforms are many and are closely linked to the recent Yemeni history. At the same time it is worth mentioning that at present the YGFWTU leadership is preparing for the long awaited elections. The procedures and time tables for the elections of its institutions will be finalized in the forthcoming executive committee meeting at the end of this month. At the same time all the 14 member Trade Unions are preparing for elections at branch, district, regional and national level. If all goes well, by autumn 2002 the member Trade Unions will elect their delegates and the congress of the General Federation that has been postponed for so long, can take place before the end of this year.
Consequently, the chances that the Yemeni Trade Unions will recover and overcome its current crisis are rather bright.

——
[archive-e:05-v:2002-y:2002-d:2002-01-28-p:./2002/iss05/l&d.htm]