Written question asked by David Anderson (Labour) on Friday, 23 July 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 27 July 2010. It was answered by Alistair Burt (Conservative) on Monday, 6 September 2010 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iraq: Trade Unions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of Iraq on the effect of its recent ministerial decree regarding trade unions in the electricity industry.

Answer: Our ambassador to Iraq met the Acting Electricity Minister on 1 August 2010 to discuss the Ministerial Order of 20 July 2010 relating to activities of unions at the Ministry of Electricity and its departments and sites. Officials from our embassy in Baghdad also raised the issue with the Inspector General of the Ministry of Electricity on 5 August 2010. The UK will continue to encourage the Government of Iraq to ensure a just, fair and International Labour Organisation-compliant union law. The right to form and join trade unions in Iraq is embodied in Article 22 of the Iraqi constitution. This is a principle to which the Government attach great importance and take very seriously.

Secondary information