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 what reports he has received of the position of trade unions in Iraq in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Officials from our embassy in Baghdad and Consulate General in Erbil have discussed the situation of unions with union representatives in Iraq in the last 12 months. These include representatives from the Electricity, Journalists, Teachers and Kurdish Workers Unions. 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. The draft Iraqi Labour Code, which will include regulations affecting unions, remains with the Council of Ministers for comment. The UK will continue to encourage the Government of Iraq to ensure a just, fair and International Labour Organisation-compliant union law.

Secondary information