World Movement for Democracy - What's Being Done On . . .

What's Being Done On . . . Promoting Labor Rights ?

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Organizations Around the World

Online Publications

Case Studies

China: The China Labor Bulletin
Robin Munro, Research Director

Cuba: The Federation of Electric, Gas and Water Plant Workers in Exile
Joel Brito, Project Director

Zimbabwe: The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions
Wellington Chibebe, Secretary-General
This feature includes both audio and text versions.

Turkey: The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions
Tonguc Coban, Director of International Relations

World Movement Participants Database - Search for more information about groups working on promoting labor rights.

This installment highlights a few of the many groups working to promote labor rights around the world. "What's Being Done On. Promoting Labor Rights?" features four case studies of labor movements in countries with different levels of democratic development and in various regions of the world. Each case study presents the challenges that these groups (NGOs and trade unions) face working in pro-democratic labor movements, as well as their unique strategies and successes. The case studies are based on personal accounts and interviews with individuals about their respective organizations. We encourage you to contact them directly to learn more about their work.

The groups described here address different aspects of improving labor rights and standards. Those interviewed discuss issues ranging from organizing laborers and promoting women's equality in the workplace, to compensating underpaid workers and improving deplorable working conditions. They also discuss the variety of techniques and tactics employed to achieve labor rights. For example, almost every group uses the law to remove barriers that impair labor rights. Other techniques include government advocacy, collective bargaining, general outreach, and education.

The challenges the featured organizations face can be extraordinary. Some of the organizations face significant government pressure by which laborers associated with these groups are threatened, arrested, or physically harmed. Some of these groups work underground, while others operate in the open. Given these circumstances, we owe a great debt of gratitude to these courageous labor rights groups for their willingness to tell their stories.

This installment includes a short list of organizations working on labor rights grouped by region. Please send us information on work your organization may be doing on labor rights so we can consider adding it to the list of organizations.

This installment also contains a list of online publications and databases on labor rights. We welcome your suggestions of online publications, reports, articles and other resources that we may include in our list of resources.

Please send information to or by fax to +1-202-293-0755.

We would like to thank the staff at the American Center for International Labor Solidarity for helping us contact groups and gather background information for this installment.

About "What's Being Done On . . . "

For three months at a time, we highlight the activities of various organizations in different global regions, and links to important resources, that are focused on a particular theme or area of democracy work. Each new theme is announced via DemocracyNews, and the information from the previous installment is placed in the archives below. We hope to receive and post information about the work you or others may be doing that is focused on these issues. Send information via e-mail to the or by fax to (202) 378-9889.