Iraqi trade unionists and civil society activists for the International Workers' Day

As we celebrate this historic and important day, we are issuing the following set of demands concerning the fundamental rights and needs of the Iraqi labor movement and trade unions. We call on everyone to disseminate these demands widely and to deliver them to the Iraqi authorities and international stakeholders so that Iraqi trade unions are free to organize and workers throughout Iraqi are respected, paid a just and fair wage, work in safe and healthy conditions, and enjoy all their democratic freedoms and rights.

1. We demand a new labor law based on recognized international standards concerning the working day, wage system, and workers freedom of association. This is central to, and consistent with, the democratic change that the labor movement is seeking in Iraq.

2. All restrictions on freedom of assembly and trade union action in Iraq should be immediately lifted. All laws and arbitrary procedures imposed by the former regime for the

purpose of suppressing the labor movement, especially in the public sector, should be immediately abolished. A new law must guarantee the right of all workers to organize

unions.

3. The Iraqi people must have opportunities to work. Where there is not appropriate work, workers should receive unemployment compensation. Workers deserve long-term social security and regulations that protect their health and safety.

4. We demand the involvement of Iraqi trade unions and their elected representatives in all discussions of the laws mentioned here or of any other laws or decisions concerning labor and trade unions. No law or procedure concerning labor or unions can be legitimate without the participation of representatives of the workers in its creation. Workers and unions must have open social dialogue with the Iraqi government.

5. Now, when the labor movement of Iraq and its partners are seeking to strengthen Iraq's democratic structures, we welcome attendance by the Iraqi judiciary and its representatives at union elections to ratify the election results. At the same time we reject all efforts by government agencies to interfere in the decisions or actions of the trade unions.

6. The Iraqi labor movement and trade unions and their partners, welcome all steps taken by the Iraqi government to fight corruption and sectarianism, and call for these efforts to be thorough and specific, applied to all levels of government and society, from the very top down to the base.

7. The Iraqi labor movement and trade unions and their partners, proclaim the right of all Iraqis to gather, protest, and demonstrate using nonviolent methods. We demand the protection of this right and denounce any effort to deny it.

8. The Iraqi labor movement and trade unions and their partners, emphasize the importance of free and independent media in a democratic society. We demand that no arbitrary restrictions be placed on the media and that journalists are protected from attacks and censorship.

9. The Iraqi labor movement and trade unions and their partners, stress the importance of the law promoting the establishment of non-governmental organizations and urge the government to end delays and procrastination in the registration of non-governmental organizations.

10. The Iraqi labor movement and trade unions and their partners, proclaim their solidarity with the victims of violations of human rights everywhere. We urge full respect for the human rights of all, compensation for those who have suffered, and efforts to hold those who have violated others' rights accountable without delay.

11. The Iraqi labor movement and trade unions and their partners, celebrate the principle of respect for women's rights and equality with men. We urge swift action to ensure women's equal representation and participation in the Iraqi government.

12. The Iraqi labor movement and trade unions and their partners, stress the need to reduce the gap between the salaries of workers and employees and the salaries of officials. We call for immediate and drastic reductions of the ministerial and government apparatus and an end to wasteful spending of public money on unnecessary positions awarded as sectarian or partisan favors or bribes.