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The report of the Chilean authorities on their application of ILO Convention 111 on Discrimination (Employment and Occupation), is unsatisfactory. They claim that no trade union leader has been prosecuted or arrested for trade union activities, they refuse
action on the recommendation that trade union officials who had considered that they had been wrongfully dismissed should be able to apply to the courts for a review of examination of their cases, and deny reports that there are 5,500 trade union leaders in custody and 9,000 political prisoners, maintaining that only 507 persons are held in Chile for having infringed national security regulations.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary might be asked to convey to the regime the concern of the General Council at their disregard of ILO recommendations.
South Africa
Most of the financial assistance voted by the General Council towards trade union training and organising activities in South Africa during 1975 has been transferred to e two bodies concerned the Urban Training Project, Johannesburg and the Institute of Industrial Education, Durban. African trade unions appear to be meeting
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difficulties in organising majorities of the workers at particular plants in some cases at plants belonging
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to British subsidiaries and associates in getting recognition when they do so. The General Council will be considering the position at a future meeting.
It might be asked whether the Code of Practice for British firms operating in South Africa - endorsed by the Government is having an effect on employment
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policies other than wage-levels, and whether there are adequate arrangements for monitoring the performance of firms, more especially in their dealings with their African workpeople through representative channels. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary may indicate that these matters are primarily the concern of the Department of Trade.
UN and Zionism
On November 10 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning Zionism as a form of racism and racial discrimination. The British Government opposed the resolution, and the ETUC Executive Committee stated that the resolution indicates an alarming lack of responsibility on the part of the UN in the performance
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