By IANS
Geneva : The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has slammed the leftist government of Venezuela for violating the rights of the business community in the country, Spanish news agency EFE reports.
The ILO board Wednesday issued a statement after it heard the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), which since 2003 has “repeatedly raised the issue of the harassment of business leaders present in Venezuela and their associations”, IOE Secretary-General Antonio Penalosa said.
“The (Venezuelan) government has rejected the ILO’s offer of technical assistance to work towards a solution to the numerous existing problems,” the board of the Geneva-based UN agency said.
The ILO also demanded Venezuela withdraw an arrest warrant on Carlos Fernandez, former head of Venezuelan business federation Fedecamaras so that he can return to the country.
It also demanded that Caracas allow another ex-president of Fedecamaras, Albis Muñoz, and eight other business leaders to move freely in the country and called on the administration not to interfere with the activity of business associations “by promoting organisations sympathetic to the government”.
The ILO urged that “a true tripartite culture be developed among the representatives of employers’ and workers’ organisations in (enacting) labour, social and economic reforms” so that shared solutions can be found.
With regard to the media, the ILO resolution called on Venezuela “to abstain from all interference in the editorial line of the autonomous media and guarantee the existence of independent means of expression”.
President Hugo Chavez’s leftist government has been roundly criticised at home and abroad for its decision this summer not to renew the broadcasting licence of a leading opposition TV station.
Penalosa said that the IOE, which comprises business leaders from 140 countries, was “satisfied” with the ILO resolution.