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BackThe EU trade negotiations with Columbia have been ongoing since 2007. The aim of the agreement is to ease trade between Colombia and the European Union and to reduce tariffs. However, the human rights situation in Colombia is still dramatic: in particular labour representatives have been the victims of serious assaults: 2,848 trade unionists have been murdered since 1986.
Over the past days, EU Parliamentarians twice had the opportunity of debating the current situation in Colombia with Colombian human rights activists and union officials within the scope of Parliamentary hearings. The union representatives explained that only 6 of the 19 million workers had trade union rights. Apart from that, child labour would be widespread - this would affect ca. 1.6 million children. Less than 1 percent of workers would have a collective agreement. The standards formulated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) would be ignored in Colombia.
Hernando Hernandez, representative of Colombia's indigenous people in the Colombian Congress described that the situation had not changed since Juan Manuel Santos had taken over as the new President. Although the government had planned new laws, which provide for compensating victims of acts of violence and the return of land, there would still be serious assaults on members of the opposition and union representatives.
The human rights solicitor Reinaldo Villalba described the situation during the past 8 years under President Uribe. Human rights organisations or trade unions were referred to as being terrorist and a danger for national security. Union representatives had been sent dolls or funeral wreaths or they had received phone calls advising them to check whether their child was still at home. Representatives had constantly been victims of psycho terror and a legal war had been waged against human rights organisations. 41 trade unionists had already been murdered this year.
The Colombian union representatives are clearly against a free trade agreement because under the current conditions it would neither improve the situation for workers nor increase wealth. First, the core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation had to be implemented and EU corporations would have to be obliged to adhere to these labour laws. Trade unions would have to be accepted as an institution and an open social dialogue would have to be possible.
Whilst Council and Commission broadly agree that there should be a trade agreement with Colombia, the European Parliament has not yet reached a decision. The criticism of the human rights situation has led to the fact that the issue will be discussed again in the European Parliament next year. According to MEP Richard Howitt the negotiations may take another year.
Hernando Hernandez, representative of Colombia's indigenous people in the Colombian Congress described that the situation had not changed since Juan Manuel Santos had taken over as the new President. Although the government had planned new laws, which provide for compensating victims of acts of violence and the return of land, there would still be serious assaults on members of the opposition and union representatives.
The human rights solicitor Reinaldo Villalba described the situation during the past 8 years under President Uribe. Human rights organisations or trade unions were referred to as being terrorist and a danger for national security. Union representatives had been sent dolls or funeral wreaths or they had received phone calls advising them to check whether their child was still at home. Representatives had constantly been victims of psycho terror and a legal war had been waged against human rights organisations. 41 trade unionists had already been murdered this year.
The Colombian union representatives are clearly against a free trade agreement because under the current conditions it would neither improve the situation for workers nor increase wealth. First, the core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation had to be implemented and EU corporations would have to be obliged to adhere to these labour laws. Trade unions would have to be accepted as an institution and an open social dialogue would have to be possible.
Whilst Council and Commission broadly agree that there should be a trade agreement with Colombia, the European Parliament has not yet reached a decision. The criticism of the human rights situation has led to the fact that the issue will be discussed again in the European Parliament next year. According to MEP Richard Howitt the negotiations may take another year.