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Attacks against teachers’ rights and the threats to public education in Honduras have been denounced at a meeting last week of the Federation of Honduran Teachers’ Organisations (FOMH) and the Direct Contact Mission of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Following strong pressure exerted by Honduran teachers’ organisations in Geneva at the 102nd ILO International Labour Conference, and the support of EI, the ILO had resolved to send a mission to Honduras to assess the violation of trade union rights denounced by the FOMH.

EI, headquartered in Brussels, cooperated in the presentation of this report and provided full support, including an official visit by Fred Van Leeuwen in Tegucigalpa in recent weeks.

Trade union rights under attack

The situation regarding human and trade union rights in Honduras is dire. In 2013, there were numerous complaints about unfair dismissals of directors and assistant directors of education centres, salaries that had gone unpaid since 2008, and anti-union persecution of the leaders of teachers’ organisations. The country is living in a tense and threatening climate not seen since the coup d’État of 2009. According to a representative of the ILO in Honduras, the country is high on the list of the ILO’s Commission for the Application of Standards because of grave violations of trade union rights.

Despite the passage of time, the problems have not been solved, but have worsened, FOMH members pointed out.

13 points of order

The complaint which led to the ILO mission in Honduras lists a series of rights violated since 2010, resulting in a limitation of the right to strike and a breach of the economic status of teachers in Honduras, among other aspects.

In addition, an emergency decree was adopted in 2010, albeit not in compliance with the constitutional requirements, whereby more than 300 teachers were suspended “just for attending trade union meetings” this year.

The document also mentions the death of Ilse Velasquez, a teacher who was a member of Colprosumah, and died whilst taking part in the peaceful demonstration called by the FOMH.

Thirteen points in all were presented to the ILO mission by the FOMH, which constitute flagrant violations of trade union rights in Honduras.

More information:

You can access an explanatory video (in Spanish) on the meetings and the process by clicking here

The report presented to the ILO by the trade unions from Honduras can be accessed by blicking here