Global Rights Index 2014 - Cote d'Ivoire
| Publisher | International Trade Union Confederation |
| Publication Date | 19 May 2014 |
| Cite as | International Trade Union Confederation, Global Rights Index 2014 - Cote d'Ivoire, 19 May 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/53bcf9bd14.html [accessed 16 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Country Rating: 5
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No guarantee of rights
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Countries with the rating of 5 are the worst countries in the world to work in. While the legislation may spell out certain rights, workers have effectively no access to these rights and are therefore exposed to autocratic regimes and unfair labour practices.
The Fédération des Syndicats Autonomes de Côte d'Ivoire (FESACI) reports lengthy judicial processes in various cases often not leading to effective redress against unfair dismissal of union members or leaders. In particular, following a strike of Methodist Teachers, organised by the SYNESEM (Syndicat des Enseignants du Secondaire Méthodiste) in November 2003, the General Secretary of SYNESEM, Jean-Claude Rabet, and three other leaders were dismissed. The case has been referred to the Supreme Court and is still pending, leaving these teachers in the unknown.
FESACI reports more than thirty cases of arrests of union members. On 4 February 2013, during the strike, 12 teachers have been arrested among them: LIDA Jean-François, SIE ESSIAGNE Simon, KOUASSI KANGAH C. Teachers were claiming better working conditions. From 4 March to 6 March 2014, civil servants at the Ministère de la Construction went on strike. It was organised by FESACI along with other unions, to demand higher wages. Police intervened in the strike and arrested 21 workers who were detained at the police station and released when the union stepped in.
Disciplinary measures were taken by the Ministry against these leaders. The union leader Basile Mahan Gahe was arrested in April 2011 for legitimate strike action was detained and tortured and died as a result in September 2013.
Marcel Ette, FESACI former Secretary General, Boka Atte, President of the Congress Organizational Committee and Felix Kouame, the newly elected FESACI Secretary General, were questioned by police for four hours on 29 October 2013 regarding the union elections.
Moreover, public authorities fail to remit union dues to the Syndicat autonome de l'enseignement primaire public de Côte d'Ivoire (SAEPPCI), the Syndicat libre des enseignants du secondaire général (SYLEG), and to the affiliates of ISEF (Intersyndical du Secteur Education-Formation) despite a valid collective agreement.
