Although all unions are independent of political parties, the largest, the General Workers' Union, is generally regarded as having close informal ties with the Labor Party. There is no prohibition on unions affiliating internationally. The International Labor Organization Committee of Experts objects to a provision of the act that permits compulsory arbitration to be held at the request of only one of the parties, but neither unions nor employers appear to object to this provision. In practice a striking union can ignore an unfavorable decision of the Tribunal by continuing the strike on other grounds. No disputes were referred to the Tribunal during the year.
Collectively Workers are free, in law and practice, to organize and bargain collectively.
Unions and employers meet annually with government representatives to work out a comprehensive agreement regulating industrial relations and income policy. Under the Industrial Relations Act, an employer may not take action against any employee for participation or membership in a trade union. Workers fired solely for union activities must be reinstated. There are no export processing zones. The Constitution bans forced labor, and it does not occur.