Trade unions are independent of the Government and the political parties, but they have close informal ties with the parties, which exercise strong influence on them. Workers in all nonmilitary occupations have the right to strike. No general strikes occurred in at least the last 8 years. However, during this period some brief sector-wide and company strikes took place. The law gives collective bargaining agreements the force of law and prohibits antiunion discrimination by employers.
Effective mechanisms exist to resolve complaints.
There are no export processing zones. The law prohibits forced and bonded labor, including by children, and the Government enforces this prohibition effectively. The minimum working age and compulsory education age ceiling is 16 years. The Ministry of Labor and Cooperation permits no exceptions. Most students continue in school until the age of 18.