The Right of Association Workers are free to form unions, but fewer than 10 percent of workers are unionized, and relatively few of these reside in the Principality. Unions are independent of both the government and the Monegasque political parties. The Monegasque Confederation of Unions is not affiliated with any larger labor organization but is free to join international bodies. The Constitution provides for the right to strike in conformity with relevant legislation. However, government workers may not strike.
Strikes are rare.
The first strike in several years occurred in 1996, when the Monegasque Confederation of Unions organized a 1-day work stoppage by bank, transportation, and factory employees. The law provides for the free exercise of union activity. Agreements on working conditions are negotiated between organizations representing employers in a given sector of the economy and the respective union. Antiunion discrimination is prohibited. Union representatives can be fired only with the agreement of a commission that includes two members from the employers' association and two from the labor movement.