Local and national councils for foreigners were elected to promote the integration of foreigners under a 1993 law and to advise on issues concerning foreigners. Section 6 Worker Rights a. All workers have the right to associate freely and choose their representatives. About 65 percent of the labor force is unionized. Membership is not mandatory.
Unions operate free of governmental interference.
The two largest labor federations are linked to, but organized independently of, major political parties. The law prohibits discrimination against strikes and strike leaders, and a labor tribunal deals with complaints on these matters. The Constitution provides all workers with the right to strike except for government workers providing essential services such as police, armed forces, and hospital personnel. A legal 4-week strike by tilers over collective contract disputes was ended following personal mediation by the Prime Minister, averting a general strike by construction workers. This was the first legal labor strike in over 2 years.