 There are still problems in some places, like Colombia |
Life at work is generally improving for workers across the world, including in countries notorious for failing to respect workers' rights, a report says. The spread of democracy and greater market transparency have led to "a general positive trend", says the International Labour Organisation.
Respect for fundamental rights at work is also growing, the ILO says.
But in some areas serious problems remain, including murder, violence, detention and denial of union rights.
Improvement
In Colombia, 62 trade unionists were murdered in 2003, mostly by paramilitary groups.
"The violence undermines the activities of trade unions and threatens their very survival," the ILO says in its report, Organizing for Social Justice.
"Violations of freedom of association rights of both employers and workers persist in different forms," the ILO says.
"People continue to lose their lives and their freedom for attempting to organise and defend their fundamental rights collectively," the ILO says.
And yet, a fall in the number of deaths in Colombia shows why the ILO is able to feel optimistic even though serious problems remain.
In 2002, some 184 trade unionists were killed.
Middle Eastern democracy
In other areas of the world, notably the Middle East, the ILO has also seen positive changes, largely it believes thanks to worker activism.
In the report, the ILO talks about "seeds of democracy in the Gulf States" having been sown in several countries in the region.
"New labour laws are being passed or are in the process of discussion in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates," the ILO report says.
And early steps have been taken in Saudi Arabia "on the long road ahead to freedom of association and of collective bargaining", it says.
In Iran, amendments to the country's labour code have been drafted "in order to set out the framework within which freedom of association and collective bargaining rights could be fully exercised", the ILO says.
The amendments have been approved for submission to Parliament and are currently going through a consultation process, the ILO says.
"The right to organise is one of the most powerful tools we have for promoting decent work and sustainable poverty-reducing development," says ILO Director-General Juan Somavia.
"Organizing for Social Justice" is the second Global Report to be issued on freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining under the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work adopted in 1998 by the International Labour Conference.
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The right to organise is one of the most powerful tools we have for promoting decent work and sustainable poverty-reducing development 
