UN Court: Right to strike protected by old agreement

TT

Published 17.08

International Court of Justice in The Hague (ICJ). Third from left is Chief Judge Yuji Iwasawa. Archive photo. Photo: Peter Dejong /AP/TT

The right to strike is protected by an important labor law treaty from 1948, the International Court of Justice in The Hague (ICJ) believes. This could have an impact on workers' rights around the world.

Three years ago, the ICJ was asked by the UN body the International Labor Organization (ILO) whether a fundamental ILO convention also covers the right to strike.

The court "is of the opinion that the right to strike of workers and their organizations is protected" under the ILO Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize from 1948, Chief Judge Yuji Iwasawa announced on Thursday.

The opinion is not legally binding but is expected to have a major impact nonetheless. The convention has been ratified by 158 countries and often serves as a benchmark in international labor law.