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The results of the ITUC annaul survey of violations of trade union rights "paints a picture of people fighting for greater economic rights and freedom to organise, with many governments and businesses responding with repression, sackings, violence, death threats and murder," the organisation said.



Among the the global trends, the survey finds "governments are not enforcing labour laws, lack of support for the funding of inspection or protection, the lack of rights and abuse of migrant labour across the world, but particularly in the Gulf States, and the exploitation of the mainly female workforces in the world’s export processing zones."

The survey also shows how government repression across the Middle East of those fighting for better salaries and conditions and union rights.

The Americas was the most dangerous region for trade unionists in 2010, with killing and widespread threats in Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, Brazil and Honduras.

In the United States, the survey found "employers are very hostile towards unions, and union-busting is a multi-billion dollar business." The report cites the "agressive anti-union" campaign by Deutsche Telekom at T-Mobile as example of this trend.

To read the full report click here.