| National organization(s) | |
|---|---|
| Primary legislation | 1996 constitution |
| Global Rights Index | |
4 Systematic violations of rights | |
| International Labour Organization | |
| Chad is a member of the ILO | |
| Convention ratification | |
| Freedom of Association | 1960 |
| Right to Organise | 1961 |
There are five recognizedtrade union confederations in Chad as of 2021:[1]
TheInternational Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) recognizes two affiliates,Free Confederation of Chadian Workers andUnion of Trade Unions of Chad. ITUC recently rejected an affiliation request from the Confederation of Trade Unions of Chad, but remains open to the Independent Confederation of Trade Unions of Chad.[1]
The UST is seen by theUN Human Rights Committee as the most representative union in its 2013 report.[1]
The ITUC ranked Chad a score of 4 on theGlobal Rights Index in 2024, due its frequent repression of trade union leaders including arrests,union busting and restrictions onstrikes.[2][3]
French trade unions maintained outposts inFrench Chad, before Chad wasdecolonized in 1960. The first president of the new state,François Tombalbaye was a trade unionist in the 1940s.
In 1964, under the one-party rule of theChadian Progressive Party, the National Union of Chadian Workers (UNTT;French:Union Nationale des Travailleurs Tchadiens) was established by merging all existing unions (except Christian unions) and had a combined membership of 8,000 salaried workers. In 1968, remaining groups were absorbed into the re-branded confederation National Union of Workers of Chad (UNATRAT;French:Union Nationale des Travailleurs du Tchad). By 1972 its membership increased to 12,000. Some of the membership supported theFROLINAT insurgency group, but trade union support was not influential. In 1975strikes were made illegal and in 1976public-sector employees were barred from joining unions (both repealed in the1996 Constitution).[1]
In 1988, UNATRAT was re-launched as National Union of Unions of Chad (UNST;French:Nationale des Syndicats du Tchad) which dissolved shortly after in 1990 when PresidentDéby rose to power. Previous members of UNST split into two directions. Dissidents formed the present dayFree Confederation of Chadian Workers (CLTT;French:Confédération Libre desTravailleurs du Tchad), affiliated to theWorld Confederation of Labour,[α] while loyalists to the new Déby regime staged ageneral strike, in order to reinstate UNST. The government agreed, as long as UNST changed its name, so its successorUnion of Trade Unions of Chad (UST;French:Union des Syndicats du Tchad) was re-established.[1]