The International Trade Union Confederation said that Venezuela continues immersed in a pattern of union repression, criminalization of labor dissent and absence of institutions that effectively protect the rights of workers
The International Trade Union Confederation (CSI) placed Venezuela at level 5 of the Global Rights Index (IGD) 2025. In that category are nations where workers do not enjoy full guarantees to freely exercise their union activities.
The classification confirms that the country remains immersed in a pattern of trade union repression, criminalization of labor dissent and absence of institutions that effectively protect the rights of workers.
In its previous report, corresponding to 2024, the Confederation had reclassified Venezuela of level 4 (systematic violations of rights) to level 5, stating that “the authorities have continued to chase trade unionists through arbitrary arrests and convictions for false charges, while the union organization and rights have remained impeding.”
They also pointed out that Venezuela was among the countries where “arbitrary arrests and trade unionist prosecutions, with the aim of silencing independent trade union movement, have been usual practices.”
In that same report it was pointed out that, in Venezuela, together with Guinea-Bissau, Kyrguistan, Nigeria, Tanzania and Yemen, the State Security Bodies carried out raids in union venues, with the intention of replacing their leaders with people close to the government.
According to the IGD 2025, Venezuela remains between countries where “arbitrary arrests and trade unionist prosecutions, with the aim of silencing independent trade union movement, have been common practices.”
In its 2024 report, provided denounced a 74% drop in labor protests, which went from 4,100 in 2023 to about 1.075 in 2024. This reduction, the organization said, does not respond to improvements in working conditions, but to the inhibitor effect of fear, surveillance, criminalization and censorship. The educational sector, historically mobilized, starred only 430 protests throughout the year, a reduction of 84% compared to the previous year.
With information from Supplies
*Journalism in Venezuela is exercised in a hostile environment for the press with dozens of legal instruments arranged for the punishment of the word, especially the laws “against hatred”, “against fascism” and “against blockade.” This content was written taking into consideration the threats and limits that, consequently, have been imposed on the dissemination of information from within the country.
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