Interim Report - Report No 415, June 2026

Case No 2254 (Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)) - Complaint date: 17-MAR-03 - Active

Allegations: (i) acts of harassment, stigmatization and intimidation towards employers’ leaders and their organizations, including acts of violence against them; and (ii) the marginalization and exclusion of the employers’ organization FEDECAMARAS from decision-making processes, thereby excluding social dialogue, tripartism and, more generally, consultations on the adoption of social and economic decisions

1. 313. The Committee last examined this case (presented in March 2003) at its meeting in June 2025 and presented on that occasion an interim report to the Governing Body [see 411th Report, paras 527 to 556, approved by the Governing Body at its 354th Session (June 2025)]. 
2. 314. At its meeting in March 2026 [see 413th Report, para. 7], the Committee issued an urgent appeal to the Government, indicating that, in accordance with the procedural rules set out in paragraph 17 of its 127th Report, approved by the Governing Body (1971), it could present a report on the substance of the case at its next meeting even if the information or observations requested had not been received in due time. To date, the Government has not sent any information.
3. 315. The Committee recalls that various recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry – appointed by the Governing Body in the light of the complaint made under article 26 of the ILO Constitution by various Employers’ delegates to the 104th Session of the International Labour Conference against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and mandated to examine the country’s non-observance of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), among other Conventions – refer to issues raised in the present case. The Committee observes that the Commission of Inquiry established in its report that, in the light of the gravity of the issues raised, the situation and the progress achieved on its recommendations should be the subject of active supervision by the ILO supervisory bodies concerned. Given the gravity and persistence of the matters involved in this case, the Committee requested the Government to send its observations in relation to its previous recommendations and in the light of the relevant recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry, so that it might pursue its examination of the case with full knowledge of the facts. The Committee observes that the Governing Body, at each of its sessions, discusses the periodic progress report on developments concerning the social dialogue forum set up to give effect to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry with respect to the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
4. 316. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has ratified Convention No. 87 and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

A. Previous examination of the case

1. 317. In its previous examination of the case at its meeting in June 2025, the Committee made the following recommendations [see 411th Report, para. 556]:
   • (a) The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on: (i) the holding of the fifth session and next sessions of the social dialogue forum and the specific results of those sessions, as follow-up to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry; and (ii) the specific measures taken to generate a climate of trust based on respect for employers’ and trade union organizations with a view to promoting stable industrial relations and to ensure that the processes of dialogue and tripartite consultation are genuine, effective and comply with the formalities recommended by the Commission of Inquiry and other ILO supervisory bodies. The Committee strongly encourages the Government to avail itself of technical assistance from the Office in this respect, especially through in-person assistance from the ILO special adviser on social dialogue.
   • (b) The Committee expects the leaders of FEDECAMARAS to be able to exercise their representative activities in an environment of freedom and respect for their rights.
   • (c) The Committee firmly urges the Government and all competent authorities to take all necessary measures without delay to ensure that all of the instigators and perpetrators of the attacks examined in this case are identified and appropriately punished and to ensure that any compensation measures sought by the victims of those attacks are applied. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific information on progress made in this respect.
   • (d) The Committee expects the Government to redouble its efforts to ensure the implementation of all commitments made in the plan of action and requests it to provide specific information on progress achieved in this regard, including in relation to Workers’ Production Councils and cases of expropriation of land.
   • (e) The Committee draws the special attention of the Governing Body to the serious and urgent nature of this case.

B. The Committee’s conclusions

1. 318. The Committee recalls that, in the context of this case, it has been examining since 2004 serious allegations of violations of freedom of association relating notably to: (i) acts of harassment, stigmatization and intimidation towards employers’ leaders and their organizations, including acts of violence against them; and (ii) the public authorities’ marginalization and exclusion of the employers’ organization FEDECAMARAS from decision-making processes, thereby excluding social dialogue, tripartism and, more generally, consultations on the adoption of social and economic decisions.
2. 319. The Committee regrets the fact that, despite the time elapsed since the last examination of the case in June 2025, the Government has still not provided its observations, even though it has been asked to do so several times, including through an urgent appeal made at its meeting in March 2026. Under these circumstances and in accordance with the applicable procedural rule [see 127th Report, approved by the Governing Body at its 184th Session (1972)], the Committee is obliged to present a report on the substance of the case without being able to take account of the information that it hoped to receive from the Government.
3. 320. The Committee reminds the Government that the purpose of the whole procedure established by the International Labour Organization for the examination of allegations of violations of freedom of association is to ensure respect for trade union rights in law and in practice. While this procedure protects governments against unreasonable accusations, they must recognize the importance of formulating, for objective examination, detailed replies concerning allegations brought against them [see First Report of the Committee, 1952, para. 31].
4. 321. The Committee observes, moreover, that, since the last examination of the case, it has also not received any information from the complainant organizations.
5. 322. The Committee observes that the Governing Body examined, at its 355th and 356th Sessions, held in November 2025 and March 2026 respectively, developments concerning the social dialogue forum set up to give effect to the recommendations made by the Commission of Inquiry. It further observes that, at the latter meeting, the Government indicated its intention to hold the fifth session of the forum in the second half of April 2026. The Governing Body, while regretting the lack of progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry, expressed its firm expectation that, with the Office’s technical assistance, preferably in person, the fifth session of the social dialogue forum to be held in the second half of April 2026 would result in the adoption of an updated action plan leading to the full implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry in order to advance social dialogue and promote national reconciliation and social justice as foundations for lasting peace and prosperity in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. It also repeated its call to the Government to make the necessary arrangements to enable the Office to deliver technical assistance, preferably in person, to the social partners during and between sessions of the social dialogue forum.
6. 323. The Committee observes that, according to the information provided to the Office, the fifth session of the social dialogue forum was held on 28 and 29 April in Caracas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and takes note that, on that occasion, the Government together with the workers’ and employers’ organizations that participated, including FEDECAMARAS, agreed, with the technical assistance of the ILO, to continue adopting measures aimed at deepening and strengthening social dialogue in the country, as well as updating the action plan. The Committee observes that, among other matters, and in particular in relation to the issues under examination in the present case, it was agreed to: (i) continue strengthening and institutionalizing tripartite social dialogue spaces in coordination with the National Dialogue Roundtable for Labour and Social Consensus and to consider holding a further session of the social dialogue forum with the technical assistance of the ILO; (ii) with regard to the Workers’ Production Councils, continue reviewing legislation and practice, inviting employers’ organizations to submit their observations and proposals, as well as through technical meetings, with a view to regulating their functioning within a period not exceeding 90 days; (iii) taking note of the steps taken in cases relating to lands belonging to FEDECAMARAS leaders and of the reduction in the number of cases initially identified, resume dialogue and coordination with the competent bodies for the resolution of the cases still pending, especially those highlighted by the Commission of Inquiry, within a period not exceeding 30 days; (iv) continue holding quarterly meetings in order to ensure the implementation and follow-up of the commitments undertaken at the fifth forum, with a view to producing a detailed report on progress achieved; and (v) request and facilitate technical assistance from the ILO in its various modalities, particularly in training on international labour standards for government officials and in strengthening workers’ and employers’ organizations.
7. 324. The Committee welcomes the holding of the fifth session of the social dialogue forum and the updating of the action plan in the manner described. The Committee expresses its firm hope that every effort will continue to be made to ensure compliance with all the commitments undertaken in that action plan and requests the Government to provide precise information on progress made in this regard, in follow-up to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry, including those relating to the Workers’ Production Councils and cases of land expropriation.
8. 325. The Committee firmly expects that the Government will continue taking, in line with what was agreed at the fifth session of the forum, measures to generate a climate of trust based on respect for employers’ and trade union organizations with a view to promoting stable industrial relations and to ensure that the processes of dialogue and tripartite consultation are genuine, effective and comply with the formalities recommended by the Commission of Inquiry and other ILO supervisory bodies. In this context, the Committee trusts that the Government will ensure that the leaders of FEDECAMARAS may exercise their representative activities in an environment of freedom and respect for their rights.
9. 326. Finally, the Committee recalls that, in its previous examinations of the case, it firmly urged the Government and all competent authorities to take all necessary measures without delay to ensure that all of the instigators and perpetrators of the attacks against FEDECAMARAS leaders and premises (detailed in the 2021 examination of the case) are identified and appropriately punished as soon as possible and to ensure that any compensation measures sought by the victims of those attacks are applied. The Committee requested the Government to provide specific information on progress made in this respect. In the absence of such information, the Committee reiterates its previous recommendations.

C. The Committee’s recommendations

1. 327. In the light of its foregoing interim conclusions, the Committee invites the Governing Body to approve the following recommendations:
   • (a) The Committee expresses its firm hope that every effort will continue to be made to ensure compliance with all the commitments undertaken in the action plan and requests the Government to provide precise information on progress made in this regard, in follow-up to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry, including those relating to the Workers’ Production Councils and cases of land expropriation.
   • (b) The Committee firmly expects that the Government will continue taking, in line with what was agreed at the fifth session of the forum, measures to generate a climate of trust based on respect for employers’ and trade union organizations with a view to promoting stable industrial relations and to ensure that the processes of dialogue and tripartite consultation are genuine, effective and comply with the formalities recommended by the Commission of Inquiry and other ILO supervisory bodies.
   • (c) The Committee trusts that the Government will ensure that the leaders of FEDECAMARAS may exercise their representative activities in an environment of freedom and respect for their rights.
   • (d) The Committee once again firmly urges the Government and all competent authorities to take all necessary measures without delay to ensure that all of the instigators and perpetrators of the attacks against FEDECAMARAS leaders and premises (detailed in the 2021 examination of the case) are identified and appropriately punished as soon as possible and to ensure that any compensation measures sought by the victims of those attacks are applied. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific information on progress made in this respect.
   • (e) The Committee draws the special attention of the Governing Body to the serious and urgent nature of this case.