Emergency motion: Trade unions stand for fundamental democratic rights and principles

At the industriAll Europe 2025 Congress, we express our commitment to democracy and social dialogue on behalf of more than 200 organisations and 7 million members in 39 countries.
We stand in solidarity and support our affiliates in all countries.

–    where fundamental civil rights, such as the right to freedom of assembly and association, are violated
–    where workers’ rights are curtailed
–    where trade unions are made more difficult or even impossible to operate, whether in the competitive or public sectors

These statements are particularly valid for Hungary, the host country of our Congress, where government measures have significantly weakened workers’ advocacy positions in recent years. The country has one of the most employer-friendly labour codes, the strike law that makes strikes difficult or impossible, and there are practically no substantive sanctions for employer violations, thus increasing workplace intimidation.

In Hungary, the government’s deliberate dismantling of social dialogue – at national, sectoral and company level – has led to a decline in the number of collective agreements and a rise in unilateral employer decisions.