Trade unions have reported a stable membership level over the 12-month period preceding June 2004, the National Statistics Office said.

In June 2004, there were 86,156 members in the various trade unions. The figures on hand indicate a decline in union membership in the years 2002 and 2003.

The figures for 2004, however, indicate that trade unions may be containing this downward trend. Many of the members of the existing trade unions are found in economic activities concerned with public services, energy, communications, manufacturing, metalwork, and transport.

Union density stood at 62.6 per cent in June 2004.

On their part, employers’ associations reported a decline in their membership base over the previous year. There were 8,846 members in the employers’ associations in June 2004. Many of the members of the existing employers’ associations are found in economic activities dealing with retail trade, transport, and the hospitality industry.

The collective agreements deposited at the registry of the Employment and Industrial Relations Department indicate that 34.7 per cent of the collective agreements signed in 2003-2004 concerned the manufacturing sector.

In 2003-2004 most of the collective agreements were negotiated either by the General Workers’ Union (GWU) or the Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM). Accordingly, the collective agreements deposited at the registry of the Employment and Industrial Relations Department in the period under review indicate that 56.9 per cent of them were negotiated by GWU, while another 34.7 per cent were negotiated by the UHM.

In 2003, the administrative records reported eight industrial actions, whereas six industrial actions were reported for last year. It is estimated that, in the year 2003 these industrial actions resulted in 3,306 of workdays lost, whereas 1,652 workdays were lost due to industrial actions last year.

In conclusion, a decline in industrial actions and their distinguishing features were evident in 2004 in comparison to the preceding year.