Malaysian Trade Union Congress has expressed concern over the ignorance of workers unions in issues pertaining to the World Trade Organisation.

MTUC secretary-general G. Rajasekaran said most of the unions are not aware of the concerns raised against the WTO, a powerful international body which governs global trade rules. "Even the leaders are not aware," he said.

Rajasekaran added that the congress, which has 200 member affiliates, is trying to educate these leaders on WTO and the impact of globalisation on workers.

"We have been conducting training courses in our headquarters to create an awareness among members in our congress," said Rajasekaran.

Rajasekaran was commenting on globalisation and free trade issues that were the main topics on WTO's agenda in the recent ministerial meeting held in Seattle.

The WTO is an international body empowered to police trade between nations. Its three main objectives are to help free trade flow, achieve further liberalisation gradually through negotiation, and set up an impartial means of settling disputes.

The Seattle meeting drew virulent criticisms from over 1,000 environmental groups and labour unions from all over the world.

Thirty thousand people held a peaceful march to express their dissatisfaction with WTO, said Rajasekaran, who was there on behalf of the congress.

"These people from all walks of life gathered on a working day to protest against the WTO," Rajasekaran said.

"They were unhappy that WTO was mainly engrossed in issues concerning big corporations and not working people."

Rajasekaran, who took part in the march, said that the impact of globalisation on wages and working conditions were key concerns of the labour unions in the protest.

He, however, stressed that the demonstration that turned violent was a separate protest organised by environmental groups.

"They managed to stop the opening ceremony of WTO. They were there to show that the people would not tolerate the existence of WTO if agriculture and environmental issues were not addressed."

According to Rajasekaran, MTUC is not against globalisation. However, he said workers are seeking "fair trade, not free trade".

He called on WTO to respect labour laws. "However, WTO does not want to talk about labour rights and to consider the seven core conventions of the International Labour Organisation."

These conventions stipulate freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, elimination of forced labour, employment discrimination and child labour.

Rajasekaran added that MTUC did not see eye to eye with the government on labour rights.

"The government does not want to talk about issues involving labour rights and is neglecting them. It is more concern with business and trade issues," he lamented.