Venezuela's government should "immediately" cease <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-launches-probe-into-venezuela-rights-abuses-252441">labour violations</a>, including detentions of workers who do not support President Nicolas Maduro, a UN agency commission said on Friday.

The Commission of Inquiry carried out by the International Labour Organization followed a complaint in March 2018 by the Venezuelan business association Fedecamaras.

The association accused Maduro's socialist government of systematically breaching the rights of unions and trade groups seen as supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has been recognised as Venezuela's president by more than 50 countries including the US.

The commission, which went to Venezuela in July, called for "the immediate cessation of all acts of violence, threats, persecution, stigmatisation, intimidation or any other form of aggression against employers' and workers' organisations that do not support the government," an ILO statement said.

The commission also demanded "the immediate release of any employer or trade unionist who may be in prison as a result of carrying out the legitimate activities of their workers' or employers' organisation."

Maduro's government has three months to challenge the inquiry and can take the case to the UN's International Court of Justice.

The Venezuela Commission of Inquiry is only the 13th such probe in the ILO's 100-year history.

Venezuela is suffering from a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-playlist-humanitarian-crisis-in-venezuela-244667">punishing economic crisis </a>and a political standoff between Maduro's government and the National Assembly led by Guaido.

The oil-rich country suffers from hyperinflation and shortages of basic goods from food to medicine, a crisis that has forced some 3.6 million people to flee since 2016.

Venezuela's government should "immediately" cease labour violations, including detentions of workers who do not support President Nicolas Maduro, a UN agency commission said on Friday.

Venezuela's government should "immediately" cease labour violations, including detentions of workers who do not support President Nicolas Maduro, a UN agency commission said on Friday. The Commission of Inquiry carried out by the International Labour Organization followed a complaint in March 2018 by the Venezuelan business association Fedecamaras. The association accused Maduro's socialist government of systematically breaching the rights of unions and trade groups seen as supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has been recognised as Venezuela's president by more than 50 countries including the US. The commission, which went to Venezuela in July, called for "the immediate cessation of all acts of violence, threats, persecution, stigmatisation, intimidation or any other form of aggression against employers' and workers' organisations that do not support the government," an ILO statement said. The commission also demanded "the immediate release of any employer or trade unionist who may be in prison as a result of carrying out the legitimate activities of their workers' or employers' organisation." Maduro's government has three months to challenge the inquiry and can take the case to the UN's International Court of Justice. The Venezuela Commission of Inquiry is only the 13th such probe in the ILO's 100-year history. Venezuela is suffering from a punishing economic crisis and a political standoff between Maduro's government and the National Assembly led by Guaido. The oil-rich country suffers from hyperinflation and shortages of basic goods from food to medicine, a crisis that has forced some 3.6 million people to flee since 2016.

Venezuela must end worker abuses: U.N. inquiry

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc was sued on Monday by Jimmy &quot;Superfly&quot; Snuka and dozens of other retired male and female wrestlers seeking to hold it responsible for neurological injuries that they claim they suffer from because of having participated in its bouts. 
 
The complaint was filed on behalf of more than 50 plaintiffs who have performed with WWE or its predecessors since the 1970s, including Joseph &quot;Road Warrior Animal&quot; Laurinaitis and Paul &quot;Mr Wonderful&quot; Orndorff. 
 
It accused Stamford, Connecticut-based WWE and Chairman Vince McMahon of intentionally classifying wrestlers as &quot;independent contractors&quot; rather than employees, as a means to avoid liability under applicable worker protection laws. 
 
&quot;WWE placed corporate gain over its wrestlers&#39; health, safety, and financial security, choosing to leave the plaintiffs severely injured and with no recourse to treat their damaged minds and bodies,&quot; the complaint said. 
 
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as improved medical monitoring. 
 
WWE, in a statement, called the lawsuit another attempt to hold it liable by a lawyer who had two earlier lawsuits dismissed and added that &quot;we&#39;re confident this lawsuit will suffer the same fate&quot;. 
 
WWE has won the dismissal of some claims in other lawsuits accusing it of hiding the risks of head trauma from wrestling. 
 
The National Football League and National Hockey League have also been sued by retired players over head injuries. 
 
Monday&#39;s complaint was filed with the federal court in New Haven, Connecticut. 
 
The plaintiffs accused WWE of concealing the risks of the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy and other traumatic brain injuries attributable to wrestling, including through &quot;scripted&quot; moves it choreographed. 
 
Konstantine Kyros, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, in an email said WWE&#39;s &quot;exploitative business model&quot; kept his clients from learning their rights under laws such as the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act. 
 
According to the complaint, Laurinaitis, 55; Snuka, 72; and Orndorff, 66, suffer from cognitive difficulties including headaches, dizziness and memory loss, while Snuka and Orndorff also experience confusion, depression and mood swings. 
 
The plaintiffs also include former referees and identical twins Earl and Dave Hebner, 66, who according the complaint have experienced cognitive difficulties. Dave Hebner has also been diagnosed with Parkinson&#39;s disease, the complaint said. 
 
(Reuters)

The complaint accuses WWE of intentionally classifying them as 'independent contractors' rather than employees to avoid liability

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc was sued on Monday by Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka and dozens of other retired male and female wrestlers seeking to hold it responsible for neurological injuries that they claim they suffer from because of having participated in its bouts. The complaint was filed on behalf of more than 50 plaintiffs who have performed with WWE or its predecessors since the 1970s, including Joseph "Road Warrior Animal" Laurinaitis and Paul "Mr Wonderful" Orndorff. It accused Stamford, Connecticut-based WWE and Chairman Vince McMahon of intentionally classifying wrestlers as "independent contractors" rather than employees, as a means to avoid liability under applicable worker protection laws. "WWE placed corporate gain over its wrestlers' health, safety, and financial security, choosing to leave the plaintiffs severely injured and with no recourse to treat their damaged minds and bodies," the complaint said. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as improved medical monitoring. WWE, in a statement, called the lawsuit another attempt to hold it liable by a lawyer who had two earlier lawsuits dismissed and added that "we're confident this lawsuit will suffer the same fate". WWE has won the dismissal of some claims in other lawsuits accusing it of hiding the risks of head trauma from wrestling. The National Football League and National Hockey League have also been sued by retired players over head injuries. Monday's complaint was filed with the federal court in New Haven, Connecticut. The plaintiffs accused WWE of concealing the risks of the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy and other traumatic brain injuries attributable to wrestling, including through "scripted" moves it choreographed. Konstantine Kyros, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, in an email said WWE's "exploitative business model" kept his clients from learning their rights under laws such as the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act. According to the complaint, Laurinaitis, 55; Snuka, 72; and Orndorff, 66, suffer from cognitive difficulties including headaches, dizziness and memory loss, while Snuka and Orndorff also experience confusion, depression and mood swings. The plaintiffs also include former referees and identical twins Earl and Dave Hebner, 66, who according the complaint have experienced cognitive difficulties. Dave Hebner has also been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, the complaint said. (Reuters)

WWE sued by more than 50 retired wrestlers over neurological injuries

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Venezuela must end worker abuses: U.N. inquiry

WWE sued by more than 50 retired wrestlers over neurological injuries