Trade unions in Nauru

Trade unions in Nauru do not have a significant structure in the country. While there are some organizations that provide support for workers in certain industries, the organizations are not formal unions. A primary reason for the lack of trade unions in Nauru is its small population and lack of large-scale private employment.

Trade union rights
Nauru's constitution has provisions for the general right to belong to associations, including trade unions. However, the 2020 Registration of Associations Act, which granted additional rights to organizations, expressly excluded trade unions. Employers may fire workers who engage in union activity, though a worker may bring a civil complaint if fired for union involvement.

The right to strike is not protected, though it is not prohibited either. However, civil servants, who make up a significant portion of Nauru's labor force, may be prosecuted for organizing or participating in strikes, and fired following the prosecution. Similarly, though collective bargaining is not prohibited, it is not protected, and it does not occur in Nauru. Additionally, past efforts to form labor unions have been met with government discouragement.

Worker affiliation
Unlike the situation which exists in some countries, political parties are not involved in coordinated attempts to work and encourage organized labour as the party system itself in Nauru is not widely developed.

Nauru is not a member of the International Labour Organization.

Foreign workers
There are many foreign workers in Nauru in proportion to the local population, which contributes to the lack of organized labour. Some of these, including a sizeable number of Tuvalu nationals, are not infrequently owed back-pay, given the economic difficulties which beset the country. The issue of the rights of expatriate workers is arguably a lower priority to political representatives in Nauru.