Some 744 international delegates from more than 30 countries, representing some 100 trade union organisations from all five continents, confirmed their participation today in Cuba’s International Workers’ Day activities.

In the context of May 1st, trade unionists and friends of the country will arrive on the Caribbean island, as part of the May Day Brigade, trade union internships, specialised groups and those arriving independently, the CTC announced the day before at a press conference, led by its head, Ulises Guilarte.

Of the total number of confirmed delegates, 468 are from Latin America and North America, 201 from Europe, 67 from Africa and the Middle East, and 8 from Asia and Oceania. The nations with the highest number of representations are: United States (237), United Kingdom (78), France (58) and Germany (51).

The visitors, convened by the CTC and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), will participate in the International Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba, scheduled for 30 April to 2 May.

The agenda of the meeting will also include a «trade union tribune» in a selected workplace, attendance at the May Day march, and the «international festival of trade union solidarity», also in the capital, the organisers said.

This event is a continuation of other world forums held previously in Havana this year (VI International Conference for the Balance of the World, January, and IV International Colloquium Patria, March), which provides knowledge about the reality of Cuba, Guilarte said.

Guilarte, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party, highlighted the holding, on 2 May, of a Round Table information programme in which some of the trade union activists present will take part.

He also pointed out that the trade union, social and solidarity organisations will once again express their rejection of the hostility of the US government against Cuba and demand an end to the economic, financial and commercial siege against it.