Page 40 of 46 Other Societal Violence or Discrimination Although the law prohibited employment discrimination against individuals with HIV, societal discrimination remained a concern. Persons with HIV or AIDS were exempt on medical grounds from serving in the armed forces. Section 7. Worker Rights a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provided for the right of workers, except members of the military services, to form and join independent unions, conduct labor activities without interference, and strike. Armed forces personnel had the right to form unions but not to strike. Police had the right to organize and demonstrate but not to strike. For a trade union to be formally established, the law required a minimum of 20 founding members. The law generally protected the right to bargain collectively. The law prohibited antiunion discrimination and required reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. Legislation also prohibited the recruitment of strikebreakers throughout the duration of a lawful strike and lockouts. The law allowed company-level agreements to take precedence over sector-level collective agreements in the private sector, but in all cases, the law mandated a statutory minimum wage applicable for all. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2023 United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor