The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions has condemned the use of intimidation and repression against trade unionists and workers in Mexico.

Its annual report issued in Geneva says there's been no improvement under the present government and that workers' conditions in the assembly plants on the Mexican side of the US border are particularly bad.

The report says workers who protest are threatened with dismissals, beatings and rape.

It says in some cases workers have received death threats and been forced to leave their jobs and homes.

An ICFTU official says women seeking work are still obliged to take pregnancy tests and those who become pregnant are intimidated into resigning, or illegally sacked.