Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

1. Article 2(2)(a) of the Convention. In its previous observation, the Committee noted a communication from the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV) dated 18 August 1995 alleging the use of conscripts for non-military activities. The Committee notes from the Government's report that by a letter of 19 December 1995 from the State Secretary of Defence, the general Association of Dutch Servicemen and Women (AVNM) was informed of the voluntary nature of assignments of conscripts to assist at non-military events, and that at the request of the Association of Conscripts (VVDM), the FNV's communication to the ILO regarding the deployment of conscripts for non-military tasks was discussed by the Consultative Committee for Defence on 21 September 1995, when it was agreed that the position of conscripts would be reviewed in the light of the Convention. The Committee further notes with interest from the Government's report that compulsory attendance of the national service will end on 1 January 1997; the Committee looks forward to learning of the provisions adopted to this end.

2. In earlier comments, the Committee referred to section 6 of the Extraordinary (Employment Relations) Decree, 1945, under which a worker is required to obtain approval for the termination of his employment. The Committee noted that a Bill to repeal this requirement was presented to Parliament on 15 March 1990. It also noted the Government's indication that if the required legislative amendment took too much time, it would consider the possibility of issuing guidelines to the regional employment offices in order to facilitate the termination of employment by workers on their own request. In the absence of further information on any progress made in this regard, the Committee again expresses the hope that the necessary measures will at last be taken to repeal section 6 of the Extraordinary Decree of 1945, and that the Government will soon be in a position to report on the provisions adopted to this end.