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

The Committee notes that no report has been received from the Government. It must therefore repeat its previous observations which read as follows:

Article 2, paragraph 2(c), of the Convention. The Committee has been referring for 20 years to section 39 of Act No. 210 of 1970 respecting the prison system, which is contrary to this provision of the Convention since it states that "work shall be compulsory for detainees", although the same Act (section 10) defines as detainees not only convicted persons but also persons subjected to security measures in a prison establishment. Since 1977 the Government has been referring to a bill to amend section 39 of Act No. 210. In its previous observation the Committee expressed the hope that the necessary measures would be taken without delay to ensure observance of the Convention on this point on which it has been commenting for so many years, and asked the Government to provide a detailed report on the matter. In its report received in 1995 the Government states that "there have been no changes in the situation". The Committee hopes that the Government will not further postpone taking the necessary measures to ensure observance of the Convention.