Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

In its comments made for a number of years, the Committee asked the Government to repeal or amend section 8(h) of the Chiefdom Councils Act (Cap. 61) under which compulsory cultivation may be imposed on natives. The Committee previously noted the Government's statement that the above-mentioned section is not in conformity with article 9 of the Constitution and would be held unenforceable. The Committee also noted the Government's indication that section 8(h) was not applied in practice and that information on any amendment of this section would be provided. In its latest report (1995) the Government stated that measures to change section 8(h) are evident in the new proposed Constitution. The Committee therefore trusts that measures will be taken in the near future in order to bring section 8(h) of the Chiefdom Councils Act into conformity with the Convention and the indicated practice. It asks the Government to provide, in its next report, information on any progress made in this regard.