Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

The Committee notes with regret that no report has been received from the Government. It must therefore repeat its previous observation on the following matters:

Article 1(a) of the Convention. In comments made for a number of years, the Committee has noted that prison sentences involving an obligation to perform labour may be imposed under the following provisions of the Penal Code:

(a)  sections 184(3), 197(1)(a) and 240 concerning, inter alia, the publication and propagation of news, information, false or self-interested statements, biased or inciting propaganda concerning internal affairs of the country which reduces the prestige and standing of the State, or for the purpose of harming public interest and goods;

(b)  sections 221(1), (4) and (5) concerning a person who creates, establishes, organizes or administers an organization under the name of a party, society, union or group with the aim of disturbing and nullifying one of the basic and accepted national values in the political, social, economic or cultural spheres of the State, or makes propaganda for its extension or attraction to it, by whatever means it may be, or who joins such an organization or establishes relations, himself or through someone else with such an organization or one of its branches.

The Committee had noted the Government’s earlier indication that the obligation to perform prison labour provided for under section 3 of the Prisons Law covers persons convicted under the abovementioned sections of the Penal Code as well as those convicted of other misdemeanours and crimes; under section 13 of the Prisons Law, those convicted under the abovementioned sections of the Penal Code are kept in custody separately from ordinary prisoners, and are also engaged in different activities to keep themselves physically healthy and to provide themselves with gainful employment for which they are fully paid.

While noting the special status given to prisoners convicted under the abovementioned sections of the Penal Code, the Committee pointed out that the imposition of sanctions involving compulsory labour on these persons remains contrary to the Convention.

The Committee hopes that the penal provisions will be examined in the light of the Convention with a view to ensuring that no sanctions involving forced or compulsory labour may be imposed as a means of political coercion or education or as a punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system and that the Government will indicate the measures taken to this end.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.