Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous comments.

Article 1(1) and Article 2(1) and (2)(c), of the Convention. In the comments it has been making for many years, the Committee has drawn the Government’s attention to section 1 of Order No. 68-353 of 6 April 1968, under which labour is compulsory for persons in detention. In its reports received in November 2003 and March 2004, the Government indicates yet again that the Order has not been repealed but that in practice remand prisoners are not required to perform any kind of labour, either in or outside correctional institutions. The Government again states its intention of repealing Order No. 68-353 of 6 April 1968 and indicates that a bill to repeal it will be submitted to the Central Council for Labour and Employment (CSTE) at its next meeting. As to the observation by the Union of Comoros Workers’ Autonomous Trade Unions (USATC), sent by the Government with its previous report, that judicial and prison authorities have had recourse to forced labour for remand prisoners and political detainees, the Committee notes that the Government once again condemns the fact that detained workers have been forced to perform urban cleaning work and confirms that the necessary steps have been taken to prevent recurrence of such abuse.

The Committee takes note of this information and again expresses the hope that the Government will very soon be in a position to indicate that Order No. 68-353 of 6 April 1968 has been repealed or amended to ensure that persons detained without having been convicted shall work only on a voluntary basis and at their request.