Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to its previous comments. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous observation, which read as follows:

Article 1(1) and Article 2(1) and (2)(a) and (d), of the Convention. National service obligations. In its earlier comments, the Committee requested the Government to take the necessary measures with a view to repeal or amend the National Service Act, 1977, under which persons between the ages of 18 and 21 years are required to perform service with the national service, including participation in development and self-help projects concerning housing, school, construction, agriculture and road building, failure to do so being punishable with a fine and imprisonment (section 35(2)). The Committee observed that, contrary to the Government’s repeated statement that the national service was created to respond to national disasters, the Act contained no reference to natural disasters, but specified the objectives of the national service, which “shall be to mobilize the energies of the people of Dominica to the fullest possible level of efficiency, to shape and direct those energies to promoting the growth and economic development of the State”. The Committee also referred to Article 1(b) of the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105), likewise ratified by Dominica, which specifically prohibits the use of forced or compulsory labour “as a means of mobilizing and using labour for purposes of economic development”.

While noting the Government’s indication in its latest report that the National Service Act, 1977, has been omitted from the Revised Laws of Dominica, 1990, as well as the Government’s repeated indications in its previous reports that section 35(2) of the Act has not been applied in practice, the Committee expresses firm hope that appropriate measures will be taken in the near future in order to formally repeal the above Act so as to bring national legislation into conformity with Conventions Nos 29 and 105 and that the Government will provide, in its next report, information on the progress made in this regard.

The Committee is also addressing a request on certain other points directly to the Government.

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