Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Repetition

The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to its previous comments. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments.

Articles 1(1) and 2(1) of the Convention. Compulsory agricultural work. For many years, the Committee has been referring to section 8(h) of the Chiefdom Councils Act (Cap. 61), under which compulsory cultivation may be imposed on “natives”. On numerous occasions, the Government indicated that this legislation would be amended. The Government also indicated that section 8(h) of the Act was not applied in practice and, as it was not in conformity with article 9 of the Constitution, it was unenforceable.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that, at the time of ratification, chiefs with administrative authority requested forced or communal labour from their communities, but that measures have been taken to address these occurrences, including through the establishment of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone. Nonetheless, the Government states that, despite the prohibition on forced or compulsory labour, minor violations do occur. In this regard, the Government indicates that a report was filed with the Human Rights Commission relating to the undertaking of communal work by a village. Noting that the Government had previously indicated its intention to amend this Act, the Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to repeal section 8(h) of the Chiefdom Councils Act, to bring it into conformity with the Convention. It requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application of this Act in practice with regard to the exaction of compulsory labour, including information on the reports filed in this respect with the Human Rights Commission.