Effect given to the recommendations of the committee and the Governing Body - Report No 337, June 2005

Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body

1. 102. The Committee last examined this case at its November 2002 meeting when it urged once again the Government to lift the ban on trade union activities at the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) and requested it to restore without delay the rights of the KESC Democratic Mazdoor Union as collective bargaining agent. It further requested the Government to keep it informed of developments in the process of KESC privatization, in particular as regards the preservation of workers’ rights, and to provide it with a copy of the agreement between the ministries and the All Pakistan State Workers Action Committee (APSWAC), once it was concluded [329th Report, paras. 106-108].
2. 103. In a communication of 19 January 2005, the Government indicated that the Privatisation Commission for the privatization of KESC held a meeting in December 2004, during which it considered the various issues concerning KESC. The Government indicated that, as concerns this case, the following recommendation was adopted by the Commission: “under the Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO), which will be applicable to KESC as well, ban on unions in KESC may be lifted six months after the closure of KESC”.
3. 104. While noting that the IRO is applicable to KESC workers, the Committee notes that the ban on unions in KESC may be lifted only six months after the privatization of KESC. It is not clear to the Committee whether this decision was reached in agreement with the unions concerned. The Committee emphasizes that it is important that governments consult with trade union organizations concerned to discuss the consequences of restructuring which could affect employment and working conditions of employees. The Committee urges the Government to ensure that the ban on trade union activities at KESC is lifted immediately and the rights of the KESC Democratic Mazdoor Union as collective bargaining agent is restored as soon as possible. The Committee requests the Government to continue to keep it informed of the developments in the process of privatization, in particular as regards the preservation of workers’ rights.