Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2000, publiée 89ème session CIT (2001)

The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government in its latest report.

In its previous comments, the Committee had recalled the necessity to amend the Public Utility Undertakings and Public Health Services Arbitration Act (Chapter 54:01, sections 3, 12 and 19), so that compulsory arbitration in respect of a strike, liable to a fine or two months’ imprisonment, may only be used for essential services in the strict sense of the term. The Committee notes that the Government has stated in its report that the industrial disputes subcommittee which is chaired by a representative of the unions has not submitted its report on the amendment of the legislation in question, and that the Government will have to take the initiative to draft the amendment to the Act to bring it in line with the Convention. Once again, the Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to bring in the near future the legislation into conformity with the Convention and to ensure that the powers conferred on the authorities to resort to compulsory arbitration to bring an end to a strike are limited to collective actions and strikes in services the interruption of which would endanger the life, personal safety or health of the whole or part of the population. The Committee urges the Government to indicate in its next report any progress made in this respect.