Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2002, publiée 91ème session CIT (2003)

Article 2 of the Convention. In response to previous comments, the Government states that the right to paid education leave is implemented primarily through private sector collective bargaining. However, employers and workers lack the capacity to bargain effectively and focus primarily on traditional issues such as wages and lay-offs. The tripartite partners are exploring the possibility of establishing a mechanism for bargaining councils to serve as a pool of professional bargainers to supplement the bargaining efforts of the parties. The Government adds that the more critical challenge is the fact that the majority of workers are now in the informal economy. The Committee notes this information. It would appreciate being kept informed of any changes in policy and/or methods of implementation undertaken in light of the abovementioned obstacles to fully implementing the provisions of the Convention.

Article 8. In previous comments the Committee had requested further information on measures taken to bring section 1(1.2) of the 1984 Parastatal Service Regulations, which permits discrimination on grounds of political affiliation, into line with the requirements of Article 8, which prohibits discrimination on grounds of political opinion. In reply, the Government states that section 1(1.2) will be corrected with the current labour law reforms. The Committee notes this information and requests the Government to take measures to guarantee to workers equal access to paid education leave irrespective of their political opinion. Please provide in the next report a copy of the amended legislation once it has been adopted or information on any measures taken in this respect.

[The Government is requested to report in detail in 2003.]