Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2003, publiée 92ème session CIT (2004)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report and wishes to draw attention to the following points.

Part II (Engagement and recruitment of migrant workers). Articles 5 to 19. The Committee would appreciate receiving statistical information, if available, concerning the number of migrant workers employed in plantations and additional explanations as to the exact conditions under which these migrant workers are recruited and transferred to the place of employment. In the light of persistent reports about a generalized climate of intimidation, hostility and violence against foreign workers, the Committee trusts that the Government will take appropriate action to provide adequate protection to migrant plantation workers, particularly affected by the ongoing political and economic crisis. It accordingly asks the Government to keep it informed of any developments in this regard.

Part IV (Wages). Articles 24 to 35. The Committee refers to the points raised in the observation and the direct requests addressed to the Government in 2003 concerning the application of Conventions Nos. 26, 95 and 99.

Part IX (Right to organize and collective bargaining). Articles 54 to 61. The Committee refers to the observation addressed to the Government in 2003 concerning Convention No. 98.

Part XI (Labour inspection). Articles 71 to 84. While noting the Government’s reference to the legislative provisions concerning the status, functions and powers of labour inspectors, the Committee asks the Government to supply up-to-date information on the manner in which labour inspection operates in practice, including for instance reports from inspection services showing the number of inspection visits, the nature of infringements observed (with particular emphasis on wages and the employment of children and young persons) and the sanctions imposed. The Committee notes in this connection that recent reports make reference to widespread child trafficking in West African countries including Côte d’Ivoire and that in an effort to eliminate child labour in plantations, agriculture representatives from Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Guinea and Nigeria launched in July 2003 the West Africa Cocoa Agriculture Project (WACAP). The Committee hopes therefore that the Government will intensify its inspection activities in plantations, in accordance with Article 81 of the Convention, and that it will make every effort to prepare and communicate annual reports on the results of such activities as required under Article 84, paragraph 2, of the Convention.

Part XIII (Medical care). Articles 89 to 91. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific information on any measures, projects or initiatives taken in consultation with the social partners in order to eradicate or control prevalent endemic diseases in plantation areas. Incidentally, the Committee notes with concern that plantation workers are particularly exposed to HIV/AIDS infection risks due to the highly mobile migrant communities employed in plantations and that the country has by far the highest seroprevalence rate in the West African region. The Committee would therefore welcome any information the Government might provide on programmes and policies designed to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS in rural areas.

Part IV of the report form. The Committee requests the Government to provide all available information on the practical application of the Convention, including data on the number of workers and agricultural undertakings to which the Convention applies, extracts from official reports on the socio-economic conditions prevailing in the plantation sector, and any other particulars which would enable the Committee to better evaluate the Government’s efforts for the amelioration of the working and living conditions of plantation workers. The Committee would also be interested in receiving statistical information showing the relative weight of the plantation sector for the national economy, for instance, the percentage of the total workforce employed in plantation agriculture, the foreign trade volume and revenue represented by exports of plantation products, etc.