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

The Committee notes the Government’s report.

The Committee recalls that its previous comments referred to the embryonic state of collective bargaining in both the private and public sectors in the country. In this respect, it noted that one collective agreement, concluded in 1961, is in force in the country, as well as various accords between branch trade unions and their employers, concluded following specific collective disputes, but that these accords were not in general effective.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that: (1) various meetings have been held between the social partners; (2) collective bargaining continues to be a major concern of the Government, which is endeavouring to make dialogue between the social partners more dynamic; and (3) a special adviser has been appointed to the Ministry of Social Affairs with the responsibility of specifically dealing with the promotion of social dialogue.

In this respect, the Committee notes that the Government does not provide information on new collective agreements which have been concluded since the agreement of 1961. The Committee once again reiterates the importance that it attaches to Article 4 of the Convention which provides that measures shall be taken, where necessary, to promote voluntary negotiation between employers and workers’ organizations. The Committee once again requests the Government to keep it informed of any memoranda of understanding or collective agreements that are concluded, with an indication of the sector and the number of workers covered. The Committee hopes that it will be able to note substantial progress in this respect in the Government’s next report. The Committee recalls that the Government can have recourse to the technical assistance of the ILO.