CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the Government’s report.

In its previous comments, the Committee had referred to section 25 of the Industrial Relations Act (IRA) which provided that in certain new undertakings employers and trade unions must seek approval from the Minister for Manpower if annual leave and sick leave benefits stipulated in their collective agreement were to be more favourable than those stated in the Employment Act. The Committee had requested the Government to take appropriate steps to repeal section 25 of the IRA so as to ensure that the right to bargain collectively was fully recognized in newly established enterprises.

The Committee notes with satisfaction the Government’s statement that section 25 of the IRA has been repealed with effect from 1 January 2004.