CMNT_TITLE

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Guinea (RATIFICATION: 1959)

Other comments on C087

Observation

Direct Request

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The Committee notes the observations of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), received on 1 September 2017, and of the National Employers’ Council of Guinea, transmitted with the Government’s report, which cover matters examined by the Committee.

Article 3 of the Convention. Right of organizations to organize their activities and to formulate their programmes. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the determination of minimum services in the context of collective disputes through the framework for concerted social dialogue, and particularly to indicate the minimum services determined in the transport and communications services, where difficulties had previously been reported. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s indication that, following the development of the National Social Dialogue Charter, Decree No. 256 of 23 August 2016 establishing a National Social Dialogue Council was adopted. The Committee notes that, in accordance with section 4 of the Decree, the Council is responsible for ensuring permanent dialogue between the State and all the social partners, and that section 5(2) provides that the Council shall be consulted on major disputes. The Committee further notes that section 7 of the Decree provides for the tripartite composition of the Council and the appointment of its members. The Government adds that it will take every measure for its effective implementation, including the appointment of its members. The Committee notes the indication by the National Employers’ Council of Guinea, suggesting that the Council could also address, in addition to the transport and telecommunications sectors, services such as banking and insurance, health, education and microfinance. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the work of the National Employers’ Council of Guinea in resolving disagreements concerning the determination of minimum wages. The Committee once again requests the Government to indicate the minimum services determined in the transport and communications services, where difficulties had previously been reported, including by the ITUC in its observations referred to above.

The Committee recalls that in its previous comment it noted that, under the terms of section 431(5) of the Labour Code, employees are entitled to cease working completely, on condition that indispensable security measures and a minimum service are ensured. In this regard, the Committee previously requested the Government to take the necessary measures to amend section 431(5) of the Labour Code in order to limit the possibility to establish a minimum service to the following situations: (i) in services the interruption of which would endanger the life, personal safety or health of the whole or part of the population (that is, essential services “in the strict sense of the term”); (ii) in services which are not essential in the strict sense of the term, but in which strikes of a certain magnitude and duration could cause an acute crisis threatening the normal conditions of existence of the population; or (iii) in public services of fundamental importance (see the 2012 General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, paragraph 136). The Committee also noted that, under the terms of sections 433(1) and 434(4) of the Labour Code, read in conjunction, recourse to arbitration may be compulsory in a dispute of such a nature as to compromise the normal functioning of the national economy. In this regard, the Committee recalled that compulsory recourse to arbitration to bring an end to a collective labour dispute or a strike is only acceptable in cases where strikes may be subject to restrictions, or even prohibited, namely: (i) in the case of disputes concerning public servants exercising authority in the name of the State; (ii) in disputes in essential services in the strict sense of the term; or (iii) in situations of acute national or local crisis, but only for a limited period of time and to the extent necessary to meet the requirements of the situation (see General Survey op. cit., paragraph 153). The Committee also noted the possibility envisaged in section 434(4) of the Labour Code to make executory an arbitration award despite the expressed opposition of one of the parties within the time limits set out in the law, which amounts to empowering the public authorities to bring an end to a strike, instead of the highest judicial authorities. The Committee therefore requested the Government to take the necessary measures to amend section 434(4) of the Labour Code as indicated above. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it has established a commission to review the Labour Code, with a view to its revision, and that sections 431(5) and 434(4) will be analysed and discussed by this commission. The Committee welcomes the establishment of the commission to review the Labour Code and hopes that sections 431(5) and 434(4) of the Labour Code will be amended in the near future. The Committee requests the Government to report any progress achieved in this regard.