Definitive Report - REPORT_NO114, 1970

1. 65. The complaint was made in a communication to the ILO dated 24 December 1968 from the Moroccan Federation of Labour, the text of which was transmitted to the Government. The Government forwarded its observations in a communication dated 20 May 1969. The complainants did not provide any additional information in support of the complaint. At its session in May 1969, the Committee postponed its examination of the case, the Government's observations having arrived too late.
2. 66. Morocco has not ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), but has ratified the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

A. A. The complainants' allegations

• Allegations relating to the Death of a Union Member
  67. 67 In a communication dated 24 December 1968 (in the form of a telegram), the Moroccan Federation of Labour stated that after a strike by the miners at Djerada on 20 December a worker, Ahmed Ben Miloud, who had been a member of the delegation appointed by the strike committee to meet the local authorities, was found dead in obscure circumstances. The complainants demanded an inquiry into the causes and circumstances of his death.
  68. 68 The substance of the Government's observations is that in January 1968 (sic), three hundred workers went on strike in order to obtain the dismissal of the Chief of Personnel at the Djerada Mines. The strike later spread to all the workers, and went beyond the planned period of twenty-four hours. The management made an appeal for assistance to the local authorities, in this case the caïd, who summoned representatives of the strikers to his office. Mr. Ahmed Ben Miloud was not among them. With regard to this latter, the Government held an official inquiry, and on the basis of the police report, the Government decided that it was in fact a case of suicide for personal reasons. This conclusion is supported in part by the fact that the dead man left a letter in which he declared his intention of putting an end to his life for personal reasons. The Government states that the incident had no connection with the strike, which in any case ended a few days later, when work was resumed normally.

B. B. The Committee's conclusions

1. 69. In view of the information provided by the Government and taking into account also the facts that the complaining organisation did not provide further details in its brief telegram and did not avail itself of the right to provide additional information within the prescribed time limit, the Committee considers that it has not received evidence that the incident in question involved any infringement of trade union rights.