Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

The Committee wishes to recall that in its previous comments, on the matter of sympathy strikes, the Committee reminded the Government that a general prohibition on such strikes could lead to abuse and that workers should be able to take such action provided the initial strike they are supporting is itself lawful (see General Survey of 1994 on freedom of association and collective bargaining, paragraph 168). With regard to the fact that the Industrial Relations Act does not address sympathy strikes and has not yet been amended, and while noting the indication from the Government’s report that the matter will be taken to the Labour Advisory Board within the framework of legislative review, the Committee trusts that the Government will be able to indicate in its next report whether, in practice, workers may engage in sympathy strikes without incurring sanctions and all measures taken or envisaged in this regard.