Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

1. Article 1(a), (c) and (d) of the Convention. In comments made for a considerable number of years, the Committee has referred to provisions of the Criminal Code, the Newspaper Licensing Decree, 1973, the Merchant Shipping Act, 1963, the Protection of Property (Trade Disputes) Ordinance and the Industrial Relations Act, 1965, under which imprisonment (involving an obligation to perform labour) may be imposed as a punishment for non-observance of restrictions imposed by discretionary decision of the executive on the publication of newspapers and the carrying on of associations, for various breaches of discipline in the merchant marine and for participation in certain forms of strikes. The Committee requested the Government to adopt the necessary measures in regard to these provisions to ensure that no form of forced or compulsory labour (including compulsory prison labour) might be exacted in circumstances falling within Article 1(a), (c) or (d) of the Convention. The Committee also repeatedly requested the Government to supply information on the practical application of a number of legislative provisions.

In its latest report, the Government states that there is no change, the National Advisory Committee on labour is discussing the comments of the Committee of Experts, but it is the wish of the Government to bring the legislation concerned into conformity with the Convention and to inform the ILO accordingly through its next report on the subject. The Committee takes due note of this indication and trusts that the necessary action will now be taken on the various points which are once more recalled in detail in a request addressed directly to the Government.

2. The Committee has noted the adoption of the Political Parties Law, 1992, the Emergency Powers Act, 1994, and the Public Order Act, 1994, which give rise to a certain number of questions under the Convention that are also set out in the request addressed directly to the Government.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 1996.]