Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

1. Further to its previous observation, the Committee has noted the information in the Government's report as to the consultations which have taken place with employers' and workers' representatives on various aspects of ILO standards and activities. It has been particularly interested to learn of the discussions in the Tripartite Committee on Conventions concerning the review of basic human rights and other Conventions: these appear to have contributed to the ratification by India of the Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 147), in September of this year. The Committee hopes the Government will continue to supply information as to consultations of this nature.

2. The Committee has noted the observations of the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) - which has called for regular annual tripartite consultations - and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), which describes the state of national tripartite consultations as unsatisfactory in relation to a range of social and economic issues, including problems arising under international labour Conventions and national labour legislation. In its reply, the Government indicates the matters falling under Article 5 of the Convention on which there have been recent consultations through the procedures laid down.

3. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would include in its next report full details of further consultations taking place, as well as any action under consideration in the light of the comments of the SCOPE and the CITU.