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

Article 1 of the Convention. The need to guarantee workers protection against acts of anti-union discrimination.

The Committee notes with concern that the Government has not taken any measures to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee on Freedom of Association in Case No. 1688 concerning extremely serious acts of anti-union reprisals.

It also notes that a new complaint alleging measures of anti-union reprisals, including new cases of detentions of trade unionists and acts of violence against them, has been submitted to the Committee on Freedom of Association by the Sudan Workers' Trade Unions' Federation in May 1995 (Case No. 1843).

Under these conditions, the Committee expresses the firm hope that the Government will take the necessary measures as soon as possible to guarantee the protection of workers against acts of anti-union discrimination in both law and practice by amending sections 23 and 24 of the Trade Union Act of 1992.

Article 4. The Committee recalls the importance that it attaches to the principles of voluntary negotiation contained in this Article and requests the Government to amend section 16 of the Industrial Relations Act of 1976 to limit the powers of the Minister to refer a collective dispute to compulsory arbitration to cases of disputes in the essential services in the strict sense of the term, namely those the interruption of which would endanger the life, personal safety and health of the whole or part of the population.

The Committee requests the Government to indicate any progress that has been made in these matters in its next report.

[The Government is asked to supply full particulars to the 85th Session of the Conference.]