Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

The Committee takes due note of the detailed information contained in the Government’s report.

The Committee recalls that it has been commenting for many years on the need to take measures for the adoption of objective, pre-established and detailed legislative criteria determining rules for the access of the occupational organizations of workers and employers to the National Labour Council, and that in this respect the Organic Act of 29 May 1952 establishing the National Labour Council still contains no specific criteria on representativeness, but leaves broad discretionary power to the Government. The Committee notes the Government’s indications that works council elections have recently been held, that the results are still not definitive and that it would be premature at this stage to modify the arrangements for social dialogue in Belgium. The Government also states that reflection has been initiated at the national level concerning social dialogue and the issue of representativeness. While noting this information, the Committee once again expresses the firm hope that the Government will adopt legal provisions in the near future determining the criteria of representativeness, and requests the Government to indicate any progress achieved in this regard in its next report.