Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

The Committee notes the Government’s report, in which it replies to the comments from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU, now ITUC – the International Trade Union Confederation) dated 10 August 2006 alleging the arbitrary application of collective agreements and the anti-union dismissals of three activists and the General Secretary of the National Union of Employees of SODEFOR (SYNACOS).

The Committee notes that the Government denies these allegations and sends numerous documents to support its point of view. The Government explains that conciliation was attempted through the labour inspector but failed, that the dismissal of the General Secretary of the union was authorized by the labour inspector and that the origin of the dismissal of the four persons was not the exercise of their trade union rights but the defamation of the enterprise management for two years preceding their dismissal. The Committee notes that the dismissed workers took the matter to court and that no decision has yet been issued. The Committee requests the Government to notify it of any court decision issued and send any information in this respect.

Finally, the Committee notes the latest comments dated 28 August 2007 from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) claiming that the Government interfered in the affairs of the National Union of Secondary School Teachers (SYNESCI) by challenging the legitimacy of its leader and occupying its premises. The Committee requests the Government to send it its reply to the comments made by the ITUC.