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

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report. The Committee recalls that its previous observation referred to the following questions:

–      the need to amend the Public Utility Undertakings and Public Health Services Arbitration Act (Chapter 54:01) in respect to: (1) conferring on the Minister broad powers to refer a dispute in the services listed in the schedule to a tribunal for compulsory arbitration and the sanction (fine or imprisonment) imposed on workers who take part in an illegal strike (section 19); (2) the schedule listing the essential services (which may be revised at the discretion of the Minister) that contains some services that go beyond those the interruption of which would endanger the life, personal safety or health of the whole or part of the population (dockage, wharfage, discharging, loading or unloading of vessels, the services provided by the Transport and Harbours Department and the National Drainage and Irrigation Board cannot be considered essential services in the strict sense of the term). The Committee recalled that the authorities may establish, with the participation of workers’ and employers’ organizations, a system of minimum service in those services considered to be of public utility; and

–      section 19 of the Public Utility Undertakings and Public Health Services Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2006 that sets higher fines than those provided for in the previous Act and maintains the imprisonment for those workers who take part in an illegal strike.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement to the effect that there is no restriction on the right to strike and that workers who choose to strike are protected by the law. The Committee once again reminds the Government that, by conferring on the Minister broad powers to refer to compulsory arbitration disputes in services, not all of which are essential, and by providing for sanctions (fine or imprisonment) in the event of an illegal strike, the Public Utility Undertakings and Public Health Services Arbitration Act and the Bill introduced to amend it compromise the workers’ right to strike which the Committee considers to be one of the essential means available to them to protect their interests.

The Committee expresses the hope that necessary measures will be taken to amend the legislation so as to bring it in conformity with the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report any progress made in this respect.