Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2002, publiée 91ème session CIT (2003)

The Committee takes note of the report submitted by the Government. It notes the Government’s indication that the draft labour Bill, prepared with the assistance of the ILO, is currently before Parliament. The Committee also notes the Government’s statement to the effect that the Trade Union Ordinance of 1941 and the Industrial Relations Act, which were the subject of its previous comments, will be repealed by the new draft labour Bill, and that the Emergency Powers Act will be reviewed in accordance with the Committee’s comments.

The Committee trusts that the labour Bill will be adopted in the very near future and that it will ensure full conformity with the provisions of the Convention. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide with its next report a copy of the adopted labour Bill in order to enable it to examine its conformity with the provisions of the Convention.

As for the Emergency Powers Act, 1994, the Committee recalls its previous comments concerning the extensive powers granted under this Act to suspend the operations of any law and to prohibit public meetings and processions. The Committee trusts that the Government will take the necessary measures in the near future to repeal this Act or to exclude explicitly the exercise of freedom of association from its scope of application.