Reports of the Committee on Freedom of Association: 368th Report ...
Reports of the Committee on Freedom of Association: 368th Report ...
Reports of the Committee on Freedom of Association: 368th Report ...
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INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE<br />
Governing Body<br />
318th Sessi<strong>on</strong>, Geneva, 21 June 2013<br />
Instituti<strong>on</strong>al Secti<strong>on</strong><br />
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
INS<br />
FIFTH ITEM ON THE AGENDA<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g><strong>Report</strong>s</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>368th</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
C<strong>on</strong>tents<br />
Paragraphs<br />
Introducti<strong>on</strong> ....................................................................................................................................... 1–176<br />
Case No. 2942 (Argentina): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
to be kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Argentina presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Argentine Educators (CEA) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago Circle<br />
for Sec<strong>on</strong>dary and Higher Educati<strong>on</strong> (CISADEMS) .................................................... 177–189<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 186–188<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 189<br />
Case No. 2765 (Bangladesh): Interim report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bangladesh presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Bangladesh Cha-Sramik Uni<strong>on</strong> (BCSU) ....................................................................... 190–201<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 196–200<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 201<br />
This GB document is printed in limited numbers to minimize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> envir<strong>on</strong>mental impact <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO's activities and processes, c<strong>on</strong>tribute to climate<br />
neutrality and improve efficiency. GB members and observers are kindly requested to bring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir copies to meetings and to avoid asking for<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>al <strong>on</strong>es. All GB documents are available <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internet at www.ilo.org.
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Case No. 2884 (Chile): Definitive report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chile presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> University Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Directorate (APU), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Servants (ANEF), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Servant Associati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior and related services<br />
(FENAMINSA) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Servants <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister and Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government (ANFUSEGG) ............................ 202–214<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 210–213<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 214<br />
Case No. 2912 (Chile): Definitive report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chile presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Municipal Health Officials (CONFUSAM), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Servants (ANEF), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Inter-enterprise Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Metallurgy,<br />
Communicati<strong>on</strong>s, Energy and Allied Workers (SME), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Unitary<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Transport and Related Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chile (CONUTT), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Federati<strong>on</strong> (FESINEM), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tenth Regi<strong>on</strong> Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fishing Industry Workers (FETRAINPES), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Seafarers’<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> (CONGEMAR), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> University Health<br />
Service Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als (FENPRUS), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Temporary Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coordinating<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commerce Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Temporary Workers’ Federati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pharmacies Federati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> North-West Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Banking<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tresm<strong>on</strong>tes Lucchetti Subc<strong>on</strong>tractors ....................................... 215–229<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 224–228<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 229<br />
Case No. 2796 (Colombia): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
to be kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colombia presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour (CGT) ................................................................................... 230–248<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 240–247<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 248<br />
Case No. 2880 (Colombia): Definitive report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colombia presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Villavicencio, supported<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour (CGT) ........................................................... 249–261<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 258–260<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 261<br />
ii<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Case No. 2933 (Colombia): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
to be kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colombia presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bogota<br />
Telecommunicati<strong>on</strong>s Company Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> (SINTRATELEFONOS),<br />
supported by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Single C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers (CUT) .......................................... 262–280<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 272–279<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 280<br />
Case No. 2935 (Colombia): Definitive report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colombia presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers and Employees in Public and Aut<strong>on</strong>omous Services and Decentralized<br />
and Territorial Instituti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colombia (SINTRAEMSDES), supported by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Single C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers (CUT) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social<br />
Protecti<strong>on</strong> Workers and Public Servants (SINALTRAEMPROS)................................ 281–290<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 288–289<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 290<br />
Case No. 2786 (Dominican Republic): Interim report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Dominican Republic presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> (CNUS) ............................................................. 291–299<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 295–298<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 299<br />
Case No. 2980 (El Salvador): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
to be kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Salvador presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Private Enterprises (ANEP) .................................................................. 300–322<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 317–321<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 322<br />
Case No. 2918 (Spain): Definitive report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spain presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Citizens’ Service<br />
Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’<br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong>s (FSC-CCOO) .......................................................................................... 323–364<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 354–363<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 364<br />
Case No. 2984 (The former Yugoslav Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maced<strong>on</strong>ia): <strong>Report</strong> in which<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests to be kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> The former Yugoslav Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Maced<strong>on</strong>ia presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Independent Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Journalists and Media<br />
Workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maced<strong>on</strong>ia ........................................................................ 365–379<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 374–378<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 379<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx<br />
iii
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Case No. 2914 (Gab<strong>on</strong>): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
to be kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Gab<strong>on</strong> presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Gab<strong>on</strong>ese<br />
Labour C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>-Force libre (CGT-FL), and supported by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
World Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s (WFTU) ................................................................ 380–410<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 397–409<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 410<br />
Case No. 2445 (Guatemala): Interim report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
World C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour (WCL) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (CGTG)................................................................................ 411–424<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 418–423<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 424<br />
Case No. 2609 (Guatemala): Interim report<br />
Complaints against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Movement<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong>s, Indigenous and Peasants <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (MSICG), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (CUSG), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Guatemala (UNSITRAGUA), supported by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> (ITUC) ................................................................................................... 425–496<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 457–495<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 496<br />
Case No. 2959 (Guatemala): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
to be kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (UNSITRAGUA) ............................................................ 497–506<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 503–505<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 506<br />
Case No. 2978 (Guatemala): Interim report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (CUSG) ................................................................ 507–520<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 516–519<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 520<br />
iv<br />
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Case No. 2990 (H<strong>on</strong>duras): Interim report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>duras presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Au<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ntic<br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>duras (FASH), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Casa Comercial Mattews Cemcol Comercial y Similares (SITRACCMACCOS)<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>duras Institute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Children and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Family (SITRAIHNFA) ................................................................................................ 521–544<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 538–543<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 544<br />
Case No. 2991 (India): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
to be kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> India presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Garment<br />
and Allied Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> (GAWU) ........................................................................... 545–566<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 558–565<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 566<br />
Case No. 2508 (Islamic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iran): Interim report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iran presented<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> (ITUC) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Transport Workers’ Federati<strong>on</strong> (ITF) ........................................................................... 567–583<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 577–582<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 583<br />
Case No. 2740 (Iraq): Definitive report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iraq presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iraqi<br />
Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industries ................................................................................................ 584–594<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 590–593<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 594<br />
Case No. 2945 (Leban<strong>on</strong>): Interim report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Leban<strong>on</strong> presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Lebanese Workers (CGTL) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Lebanese<br />
Industrialists’ Associati<strong>on</strong> (ALI) ................................................................................... 595–610<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 602–609<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 610<br />
Case No. 2919 (Mexico): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
to be kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexico presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Teleph<strong>on</strong>e Operators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexican Republic (STRM) .......................................... 611–653<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 648–652<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 653<br />
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Case No. 2920 (Mexico): Definitive report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexico presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District<br />
Higher Intermediate Educati<strong>on</strong> Institute Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District<br />
Housing Institute Workers’ Associati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers in<br />
Higher Intermediate Educati<strong>on</strong> and Decentralized Public Organizati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Firefighters’ Uni<strong>on</strong> ........................................................................ 654–671<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 668–670<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 671<br />
Case No. 2981 (Mexico): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests to be<br />
kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexico presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> World<br />
Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s (WFTU)............................................................................ 672–686<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 682–685<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 686<br />
Case No. 2916 (Nicaragua): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests to be<br />
kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nicaragua presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrative<br />
Workers’ and Teachers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong> (SINTRADOC) ............ 687–699<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 695–698<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 699<br />
Case No. 2943 (Norway): Definitive report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norway presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong>s for Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als (Unio), supported by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian<br />
Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> (Akademikerne), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Vocati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong>s (YS), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nordic Police Uni<strong>on</strong> (NPF) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> European C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Police (EUROCOP) .................................................................................................. 700–761<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 755–760<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 761<br />
Case No. 2855 (Pakistan): Definitive report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan<br />
Workers’ Federati<strong>on</strong> (PWF) .......................................................................................... 762–769<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 767–768<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 769<br />
Case No. 2964 (Pakistan): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests to be kept<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan<br />
Wapda Hydro Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> ............................................................................ 770–787<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 783–786<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 787<br />
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Case No. 2921 (Panama): Definitive report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panama presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Officials <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund (ANFACSS), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employees<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund (AECSS), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Dental Practiti<strong>on</strong>ers,<br />
Medical Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als and Allied Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund<br />
(AMOACSS) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Independent<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong>s (CONUSI) ......................................................................................................... 788–798<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 794–797<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 798<br />
Case No. 2883 (Peru): Definitive report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peru presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peru (FTCCP).......................................................... 799–810<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 807–809<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 810<br />
Case No. 2972 (Poland): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
to be kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Poland presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSZZ “Solidarnosc” and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> All-Polish Alliance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s (OPZZ) ................................................................................................... 811–826<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 822–825<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> ................................................................................................... 826<br />
Case No. 2976 (Turkey): <strong>Report</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests to be kept<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Turkey presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IndustriALL Global Uni<strong>on</strong> ...................................................................................... 827–847<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 843–846<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 847<br />
Case No. 2254 (Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela): Interim report<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela<br />
presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Organisati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employers (IOE) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Venezuelan Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chambers and Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commerce and<br />
Producti<strong>on</strong> (FEDECAMARAS) .................................................................................... 848–985<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 960–984<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 985<br />
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Cases Nos 2917 and 2968 (Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela): Interim report<br />
Complaints against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela<br />
presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela (CTV) (Case No. 2917)<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Teachers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central University <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Venezuela (APUCV) (Case No. 2968) ......................................................................... 986–1023<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s ....................................................................................... 1015–1022<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s .................................................................................................. 1023<br />
viii<br />
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Introducti<strong>on</strong><br />
1. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> set up by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body at its<br />
117th Sessi<strong>on</strong> (November 1951), met at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour Office, Geneva, <strong>on</strong><br />
30 and 31 May and 7 June 2013, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> chairmanship <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essor Paul van der<br />
Heijden.<br />
2. The members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Argentinean, Colombian, Mexican and Norwegian nati<strong>on</strong>ality were not<br />
present during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases relating to Argentina (Case No. 2942),<br />
Colombia (Cases Nos 2796, 2880, 2933 and 2935), Mexico (Cases Nos 2919, 2920 and<br />
2981) and Norway (Case No 2943), respectively.<br />
* * *<br />
3. Currently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are 163 cases before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, in which complaints have been<br />
submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> governments c<strong>on</strong>cerned for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir observati<strong>on</strong>s. At its present meeting, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> examined 38 cases <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> merits, reaching definitive c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s in 27 cases<br />
and interim c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s in 11 cases; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remaining cases were adjourned for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s set<br />
out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following paragraphs.<br />
Serious and urgent cases which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> special attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body<br />
4. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders it necessary to draw <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> special attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body<br />
to Cases Nos 2254 (Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela), 2445 (Guatemala), 2508 (Islamic<br />
Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iran), 2609 and 2978 (Guatemala) because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extreme seriousness and<br />
urgency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters dealt with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rein.<br />
Urgent appeals<br />
5. As regards Cases Nos 2203 (Guatemala), 2318 (Cambodia), 2648 (Paraguay), 2712 and<br />
2714 (Democratic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>go), 2723 (Fiji), 2794 (Kiribati), 2807 (Islamic<br />
Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iran), 2871 (El Salvador), 2902 (Pakistan), 2928 (Ecuador), 2932<br />
(El Salvador), 2937 (Paraguay), 2946 (Colombia), 2948 (Guatemala), 2951 (Camero<strong>on</strong>),<br />
2954 (Colombia), 2957 (El Salvador), 2961 (Leban<strong>on</strong>), 2963 (Chile), 2967 (Guatemala),<br />
2973 (Mexico), 2974 (Colombia), 2975 (Costa Rica), 2985 (El Salvador), 2988 (Qatar),<br />
2989 (Guatemala), 2992 (Costa Rica), 2993 (Colombia) and 2994 (Tunisia), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time which has elapsed since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> submissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complaints, it has not received <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> observati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> governments. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> governments in questi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
procedural rules set out in paragraph 17 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its 127th <strong>Report</strong>, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body, it may present a report <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir observati<strong>on</strong>s or<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> have not been received in due time. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> accordingly requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
governments to transmit or complete <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir observati<strong>on</strong>s or informati<strong>on</strong> as a matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
urgency.<br />
New cases<br />
6. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> adjourned until its next meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following cases:<br />
3012 and 3013 (El Salvador), 3015 (Canada), 3016 (Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela),<br />
3017 (Chile), 3018 (Pakistan), 3019 (Paraguay), 3020 (Colombia), 3021 (Turkey), 3022<br />
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(Thailand), 3023 (Switzerland), 3024 (Morocco), 3025 (Egypt), 3026 (Peru) and 3027<br />
(Colombia), since it is awaiting informati<strong>on</strong> and observati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> governments<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerned. All <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases relate to complaints submitted since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
Observati<strong>on</strong>s requested from governments<br />
7. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is still awaiting observati<strong>on</strong>s or informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> governments<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerned in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following cases: 2177 and 2183 (Japan), 2516 (Ethiopia), 2620 (Republic<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Korea), 2655 (Cambodia), 2684 (Ecuador), 2708 (Guatemala), 2726 and 2743<br />
(Argentina), 2753 (Djibouti), 2761 (Colombia), 2882 (Bahrain), 2892 (Turkey), 2896 and<br />
2908 (El Salvador), 2913 (Guinea), 2923 (El Salvador), 2925 (Democratic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>go), 2929 (Costa Rica), 2979 (Argentina), 2982 (Peru), 2986 (El Salvador), 2995<br />
(Colombia), 2999 (Peru), 3000 (Chile), 3001 and 3002 (Plurinati<strong>on</strong>al State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivia),<br />
3003 (Canada), 3005 (Chile), 3007 and 3008 (El Salvador), 3009 (Peru), 3010 (Paraguay)<br />
and 3011 (Turkey).<br />
Partial informati<strong>on</strong> received from governments<br />
8. In Cases Nos 2673 (Guatemala), 2713 and 2715 (Democratic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>go),<br />
2768 (Guatemala), 2797 (Democratic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>go), 2811 (Guatemala), 2817<br />
(Argentina), 2824 and 2830 (Colombia), 2889 (Pakistan), 2893 and 2897 (El Salvador),<br />
2900 (Peru), 2924 (Colombia), 2927 (Guatemala), 2946 (Colombia), 2947 (Spain), 2962<br />
(India), 2970 (Ecuador) and 3014 (M<strong>on</strong>tenegro), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> governments have sent partial<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s made. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se governments to<br />
send <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remaining informati<strong>on</strong> without delay so that it can examine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases in full<br />
knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts.<br />
Observati<strong>on</strong>s received from governments<br />
9. As regards Cases Nos 2265 (Switzerland), 2694 (Mexico), 2745 (Philippines), 2749<br />
(France), 2869 (Guatemala), 2900 (Peru), 2922 (Panama), 2926 (Ecuador), 2936 (Chile),<br />
2939 (Brazil), 2941 (Peru), 2949 (Swaziland), 2950 (Colombia), 2953 (Italy), 2955<br />
(Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela), 2956 (Plurinati<strong>on</strong>al State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivia), 2965 and 2966<br />
(Peru), 2969 (Mauritius), 2971 and 2983 (Canada), 2987 (Argentina), 2996 (Peru), 2997<br />
(Argentina), 2998 (Peru), 3004 (Chad) and 3006 (Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has received <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> governments’ observati<strong>on</strong>s and intends to examine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases at its next meeting.<br />
Withdrawal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a complaint<br />
10. As regards Case No. 2806 (United Kingdom), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
has expressed its desire to withdraw its complaint given that it will pursue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters<br />
raised in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> European Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Human Rights.<br />
Transmissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts<br />
11. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative aspect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following cases to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
Dominican Republic (Case No. 2786), Guatemala (Case No. 2609), Ind<strong>on</strong>esia (Case<br />
No. 2737), Ukraine (Case No. 2843).<br />
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Effect given to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body<br />
Case No. 2837 (Argentina)<br />
12. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its March 2012 meeting [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 290–312], when it made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ATE is not excluded from bargaining <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Teatro Colón aut<strong>on</strong>omous body.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps – including<br />
amendments to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> if necessary – to ensure that resp<strong>on</strong>sibility for declaring a<br />
strike illegal lies not with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government but with an independent body which has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>fidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties involved.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial decisi<strong>on</strong><br />
with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lifting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eight<br />
ATE <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers sancti<strong>on</strong>ed with terminati<strong>on</strong> and to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r workers have been subject to judicial proceedings.<br />
13. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 26 November 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government sent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reply submitted by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Aut<strong>on</strong>omous City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Buenos Aires (GCBA), which indicated:<br />
(1) with regard to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (a), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> GCBA c<strong>on</strong>firms its commitment to include in<br />
collective bargaining all trade uni<strong>on</strong>s recognized <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir membership, in<br />
accordance with internati<strong>on</strong>al labour standards, and c<strong>on</strong>sequently <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State<br />
Workers (ATE) was involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s held in respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Buenos<br />
Aires that resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective labour agreement c<strong>on</strong>cluded in 2010, which is<br />
applicable to all workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive power; (2) with regard to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (b),<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong> has been noted and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility will be evaluated <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> setting up an<br />
independent body that can take resp<strong>on</strong>sibility for declaring strikes illegal or not; and (3) in<br />
a ruling issued in September 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authority denied <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrative authority to lift <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity (protecti<strong>on</strong> that prevents<br />
dismissal) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial.<br />
14. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 22 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATE states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s were ignored, and it specifically alleges: (1) n<strong>on</strong>-compliance with<br />
judicial rulings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2008 and 2012 which provided that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Buenos Aires should c<strong>on</strong>tinue to bargain collectively in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Teatro Colón and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATE<br />
should be involved; and (2) that although Nati<strong>on</strong>al Labour Court No. 76 ruled against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
request to lift <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial, o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r courts, in<br />
violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and internati<strong>on</strong>al treaties, granted requests to lift <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials (according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
rulings were appealed and are currently pending before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Labour Appeals<br />
Tribunal).<br />
15. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> sent by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATE. In this respect, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
to send its resp<strong>on</strong>se c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATE and, in<br />
particular, to keep it informed about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeals relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lifting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two ATE trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials (Mr Máximo Parpagnoli and<br />
Mr Pastor Mora). Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> five o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r trade uni<strong>on</strong> delegates who had also allegedly<br />
been <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> object <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal acti<strong>on</strong> to lift <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity.<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 3
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Case No. 2867 (Plurinati<strong>on</strong>al State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivia)<br />
16. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its March 2012 meeting, when it made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>, paras 313–361]:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
(d)<br />
(e)<br />
(f)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> COB to send to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> names <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s who<br />
were assaulted, injured or taken into custody during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general strike and<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s held in April 2011 so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government can c<strong>on</strong>duct an investigati<strong>on</strong><br />
without delay to determine resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities and, should excessive force prove to have<br />
been used, so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators can be punished.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that <strong>on</strong>ce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objecti<strong>on</strong>s regarding n<strong>on</strong>-compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
regulati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Departmental Workers’ C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santa Cruz have been<br />
settled, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> will be issued, if appropriate, establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leave<br />
entitlement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers c<strong>on</strong>cerned.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to ensure that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deducted pay is refunded without delay to those Nati<strong>on</strong>al CNS workers who did not<br />
take part in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> April 2011. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to ensure that resp<strong>on</strong>sibility for declaring a<br />
strike illegal does not lie with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government but with an independent body which has<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties involved, and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
appeal filed by FENSEGURAL against Ministerial Decisi<strong>on</strong> No. 042 whereby <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sector was declared illegal.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficer Ms Fidelia Flores Gómez from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
LAFAR Laboratorios Farmacéuticos enterprise, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
to take steps to ensure that an investigati<strong>on</strong> is c<strong>on</strong>ducted into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissal and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> order for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers Mr Hilder Alarcón Mayta and Mr Marco Ant<strong>on</strong>io<br />
Herbas Córdova at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Wiled SRL Patisu Ltda enterprise.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> order for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers Mr Mario Chipana Mamani, Mr Genaro Espejo<br />
Huanca, Mr Ramiro Saire Lliulli and Mr Lucio Apaza Nina at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Novara SRL<br />
enterprise and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal for amparo (protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al rights) reportedly filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s affected.<br />
17. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 21 September 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following with<br />
regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
– With regard to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (a), it is for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> COB to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
matter. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong> and <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
COB to send to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> names <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s who were assaulted, injured<br />
or taken into custody during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general strike and dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s held in April 2011<br />
so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government can c<strong>on</strong>duct an investigati<strong>on</strong> without delay to determine<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities and, should excessive force prove to have been used, so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
perpetrators can be punished. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> event that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant informati<strong>on</strong> is not sent,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> will not proceed with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
– With regard to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (b), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request for recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>, and granting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong> leave entitlement to, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Departmental Workers’<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santa Cruz, headed by Mr Mario Vidal Ojeda, has been brought to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its parent body, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> COB, led by Mr Juan Carlos Trujillo, and its<br />
entire executive committee, which is in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resolving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internal dispute,<br />
claims and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r issues <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its member organizati<strong>on</strong>. Once <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se internal matters have<br />
been dealt with and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> COB has communicated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its own internal acti<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant ministry will proceed to issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate ministerial decisi<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong> and expects that, <strong>on</strong>ce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objecti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
4 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
regarding n<strong>on</strong>-compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Departmental Workers’<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santa Cruz have been settled, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> will be issued, if<br />
appropriate, establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leave entitlement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers c<strong>on</strong>cerned.<br />
– With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong> (c), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
CNS has sent note No. 903 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 16 August 2012, in which it reports that, in May 2011,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deducti<strong>on</strong>s made from those workers who could produce documentati<strong>on</strong> to<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strate that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y had worked <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> days when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute occurred were<br />
reimbursed. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d part, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preliminary draft <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new General<br />
Labour Act is planned to include procedures and c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s for declaring strikes<br />
illegal. Lastly, in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal lodged by FENSEGURAL against<br />
administrative decisi<strong>on</strong> No. 042, it should be reported that, by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrative decisi<strong>on</strong> No. 086-11 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 27 May 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal was rejected and all<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative decisi<strong>on</strong> No. 042 were upheld. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes<br />
note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong> and trusts that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amendments to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Labour Act<br />
will take account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that resp<strong>on</strong>sibility for declaring a strike illegal should<br />
not lie with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, but with an independent body which has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidence<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties involved.<br />
– With regard to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (d), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Departmental Labour Office for La Paz<br />
reports that, according to verificati<strong>on</strong> activities carried out by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspecti<strong>on</strong><br />
services, Ms Fidelia Flores Gómez submitted her letter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resignati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LAFAR<br />
Laboratorios Farmacéuticos enterprise voluntarily. The amounts corresp<strong>on</strong>ding to her<br />
social benefits were deposited with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> holding unit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Departmental Labour<br />
Office for La Paz. This amount was paid by cheque to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> former worker and<br />
beneficiary in May 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby ending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment relati<strong>on</strong>ship between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
LAFAR Laboratorios Farmacéuticos enterprise and Ms Fidelia Flores Gómez. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
– With regard to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (e), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Departmental Labour Office for La Paz has<br />
reported that, according to report No. V032/11, prepared by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspecti<strong>on</strong><br />
services, Mr Marco Ant<strong>on</strong>io Herbas Córdova was reinstated in his post <strong>on</strong><br />
14 February 2011, while Mr Hilder Alarcón Mayta was paid his social benefits. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note with satisfacti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Marco Ant<strong>on</strong>io<br />
Herbas Córdova. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s why Mr Hilder Alarcón Mayta has not been reinstated in<br />
his post, as requested.<br />
– With respect to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (f), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amparo proceedings have been before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Civil Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Higher Court for District No. 1 since 9 December 2011. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce more requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its own order for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers Mr Mario Chipana Mamani, Mr Genaro Espejo Huanca, Mr Ramiro<br />
Saire Lliulli and Mr Lucio Apaza Nina at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Novara SRL enterprise. With regard to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amparo claim brought by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers in questi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets<br />
that such a l<strong>on</strong>g time has passed without a ruling being handed down in this regard<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that “justice delayed is justice denied” [see<br />
Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, para. 105] and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se amparo proceedings.<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 5
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Case No. 2355 (Colombia)<br />
18. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> examined this case at its March 2012 meeting [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 33–37]. On that occasi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government: (1) as regards<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company ECOPETROL, to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
developments c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> five dismissed workers in Cartagena; moreover,<br />
noting that nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant nor <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government had resp<strong>on</strong>ded to its previous<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>: (i) invited <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
with all informati<strong>on</strong> in its possessi<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s that ECOPETROL SA,<br />
individually or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rwise, awarded benefits, increments or b<strong>on</strong>uses to n<strong>on</strong>-uni<strong>on</strong> workers,<br />
thus encouraging disaffiliati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>; and (ii) requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to urgently carry out an independent investigati<strong>on</strong> to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
veracity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s with all elements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong>; (2) in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> refusal<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chevr<strong>on</strong> Petroleum Company to bargain collectively with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
appointment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Compulsory Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Tribunal and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal for annulment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
award instituted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice, to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>firm that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal for annulment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arbitral award filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Supreme Court was rejected; and (3) to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures, in c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners, to submit a proposal to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislature to amend nati<strong>on</strong>al legislati<strong>on</strong><br />
(secti<strong>on</strong> 430(h) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Code) with a view to establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s for<br />
exercising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> oil sector, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> providing for a<br />
negotiated minimum service, and with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> participati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, employers and<br />
public authorities c<strong>on</strong>cerned.<br />
19. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 28 May 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cases referred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO (CETCOIT) began its work in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complaint and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company ECOPETROL in August 2012, with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tinued participati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Prosecutor-General’s Office and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour,<br />
and that, due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work undertaken, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties reached an agreement. The Government<br />
expresses thanks to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour Standards for<br />
all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> support, technical assistance and guidance provided to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CETCOIT. The<br />
Government supplies a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement reached, which states that it is c<strong>on</strong>sidered<br />
essential to <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fer a final soluti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s dismissed during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2002–04 collective<br />
dispute, which will allow c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> differences and achieve harm<strong>on</strong>ious labour<br />
relati<strong>on</strong>s in a legal framework. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Petroleum Industry (USO) fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint in Case No. 2355 in regard to<br />
ECOPETROL SA should be c<strong>on</strong>sidered closed.<br />
20. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes this informati<strong>on</strong> with interest. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to c<strong>on</strong>firm that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal for annulment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arbitral award filed by<br />
Chevr<strong>on</strong> Petroleum Company with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice was rejected, as well as to<br />
indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r steps have been taken in c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners to submit a<br />
proposal to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislature to amend nati<strong>on</strong>al legislati<strong>on</strong> (secti<strong>on</strong> 430(h) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
Code) so as to establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s for exercising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> oil sector,<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> providing for a negotiated minimum service, and with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
participati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, employers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public authorities c<strong>on</strong>cerned.<br />
Case No. 2676 (Colombia)<br />
21. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that, at its June 2010 meeting [see 357th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 300], it made<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a)<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> refusal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Welfare to grant <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request for entry<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> registry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> established <strong>on</strong> 2 April 2006<br />
(ASCOTRACOL), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> points out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> may, if it<br />
6 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
(b)<br />
so wishes, <strong>on</strong>ce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> omissi<strong>on</strong>s and inc<strong>on</strong>sistencies highlighted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerned<br />
have been rectified, submit a new request for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its founding charter, by-laws<br />
and executive committee in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> register and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government in that case to<br />
register <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> immediately.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> that as so<strong>on</strong> as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative authority rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
request for registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company dismissed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
executive committee and 40 workers who had been involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s<br />
establishment or had joined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, a fact that was verified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authority in<br />
its rulings, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps to have<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed workers reinstated if indeed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were dismissed for having established a<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> and, should reinstatement be impossible for objective and compelling<br />
reas<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers receive<br />
appropriate compensati<strong>on</strong>, such as to c<strong>on</strong>stitute a penalty that acts as a sufficiently<br />
dissuasive and effective deterrent against anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissals. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard.<br />
22. At its June 2011 meeting, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> took note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statements that:<br />
(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Territorial Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Atlántico <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Welfare certified that<br />
“<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no current” request to register a trade uni<strong>on</strong>, nor any registered trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
associated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise COOLITERIAL; and (2) judicial decisi<strong>on</strong>s have been<br />
handed down that are adverse to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is respecting<br />
and complying with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> duties and resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities specific to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> separati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public powers. Given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above informati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
to: (a) c<strong>on</strong>firm that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> has not submitted a new request to be registered; and<br />
(b) provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial decisi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged dismissals, which, according to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, have been adverse. While awaiting this informati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
maintains its previous recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see 360th <strong>Report</strong>, paras 37–39].<br />
23. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 24 July 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that ASCOTRACOL went<br />
through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> process again and, by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> documents Nos 151, 152 and 029<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11 July 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>, its executive committee and its by-laws were registered.<br />
Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has provided a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial rulings rejecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests for reinstatement, al<strong>on</strong>g with documents declaring procedures terminated as a<br />
result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>; in<br />
particular, it notes with interest that ASCOTRACOL has been registered.<br />
Case No. 2818 (El Salvador)<br />
24. At its June 2011 meeting, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
matters still pending [see 360th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 634]:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, in c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most<br />
representative workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, to accelerate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedure for<br />
amending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong>, ensuring that it fully guarantees respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> for municipal employees, and expresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> firm hope that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very near<br />
future <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SITESMUES will be able to represent employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> several municipal authorities.<br />
25. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 15 February 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that it is c<strong>on</strong>tinuing to<br />
take a tripartite approach to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> amending and reforming <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil Service Act<br />
by ensuring that measures aimed at guaranteeing and protecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipal workers are incorporated.<br />
26. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong> and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue process undertaken. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> hopes<br />
to see progress in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> near future and reminds <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government that it may avail itself <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO’s assistance to that end.<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 7
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Case No. 2292 (United States)<br />
27. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its November 2011 meeting when it noted with<br />
interest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government that Transport Security Officers<br />
(TSOs) had been provided with a framework for engaging in collective bargaining over<br />
certain issues and that an electi<strong>on</strong> to determine uni<strong>on</strong> representati<strong>on</strong> for TSOs was to take<br />
place in March and April 2011 [see 362nd <strong>Report</strong>, paras 53–57]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments in this regard.<br />
28. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 11 October 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government informs <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Transport Security Administrator issued a determinati<strong>on</strong> entitled “Transportati<strong>on</strong><br />
Security Officers and Collective Bargaining” which provides for a representati<strong>on</strong> electi<strong>on</strong><br />
and if a uni<strong>on</strong> is elected, sets out a process for a collective bargaining framework unique to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Transport Security Administrati<strong>on</strong> (TSA) that does not c<strong>on</strong>flict with its missi<strong>on</strong> to<br />
protect public security. It permits TSOs exclusive representative to bargain collectively<br />
over issues including: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> performance management process to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent not o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rwise<br />
excluded; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> awards and recogniti<strong>on</strong> process; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attendance management process; certain<br />
shift and annual leave bidding; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> shift trade policy; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer policy; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process for<br />
work status change from full time to part time and vice-versa; uniforms and uniform<br />
allowance not including relevant security requirements; and parking subsidies. The<br />
determinati<strong>on</strong> also commits to establish a dispute settlement resoluti<strong>on</strong> system for<br />
employees and commits to allow <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exclusive representative to suggest modificati<strong>on</strong>s to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> system. The American Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government Employees (AFGE) was elected by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> TSOs as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir exclusive representative in a run-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f electi<strong>on</strong> held from 23 May to<br />
21 June 2011. The AFGE was certified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labor Relati<strong>on</strong>s Authority as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
exclusive bargaining representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> TSOs <strong>on</strong> 23 June 2011. The parties reached a<br />
tentative collective bargaining agreement which was submitted for ratificati<strong>on</strong> by AFGE<br />
members during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 October–9 November 2012. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated<br />
23 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tract, which has a durati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three<br />
years, was ratified <strong>on</strong> 9 November 2012 by a vote <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 17,236 to 1,774.<br />
29. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes this informati<strong>on</strong> with satisfacti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Case No. 2841 (France)<br />
30. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> examined this case at its November 2011 meeting, when it made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following recommendati<strong>on</strong> [see 362nd <strong>Report</strong>, para. 1043]:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future, in cases where a<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-essential service is paralysed, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is justificati<strong>on</strong> for taking measures to ensure a<br />
minimum operati<strong>on</strong>al service, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerned are<br />
involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>-making process, and that measures are not implemented unilaterally.<br />
31. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 6 September 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re have<br />
been no new situati<strong>on</strong>s in France involving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> paralysis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a n<strong>on</strong>-essential service, as<br />
labour disputes since 2011 have not included any protests comparable in nature, scope or<br />
durati<strong>on</strong> to those staged against pensi<strong>on</strong> reform in October 2010; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disputes which<br />
have occurred have been in limited geographical and occupati<strong>on</strong>al sectors and n<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m have resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> paralysis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any service as a whole, as was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> oil<br />
sector in October 2010; (3) c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> is still a preferred method when determining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
right to strike in France, as recommended by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>; and (4) for example, by<br />
means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 2012-375 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 19 March 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> French legislature recently adopted<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike in passenger air transport, which explicitly call for<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> start <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any dispute; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act establishes machinery for social<br />
dialogue aimed at preventing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
8 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
representative trade uni<strong>on</strong>s are encouraged to hold negotiati<strong>on</strong>s with a view to signing a<br />
framework agreement that establishes a dispute preventi<strong>on</strong> procedure and promotes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue; under this agreement, strike acti<strong>on</strong> is <strong>on</strong>ly a possibility<br />
after negotiati<strong>on</strong>s between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework agreement<br />
lays down rules for determining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> structure and operati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s prior to any<br />
dispute.<br />
32. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes due note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Case No. 2361 (Guatemala)<br />
33. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its November 2011 meeting [see 362nd <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 1081–1097] and made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective dispute in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chinautla Municipal Authority, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, two certificates were issued, which<br />
were forwarded to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> district <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Criminal<br />
Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Instance for Crimes against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings are<br />
under way. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard;<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SINTRAMUNICH, according to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chiquimula<br />
Municipal Authority dismissed or requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tracts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> several workers (in particular members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>) and made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>al <strong>on</strong> resignati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two<br />
judicial proceedings <strong>on</strong> a “collective dispute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a social and ec<strong>on</strong>omic nature”, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that it requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures necessary to<br />
reinstate those workers who were dismissed without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court, in<br />
defiance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a judicial decisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> a “c<strong>on</strong>vocati<strong>on</strong> to collective bargaining” which<br />
prohibits any terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tracts without judicial authorizati<strong>on</strong>, with payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
wages due, and to keep it informed in this respect and to inform it <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> Tribunal. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate without<br />
delay whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers who were dismissed without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court<br />
have been effectively reinstated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts and have received wages and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
benefits due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m; and<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining process between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chiquimula Municipal<br />
Authority and SINTRAMUNICH, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> follow-up given to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> direct negotiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> demands and to<br />
send it a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> handed down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> Tribunal.<br />
34. In communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 8 February and 8 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government provides<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Civil Service Authority and <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
bargaining process between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chiquimula and SINTRAMUNICH,<br />
indicating that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, Social Welfare and Family Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Instance ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
formati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Tribunal. On 27 July 2011, that tribunal held<br />
its c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> hearing, which resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire collective agreement<br />
<strong>on</strong> working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s signed by both parties, valid from 1 August 2011 to 1 August 2013.<br />
35. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes this informati<strong>on</strong> with interest. As regards recommendati<strong>on</strong>s (a) and<br />
(b), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not sent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested informati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
<strong>on</strong>ce again requests it to provide this without delay.<br />
Case No. 2737 (Ind<strong>on</strong>esia)<br />
36. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case, which c<strong>on</strong>cerns allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
dismissal and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> refusal by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hotel Grand Aquila to comply with reinstatement orders,<br />
including numerous orders and recommendati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bandung Manpower Office and<br />
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its mediator directing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hotel management to reinstate, with payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages,<br />
nine <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers and 119 members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Independent Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> (SPM) Hotel Grand Aquila<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong> dated 7 April 2010 from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Commissi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> Human<br />
Rights c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour dispute between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPM and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hotel management in which<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Commissi<strong>on</strong> recommended to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ind<strong>on</strong>esia to<br />
instruct <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour affairs department to immediately<br />
resolve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mechanism <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing law, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r civil or criminal, and<br />
to order a direct m<strong>on</strong>itoring by government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials to ensure that workers’ rights to<br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hotel in Bandung are ensured and protected, at its May–June<br />
2012 meeting. On that occasi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take,<br />
without fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r delay, all necessary measures to enforce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s and orders<br />
issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bandung Manpower Office c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers and<br />
members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPM at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hotel Grand Aquila in Bandung. If reinstatement was not<br />
possible due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that had elapsed, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se workers were paid adequate compensati<strong>on</strong> so as to c<strong>on</strong>stitute a<br />
sufficiently dissuasive sancti<strong>on</strong> against such acts. It fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
indicate c<strong>on</strong>crete steps taken to implement <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong> for Human Rights in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case and to indicate any court<br />
acti<strong>on</strong> taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Attorney <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bandung or any sancti<strong>on</strong> taken in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
alleged infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> rights by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hotel management. It<br />
requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this respect [see 364th <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 54–58].<br />
37. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 25 October 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicated that as c<strong>on</strong>cerns<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 59 workers unsatisfied with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Court as to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>etary amount to be paid to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissed workers (double wages payment), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court has rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> plaintiffs’<br />
claim for a payment equivalent to double wages payment, and ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer to<br />
give compensati<strong>on</strong> in accordance with Article 156(4), paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act 13<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2003 <strong>on</strong> manpower: “Compensati<strong>on</strong> shall cover: (a) annual leave, which has not yet<br />
been taken and has not yet been voided; (b) fares or expenses for going home for<br />
worker/labourer and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir family to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> place where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> worker/labourer is recruited;<br />
(d) o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r matters as stipulated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Agreement, company’s regulati<strong>on</strong> or Joint<br />
Working Agreement”. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r indicates that it has been implementing and<br />
m<strong>on</strong>itoring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Commissi<strong>on</strong> for Human Rights in<br />
accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedures and mechanisms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> prevailing laws and regulati<strong>on</strong>s to<br />
ensure protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ rights at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hotel Grand Aquila, particularly trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
rights. The Government also reiterates that a review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 21 <strong>on</strong> Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> (2000)<br />
is being c<strong>on</strong>ducted, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> involvement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> stakeholders c<strong>on</strong>cerned.<br />
38. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls<br />
that this case c<strong>on</strong>cerns <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 128 workers immediately following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong> at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hotel Grand Aquila in Bandung. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> understands from<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s communicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court has upheld <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Court c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals, rejecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> plaintiff’s claim (group<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 59 workers) seeking compensati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a payment equivalent to double wages,<br />
and has ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer to compensate in accordance with Article 156(4),<br />
paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act 13 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2003 <strong>on</strong> manpower, which amounts to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
traditi<strong>on</strong>al compensati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an employment c<strong>on</strong>tract. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Court had previously c<strong>on</strong>cluded that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was no<br />
evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
workers and more specifically, no evidence that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir dismissals were a direct c<strong>on</strong>sequence<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong> at Hotel Grand Aquila. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se workers is to be qualified as a “labour dispute”. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
observes that this Court has also c<strong>on</strong>cluded that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Commissi<strong>on</strong> for Human<br />
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Rights has exceeded its authority in issuing its recommendati<strong>on</strong>s and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
are not legally binding. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, taking due note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Supreme Court and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Court as regard <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> character <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissals (not anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> but a labour dispute), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes due<br />
note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong> and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide clarificati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meaning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a labour dispute and to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> affords protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
in this regard.<br />
39. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r recalls its previous recommendati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government take<br />
steps, in full c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners c<strong>on</strong>cerned, to amend its legislati<strong>on</strong> to<br />
ensure comprehensive protecti<strong>on</strong> against anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong>, providing for swift<br />
recourse to mechanisms that may impose sufficiently dissuasive sancti<strong>on</strong>s against such<br />
acts. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusts that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>going will establish appropriate<br />
mechanisms in this regard, and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> steps<br />
taken in this regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Case No. 2754 (Ind<strong>on</strong>esia)<br />
40. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case, which c<strong>on</strong>cerns allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
dismissals from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company PT. Dok Dan Perkapalan Surabaya resulting in difficulties <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SEKAR-DPS trade uni<strong>on</strong> to operate, at its May–June 2012 meeting. On that occasi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalled that a mediator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Manpower Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Surabaya City<br />
recommended that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir participati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
October 2009 strike be revoked and back wages be paid and <strong>on</strong>ce again requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any follow-up to this recommendati<strong>on</strong> [see<br />
364th <strong>Report</strong>, paras 50–65].<br />
41. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 16 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
m<strong>on</strong>itoring report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspector obtained from PT. Dok Dan Perkapalan<br />
Surabaya, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven workers suspended following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir participati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> October 2009<br />
strike were reinstated.<br />
42. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes this informati<strong>on</strong> with interest and trusts that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> back wages have<br />
been paid to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mediator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Manpower Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Surabaya City.<br />
Case No. 2301 (Malaysia)<br />
43. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case, which c<strong>on</strong>cerns <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Malaysian labour legislati<strong>on</strong><br />
and its applicati<strong>on</strong> which, for many years, have resulted in serious violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to<br />
organize and bargain collectively, including: discreti<strong>on</strong>ary and excessive powers granted to<br />
authorities as regards trade uni<strong>on</strong> registrati<strong>on</strong> and scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership; denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’<br />
rights to establish and join organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own choosing, including federati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s; refusal to recognize independent trade uni<strong>on</strong>s; interference <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities in<br />
internal uni<strong>on</strong> activities, including free electi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> representatives;<br />
establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer-dominated uni<strong>on</strong>s; and arbitrary denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining,<br />
at its March 2012 meeting [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>, paras 171–177].<br />
44. On that occasi<strong>on</strong>, as c<strong>on</strong>cerns <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative issues raised by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, noting that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government had referred to engagement sessi<strong>on</strong>s with social partners to fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
improve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act (IRA) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act (TUA), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusted that social dialogue had already begun with a view to addressing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s l<strong>on</strong>g-standing recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, and requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
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informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any progress in this regard. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 8,000 workers in<br />
23 manufacturing companies whose representati<strong>on</strong>al and collective bargaining rights were<br />
allegedly denied, noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicated that it was not in a positi<strong>on</strong> to<br />
provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> requested as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was no record <strong>on</strong> this matter, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>on</strong>ce again requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant to indicate if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se workers were currently<br />
represented by <strong>on</strong>e or more trade uni<strong>on</strong>s and, if so, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were able to exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rights<br />
to collective bargaining and c<strong>on</strong>clude collective agreements. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusted that<br />
this situati<strong>on</strong> would be addressed without delay so as to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se 8,000 workers<br />
were duly represented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir choice and could exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right to<br />
collective bargaining.<br />
45. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 6 December 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reiterates that it is in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> amending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> TUA, still engaging <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
comments and inputs. The Government however underlines that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed amendments<br />
do not intend to revamp <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> recogniti<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
amendments to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se provisi<strong>on</strong>s had been dealt with in 2008. As regards secti<strong>on</strong>s 9(5) and<br />
9(6) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong>ce again reiterates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing legal redress by<br />
way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial review to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court and a fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Court<br />
are sufficient and it intends to maintain <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current provisi<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
46. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes due note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>. Noting with c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
indicati<strong>on</strong> that it does not intend to revise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> recogniti<strong>on</strong> and collective<br />
bargaining, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less address rapidly<br />
its l<strong>on</strong>g-standing recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, summarized in its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case, in<br />
full c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social parties c<strong>on</strong>cerned. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> cannot but recall that it<br />
has commented up<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extremely serious matters arising out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental<br />
deficiencies in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> many occasi<strong>on</strong>s over a period spanning 19 years.<br />
47. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 8,000 workers in 23 manufacturing companies whose<br />
representati<strong>on</strong>al and collective bargaining rights were allegedly denied, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observes with regret that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant has not provided <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> requested and<br />
recalls <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> receiving full informati<strong>on</strong> to enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to carry out a<br />
full and objective c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters before it in full knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts. In<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, it will not pursue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those matters.<br />
Case No. 2717 (Malaysia)<br />
48. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case, which c<strong>on</strong>cerns allegati<strong>on</strong>s that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> British<br />
American Tobacco (BAT) company reclassified existing posts within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company in order<br />
to prevent employees who were members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> British American Tobacco Employees<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> (BATEU) from retaining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir uni<strong>on</strong> membership, at its March 2012 meeting. On<br />
that occasi<strong>on</strong>, with regard to its l<strong>on</strong>g-standing recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> legislative reform<br />
(previously raised in Case No. 2301), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1959 (TUA) so as to ensure that all<br />
workers, without distincti<strong>on</strong> whatsoever, enjoy <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to establish and join organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own choosing, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r at primary level or by grouping toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r workers from<br />
different workplaces or cities. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act (IRA), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures so as to ensure that:<br />
(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> definiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> managerial and supervisory staff is limited to those pers<strong>on</strong>s who<br />
genuinely represent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers, including, for example, those who have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authority to appoint or dismiss; and (2) managerial and supervisory staff have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to<br />
establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own associati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> engaging in collective bargaining, and<br />
firmly expected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to inform it in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> near future <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>crete measures taken<br />
to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above principles. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meantime, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
expected that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> BATEU would be able to work and functi<strong>on</strong> freely. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to make every effort to c<strong>on</strong>sult with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerned so as to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supervisory staff genuinely representing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers which could be excluded from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> BATEU’s uni<strong>on</strong> membership<br />
[see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>, paras 178–183].<br />
49. The Government submitted its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 6 December 2012.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s request to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reiterates its<br />
intenti<strong>on</strong> to maintain <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present arrangement as status quo. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerned so as to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
supervisory staff genuinely representing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers which could be<br />
excluded from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> BATEU’s uni<strong>on</strong> membership, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong>ce again reiterates that<br />
it has been decided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Affairs and Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
(DGTU) that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> BATEU cannot represent workers employed under BAT (Malaysia) Sdn.<br />
Bhd. subsidiaries and does not have any locus standi regarding issues relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scope<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s (DIR) is not able<br />
to c<strong>on</strong>duct an investigati<strong>on</strong> to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership by virtue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong>. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DGTU has approved <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amendments<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tobacco Workers (NUTW). The<br />
widening <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership scope allows <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> BAT and ex-members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
BATEU to join and be members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NUTW.<br />
50. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DGTU has approved <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
amendments <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NUTW and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> widening <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
membership scope now allows <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> BAT and ex-members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> BATEU to<br />
join and be members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NUTW. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government did<br />
not follow-up <strong>on</strong> its recommendati<strong>on</strong> to make every effort to c<strong>on</strong>sult with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerned (BATEU) so as to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supervisory staff genuinely<br />
representing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers which could be excluded from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> BATEU’s uni<strong>on</strong><br />
membership, pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> introducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative reform which would clarify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
different categories <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers falling under uni<strong>on</strong> representati<strong>on</strong> and understands that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
BATEU was not able to work and functi<strong>on</strong> freely. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that it c<strong>on</strong>siders<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> BATEU to be rooted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative<br />
framework’s restricti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights that it has extensively commented up<strong>on</strong> in<br />
Case No. 2301. Recalling that questi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> structure and organizati<strong>on</strong> are<br />
matters for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves and that it sees <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> faced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se workers as<br />
a c<strong>on</strong>crete example <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental deficiencies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> which, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end,<br />
prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se workers from exercising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>al and collective bargaining<br />
rights, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
TUA without fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r delay so as to ensure that all workers, without distincti<strong>on</strong> whatsoever,<br />
enjoy <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to establish and join organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own choosing, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r at<br />
primary level or by grouping toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r workers from different workplaces or cities.<br />
51. C<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request for measures to be taken to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce<br />
again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures without delay so as to ensure<br />
that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> definiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> managerial and supervisory staff is limited to those pers<strong>on</strong>s who<br />
genuinely represent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers, including, for example, those who have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authority to appoint or dismiss; and (2) managerial and supervisory staff have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to<br />
establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own associati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> engaging in collective bargaining, and<br />
recalls that it may avail itself <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> technical assistance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO in this regard should it<br />
so desire.<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 13
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Case No. 2850 (Malaysia)<br />
52. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its March 2012 meeting [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 853–877]. On that occasi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
(d)<br />
(e)<br />
As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> MAYNEU, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
provide informati<strong>on</strong> as to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impact <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> MAYNEU <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recogniti<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> NUBE as bargaining agent in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its apparent majority representati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
previously existing collective bargaining agreement recognizing NUBE as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
bargaining partner; as well as to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> final outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>going<br />
judicial proceedings.<br />
With respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> harassment and intimidati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> NUBE <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
bank’s security guards and by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
swiftly c<strong>on</strong>duct an independent inquiry into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
its outcome.<br />
In light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s obligati<strong>on</strong> under C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98 to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adequate<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s against acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to institute without delay an<br />
independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference against NUBE by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bank<br />
and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
access <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> NUBE representatives to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bank’s premises and to keep it informed in this<br />
regard.<br />
Expressing c<strong>on</strong>cern at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NUBE Vice-President<br />
Mr Abdul Jamil Jalaludeen and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NUBE Treasurer-General Mr Chen Ka Fatt <strong>on</strong><br />
31 January 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide its observati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>tained in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latest communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, as<br />
well as to supply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant decisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appelate Court.<br />
53. The Government submitted its observati<strong>on</strong>s in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 6 December 2012<br />
and 20 May 2013. As regards recommendati<strong>on</strong> (a), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
is still pending before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Court and, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, it is not in a positi<strong>on</strong> to provide any<br />
fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r comments. The Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are no implicati<strong>on</strong>s towards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bank Employees (NUBE) due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maybank N<strong>on</strong>-<br />
Executive Employees Uni<strong>on</strong> (MAYNEU), as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement between NUBE and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Malayan Banking Berhad (MAYBANK) is still <strong>on</strong>going. As regards<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong> (b), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no need to establish an<br />
independent inquiry as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Malaysia (DIRM) has<br />
received a complaint over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter, which is currently being referred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial<br />
Court for adjudicati<strong>on</strong>. As regards recommendati<strong>on</strong>s (c) and (d), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates<br />
that any party can lodge a complaint under secti<strong>on</strong> 8 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act 1967<br />
regarding violati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to join and participate in lawful uni<strong>on</strong> activities. Any<br />
complaint received by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DIRM will be handled in accordance with current labour laws.<br />
As regards recommendati<strong>on</strong> (e), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DIRM has received<br />
complaints (secti<strong>on</strong> 20 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act 1967) c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> two NUBE <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases have been referred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Court for<br />
adjudicati<strong>on</strong>. The Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers involved have been kept informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latest developments <strong>on</strong> this matter.<br />
54. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> MAYNEU, observing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are no implicati<strong>on</strong>s towards NUBE due to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> MAYNEU, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement between NUBE and MAYBANK<br />
is still <strong>on</strong>going, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> final outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Court. With respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> harassment and intimidati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> NUBE <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bank’s security<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
guards and by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police, noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DIRM has received a complaint over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter,<br />
which is currently being referred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Court for adjudicati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> final outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial<br />
proceedings before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Court and to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgment <strong>on</strong>ce it is<br />
handed down. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NUBE Vice-President<br />
Mr Abdul Jamil Jalaludeen, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NUBE Treasurer-General, Mr Chen Ka Fatt, <strong>on</strong><br />
31 January 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DIRM has<br />
received complaints c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se two NUBE <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
cases have been referred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Court for adjudicati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> final outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings before<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Court and to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgment <strong>on</strong>ce it is handed down. Noting<br />
that more than two years have elapsed since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presentati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to recall that justice delayed is justice denied [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006,<br />
para. 115] and trusts that all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se proceedings will be c<strong>on</strong>cluded rapidly.<br />
Case No. 2575 (Mauritius)<br />
55. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case, which c<strong>on</strong>cerns allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> setting up, compositi<strong>on</strong> and appointment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Wages/Pay Council (NPC) at its March 2012 meeting. On that occasi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
establishment, compositi<strong>on</strong>, appointment and functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commissi<strong>on</strong> dealing with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> questi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> annual pay within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Tripartite Forum. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also<br />
requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure that c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s take place within this framework<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Comm<strong>on</strong> Platform (TUCP) [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>, paras 184–186].<br />
56. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 24 July 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that: (i) discussi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> quantum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> salary compensati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> year 2012 were, at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> representatives, held at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a tripartite committee (TC)<br />
chaired by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Vice-Prime Minister and Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Finance and Ec<strong>on</strong>omic Development<br />
instead <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subcommittee <strong>on</strong> salary compensati<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aegis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Tripartite Forum. The TC was composed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven representatives from each <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
tripartite c<strong>on</strong>stituents; (ii) at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> TC, after allowing representatives<br />
from each side to express <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir views <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chairpers<strong>on</strong> proposed that a<br />
technical tripartite committee (TTC) be set up and co-chaired by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Finance<br />
and Ec<strong>on</strong>omic Development and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
Employment to examine in detail <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposals from each side and come up with specific<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> quantum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> salary compensati<strong>on</strong> for 2012; (iii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> TTC was in<br />
principle also c<strong>on</strong>stituted <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an equal representati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven members from<br />
each <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite c<strong>on</strong>stituents although some members failed to attend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meetings<br />
scheduled. It met <strong>on</strong> two occasi<strong>on</strong>s, and after careful c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposals from<br />
employers’ and workers’ representatives, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> co-Chairpers<strong>on</strong>s submitted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chairpers<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> TC <strong>on</strong> 14 September 2011. The<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s made were finally approved at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> TC and by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government in a spirit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sensus and compromise; and (iv) thus, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inflati<strong>on</strong><br />
rate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 6.6 per cent for 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government made a special effort to grant a<br />
compensati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> up to 11 per cent to those workers at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lowest rungs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ladder<br />
earning up to 5,000 Mauritian rupees (MUR) per m<strong>on</strong>th while for those earning above<br />
MUR5,000 up to MUR7,000 per m<strong>on</strong>th, a full compensati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 6.6 per cent was granted.<br />
A flat compensati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> MUR460 was given to those earning above MUR7,000 up to<br />
MUR30,000 m<strong>on</strong>thly. As for those whose salary exceeded MUR30,000 per m<strong>on</strong>th, no<br />
compensati<strong>on</strong> was proposed in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> difficult ec<strong>on</strong>omic situati<strong>on</strong> and in a gesture <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
solidarity towards those in hardship.<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 15
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
57. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes this informati<strong>on</strong> with interest.<br />
Case No. 2887 (Mauritius)<br />
58. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its May–June 2012 meeting, when it made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see 364th <strong>Report</strong>, paras 676–700]:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles set out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
above c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>straints which apply to public authorities when<br />
intervening in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners.<br />
In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tradictory versi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerned and with respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
acti<strong>on</strong> taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister to refer <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 21 issues that could not be resolved during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
collective bargaining process to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NRB, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such acti<strong>on</strong>, and noting that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant sought leave from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court for an applicati<strong>on</strong> for judicial<br />
review to quash, reverse and set aside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister which has still not<br />
been determined by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
principles will be brought to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court judgment as so<strong>on</strong> as it is handed down.<br />
59. In its communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 2 October 2012 and 8 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates<br />
that: (1) following deadlock reached at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commissi<strong>on</strong> for C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Mediati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r labour dispute reported against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mauritius Sugar Producers’<br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> (MSPA) by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Joint Negotiating Panel (JNP) <strong>on</strong> 10 March 2012 <strong>on</strong> two new<br />
issues, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JNP opted to have recourse to strike acti<strong>on</strong>. The MSPA subsequently made an<br />
applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 2 August 2012 to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employment Relati<strong>on</strong>s Tribunal (ERT) for an order<br />
restraining and prohibiting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JNP from launching or participating in any strike or any<br />
matter preparatory to a strike; (2) in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reaching a settlement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour,<br />
Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s and Employment was mandated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to pursue<br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties and finally an agreement was reached <strong>on</strong> 17 August 2012<br />
(a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement is attached to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s communicati<strong>on</strong>) whereby it was<br />
agreed, inter alia, that: (i) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s and Employment<br />
shall withdraw his referral <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 21 unresolved issues which he made to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Remunerati<strong>on</strong> Board (NRB) <strong>on</strong> 26 July 2010; (ii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSPA shall withdraw its applicati<strong>on</strong><br />
before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court in relati<strong>on</strong> to an eventual judicial review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister’s<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> to refer <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 21 unresolved issues to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NRB; and (iii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour,<br />
Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s and Employment shall refer to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NRB for review <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following<br />
three issues: (a) payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a night shift allowance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 25 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> daily basic wage to<br />
workers working during night shift; (b) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> retirement age for a male worker to be 50 years<br />
and that for a female worker to be 45 years; and (c) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> gratuity <strong>on</strong> retirement<br />
at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> age <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 60 years/retirement <strong>on</strong> medical grounds before 60 years/<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
worker to be computed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2.5 m<strong>on</strong>ths wages per year <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> service; (3) <strong>on</strong><br />
21 August 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NRB was requested by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and Employment to take necessary acti<strong>on</strong> with respect to issues in point (2)(i) and<br />
(iii) above; and (4) <strong>on</strong> 13 December 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSPA withdrew its applicati<strong>on</strong> made before<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court in relati<strong>on</strong> to an eventual judicial review against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s and Employment to refer <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 21 unresolved issues<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NRB.<br />
60. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> welcomes this informati<strong>on</strong> and duly notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective dispute has<br />
been resolved fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement menti<strong>on</strong>ed above and that court proceedings have<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore been withdrawn by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant.<br />
16 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Case No. 2679 (Mexico)<br />
61. In its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case, in March 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to inform it <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any new legal appeal against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> upholding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant trade uni<strong>on</strong> (Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Insurance Sales Agents in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalisco (SAVSGEJ)); fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> various<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> (Ms María del Socorro Guadalupe Acévez<br />
G<strong>on</strong>zález, Ms Rosanna Aguirre Díaz, Ms María Cristina Vergara Parra, Ms Bertha Elena<br />
Flores Flores, Ms Elodia Hernández Orendain, Mr Alejandro Casarrubias Iturbide,<br />
Mr Lázaro Gabriel Téllez Santana, Mr Javier Badillo Flores and Mr Martín Ramírez<br />
Olmedo), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> was awaiting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rulings to be handed down and requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> to provide details <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal claim made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
member Mr Javier Badillo Flores so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government could provide observati<strong>on</strong>s in<br />
that regard [see 359th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 106]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
has provided <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reference number for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal case (No. 82/20095J) in its<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 November 2012.<br />
62. In its communicati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 17 September and 10 and 20 February 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal ruling in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> is final and has<br />
been c<strong>on</strong>firmed. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong> with interest.<br />
63. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged dismissals, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> Board for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalisco ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> defendant insurance company to<br />
reinstate Ms María del Socorro Guadalupe Acévez G<strong>on</strong>zález and to pay her various<br />
benefits. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissals, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government provides detailed informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal<br />
proceedings, reporting that rulings are awaited, and states that it trusts <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y will be handed<br />
down so<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to transmit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
proceedings.<br />
Case No. 2268 (Myanmar)<br />
64. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its March 2011 meeting (see 359th <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 107–110) wherein it requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> steps taken<br />
to ensure a legislative framework in full c<strong>on</strong>formity with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> standards and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> had fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to issue<br />
instructi<strong>on</strong>s to civil and military agents so as to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities fully refrain<br />
from any act preventing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> free operati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
representati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers, freely chosen by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m to defend and promote <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir ec<strong>on</strong>omic<br />
and social interests, including seafarers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s and organizati<strong>on</strong>s which operated in<br />
exile at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take steps for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
immediate release from pris<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Myo Aung Thant.<br />
65. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 30 August 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government provided informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
steps being taken to finalize a legislative framework to ensure respect for freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> and resp<strong>on</strong>ded to a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r outstanding requests. In its communicati<strong>on</strong><br />
dated 6 February 2013, it indicated that Order No. 2/88 has been abolished and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
Organizati<strong>on</strong> Law (LOL) came into force <strong>on</strong> 9 March 2012. This has given rise to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 396 basic labour organizati<strong>on</strong>s, four township labour organizati<strong>on</strong>s, <strong>on</strong>e<br />
labour federati<strong>on</strong>, 17 basic employer organizati<strong>on</strong>s, and <strong>on</strong>e employer federati<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOL’s implementati<strong>on</strong> has been assisted by a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
tripartite and bipartite awareness-raising workshops that have been carried out by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> Programme. As regards Order<br />
No. 1 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2006, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that it is abolishing it in line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedures.<br />
The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r refers to numerous communicati<strong>on</strong>s it has provided to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 17
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Governing Body and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> release <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> detained worker activists, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
release <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Myo Aung Thant.<br />
66. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> welcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> release <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Myo Aung Thant, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
repeal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Order No. 2/88 and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> introducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a legislative framework enabling workers<br />
and employers to form organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own choosing. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
welcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> important steps taken with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO CTA <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
Programme to facilitate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOL in a manner c<strong>on</strong>sistent with<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with interest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> numerous basic labour<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s that have since been registered but observes from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> figures provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> higher-level organizati<strong>on</strong>s appears to be more<br />
challenging. Legitimate representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers and employers at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al level is<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> particular importance so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government may carry out meaningful c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
with labour and business <strong>on</strong> matters or draft legislati<strong>on</strong> affecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members’ interests.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusts that nati<strong>on</strong>al labour c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s will be formed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very near<br />
future so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> voices <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Myanmar workers can be effectively heard and until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n<br />
proposes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government review <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOL with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> assistance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO so as to<br />
ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirements for forming higher-level organizati<strong>on</strong>s are not such as to<br />
hinder effectively <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meaningful exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>. Observing<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> abolishing Order No. 1 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2006, and taking due<br />
account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body’s decisi<strong>on</strong> at its 316th Sessi<strong>on</strong> in November 2012 to take<br />
no fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r acti<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 26 complaint, while requesting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO, in light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
guidance it has given, to c<strong>on</strong>tinue its close cooperati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to bring<br />
about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> suggests that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
include <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Myanmar in its broad c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s over<br />
matters that affect workers’ interests.<br />
Case No. 2613 (Nicaragua)<br />
67. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case regarding dismissals and transfers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and members at its June 2012 meeting, when it noted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government had<br />
reported that: (1) a decisi<strong>on</strong> in first instance was pending for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings<br />
pertaining to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Alvin Alaniz G<strong>on</strong>zález, Ms Jazmín del Sagrario Carballo<br />
Soto and Mr Rolando Delgado Miranda, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nicaraguan Institute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Security<br />
(INSS); (2) no decisi<strong>on</strong> had been handed down for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings initiated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissed workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ENACAL Granada and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> had not changed since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 9 December 2010; and (3) a decisi<strong>on</strong> in first instance was pending for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial acti<strong>on</strong> for reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial, Mr Ricardo Francisco<br />
Arista Bolaños, against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Revenues (DGI), in process at that time<br />
before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Labour Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Judicial District <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Managua. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expected<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authorities to hand down a decisi<strong>on</strong> shortly and requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
keep it informed in that respect [see 364th <strong>Report</strong>, paras 67–68].<br />
68. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 21 November 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that: (1) Ms Jazmín del<br />
Sagrario Carballo Soto withdrew her complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> INSS and c<strong>on</strong>tinues to be an<br />
active worker in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instituti<strong>on</strong>; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request for reinstatement filed by<br />
Mr Alvin Alaniz G<strong>on</strong>zález, and during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings it was noted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong><br />
in questi<strong>on</strong> dem<strong>on</strong>strated no interest in those proceedings; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request<br />
for reinstatement filed by Mr Rolando Delgado Miranda, who moreover has received a<br />
pensi<strong>on</strong> from that instituti<strong>on</strong> since 2007; (4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Judicial District <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Managua rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claim for reinstatement and payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unpaid wages filed by<br />
Mr Ricardo Francisco Arista Bolaños; fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> worker in questi<strong>on</strong> has not been to<br />
collect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> settlement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages made available to him; and (5) as regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial<br />
proceedings filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers dismissed from ENACAL Granada in December 2011,<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Civil Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Judicial District <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Granada issued a ruling and referred <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
case to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sec<strong>on</strong>d Civil Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Judicial District <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Granada, which is resp<strong>on</strong>sible for<br />
paying six former workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company, who have already been notified.<br />
69. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Case No. 2864 (Pakistan)<br />
70. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its May–June 2012 meeting, when it made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see 364th <strong>Report</strong>, paras 772–788]:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
Observing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recent adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act (IRA) 2012 <strong>on</strong> 14 March<br />
2012, which has avoided <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expirati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
and industry-wide trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> will be registered<br />
without delay under this new legislati<strong>on</strong> and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments.<br />
In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC injuncti<strong>on</strong> orders for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bank trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials<br />
and members and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se employees have never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less remained without remedy for<br />
over seven years, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> firmly urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
steps for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir immediate reinstatement pending any remaining judicial decisi<strong>on</strong>s and to<br />
keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress made in this regard.<br />
71. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 11 December 2012, as c<strong>on</strong>cerns recommendati<strong>on</strong> (a), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government indicates that, following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamabad High Court (Inter<br />
Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeals ICA 44-55/2012), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Commissi<strong>on</strong> (NIRC)<br />
has registered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bank <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Punjab Employees Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan <strong>on</strong> 18 June 2012 under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act (IRA) 2012 and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has applied for referendum<br />
proceedings which are under process with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC.<br />
72. As regards recommendati<strong>on</strong> (a), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with satisfacti<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bank <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Punjab Employees Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan was registered under Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act<br />
(IRA) 2012 <strong>on</strong> 18 June 2012 and that it has applied for referendum proceedings with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
NIRC. It expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers were able to elect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir representatives in full freedom<br />
and trusts that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> is now able to carry out its activities without interference by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employer, in accordance with C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98, ratified by Pakistan.<br />
73. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with regret, however, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not provided any<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> in relati<strong>on</strong> to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (b). The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, <strong>on</strong>ce again<br />
firmly urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> immediate reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed Bank trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and members, pending any remaining judicial<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong>s, and to <strong>on</strong>ce again keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress made in this regard.<br />
Case No. 2751 (Panama)<br />
74. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case at its March 2012 meeting, when<br />
it made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>, para. 950]:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> firmly expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future reform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act governing administrative<br />
careers will reduce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants needed to establish a trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reiterates <strong>on</strong>ce again <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> recognizing FENASEP for all<br />
purposes (this includes it being represented <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Technical <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal<br />
and C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 43 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009) in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with its<br />
representativeness and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments<br />
and to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to ensure that its legislati<strong>on</strong> recognizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to<br />
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(c)<br />
(d)<br />
(e)<br />
establish federati<strong>on</strong>s and c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, as regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> refusal to allocate educati<strong>on</strong> insurance funds to<br />
FENASEP for training, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is waiting for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Third Administrative Divisi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice to provide clarificati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this respect.<br />
As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged freezing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 30 requests for trade uni<strong>on</strong> registrati<strong>on</strong>, bearing in<br />
mind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> denied requests for legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to examine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds for denial with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>s so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> system in practice can be evaluated, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resolving<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> securing legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 30 trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s in questi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this respect.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is awaiting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leader <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ASEMITRABS, Mr Víctor C.<br />
Castillo Díaz (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government disputes his appointment as leader <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
underlines <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> in questi<strong>on</strong> has not been operati<strong>on</strong>al for years).<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this respect.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, and in<br />
particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal proceedings instituted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour against<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders for mismanagement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> funds (illicit diversi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public educati<strong>on</strong><br />
insurance funds earmarked for trade uni<strong>on</strong> training) are <strong>on</strong>going. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to inform it <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial decisi<strong>on</strong> taken in this regard.<br />
(f) Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s observati<strong>on</strong>s dated 27 February 2012<br />
sent in resp<strong>on</strong>se to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> transmitted by FENASEP <strong>on</strong> 31 May 2011<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning dismissals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r matters, which will be examined<br />
at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case.<br />
75. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 24 August 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Employees<br />
and Public Service Enterprise Workers (FENASEP) alleges that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> situati<strong>on</strong> has deteriorated; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases where new trade uni<strong>on</strong>s have been<br />
denied legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government have not been reviewed; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State subsidy for training was recently re-established, although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal proceedings<br />
brought in this regard before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court in 2009 by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour have<br />
not been formally withdrawn; (4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector who were<br />
unfairly dismissed have not been reinstated but, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>trary, Ms Jennyfer Malca,<br />
FENASEP Executive Board Secretary for youth issues, Ms Melanie Guittens, FENASEP<br />
executive board member, Mr Ismael Ruiz, FENASEP Executive Board Secretary for<br />
educati<strong>on</strong> and Mr Andrés Rodríguez, educati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial, were fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r dismissed; (5) no<br />
inquiry has been made into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists in Changuinola, who were<br />
killed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police in 2010; (6) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Security Fund c<strong>on</strong>tinues to<br />
deny freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>; (7) through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> assistance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO, two tripartite dialogue<br />
forums were established in February 2012 to bring legislati<strong>on</strong> into line with C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong><br />
Nos 87 and 98 as far as possible, and ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r forum was established to seek to provide<br />
rapid soluti<strong>on</strong>s to disputes arising in relati<strong>on</strong> to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> (a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
agreements have been reached which have not yet been enforced or have <strong>on</strong>ly been<br />
enforced in part); and (8) a subcommittee made up <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> government and FENASEP members<br />
was created to bring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 9 governing administrative careers into line as<br />
regards freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>. The subcommittee has been operating since May 2012 but<br />
has yet to produce results.<br />
76. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 27 February 2012, in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissals submitted by FENASEP in May 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that:<br />
(1) Mr Alba did not have trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity; (2) Mr Alba and Mr Eduardo Baltazar Lan<br />
were dismissed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were not in good standing with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Security<br />
Fund (n<strong>on</strong>-compliance with requirements as members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fund);<br />
(3) Mr Andrés Góndola was absent from duty, without permissi<strong>on</strong>, from 6 to 16 May 2011,<br />
and thus a decisi<strong>on</strong> was issued requesting his dismissal <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> derelicti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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duty. Mr Góndola lodged an appeal before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative courts that is currently being<br />
processed; (4) Mr Abdiel Zapateiro was dismissed under Staff Decree No. 408 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
18 December 2009, and his appeal for review was rejected, indicating that he was not a<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> leader; (5) Mr Reynaldo Núñez Castillo was dismissed from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Banco Hipotecario<br />
Naci<strong>on</strong>al under Decisi<strong>on</strong> No. 293-2011 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 18 February 2011, as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> functi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
and structural reorganizati<strong>on</strong> carried out throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instituti<strong>on</strong>. Mr Núñez Castillo<br />
lodged administrative appeals, which were rejected, and may bring his case before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
judicial authorities; and (6) Ms Ana Bolena Ayarza, journalist for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Relati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colón was not unfairly dismissed, but was a temporary<br />
employee; she was not a uni<strong>on</strong> leader <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any public sector trade uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
77. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 17 October 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following with<br />
regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>:<br />
– Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (a): (i) In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue c<strong>on</strong>ducted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
committees <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panama tripartite agreement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 February 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour<br />
subcommittee <strong>on</strong> administrative careers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite Agreement is in operati<strong>on</strong>; and (ii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subcommittee has been<br />
addressing all matters relating to administrative careers in search <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal measures to<br />
align <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> in force with C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98.<br />
– Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (b): (i) FENASEP is an organizati<strong>on</strong> that is recognized in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
sector; and (ii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subsidy for trade uni<strong>on</strong> training has been re-established with<br />
FENASEP and with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers (UGT), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>th <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> July<br />
2012 has already been paid.<br />
– Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (c): (i) All <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests for legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality were answered via<br />
reas<strong>on</strong>ed decisi<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Department for Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Organizati<strong>on</strong>s is not in<br />
default in this respect; (ii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests for registrati<strong>on</strong> in questi<strong>on</strong> were rejected and<br />
were not corrected by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicants; and (iii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court c<strong>on</strong>firmed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling<br />
denying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests for legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality.<br />
– Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (d): The Government is awaiting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court<br />
in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ASEMITRABS uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial, Mr Victor Castillo.<br />
– Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (e): (i) On 6 June 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Anti-corrupti<strong>on</strong> Prosecutor’s<br />
Office ordered that statements be taken from a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>ists; (ii) under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
instructi<strong>on</strong>s issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Prosecutor’s Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> funds allocated to trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
training was examined and it was found that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> course participants provided<br />
by some trade uni<strong>on</strong>s included deceased pers<strong>on</strong>s and new born children, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> funds to pay for alcohol, teleph<strong>on</strong>e bills, cable televisi<strong>on</strong> in private residences,<br />
etc.; (iii) to date, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case c<strong>on</strong>tinues before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is<br />
carrying out investigati<strong>on</strong>s in order to submit its report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judiciary; and (iv) as a<br />
result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite dialogue between sectors, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister submitted a request before<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Prosecutor’s Office for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> withdrawal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings, which was not<br />
accepted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office.<br />
78. Lastly, in its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2 November 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government refers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s presented by FENASEP and reports <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following: (1) tripartite dialogue is<br />
operating in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> committees <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panama tripartite agreement (<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite Agreement and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Rapid Handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Complaints) as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subcommittee <strong>on</strong> administrative careers to address matters<br />
related to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>; (2) under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dialogue process, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> assistance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ILO, three agreements were signed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite dialogue committees and Dr Rolando<br />
Murgas Torraza was elected by c<strong>on</strong>sensus as moderator; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subcommittee in charge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
bringing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act governing administrative careers into line with C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 21
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
98 has been meeting since May 2012 and to date has produced a progress report,<br />
establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters to be addressed, with a view to reaching c<strong>on</strong>sensus as<br />
regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amendment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act; (4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new uni<strong>on</strong>s were denied legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality<br />
because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y did not meet <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirements established in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Code. The applicants<br />
have not submitted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> required correcti<strong>on</strong>s; (5) Ms Melanie Yvette Guittens de Salazar<br />
was dismissed in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative authority’s power <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> free discreti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
appointment and dismissal. She was not an administrative career employee, and she was<br />
not a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FENASEP executive board or <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colón Free Trade Z<strong>on</strong>e, and she did not have trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity,<br />
which would have prevented <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> adopted; (6) Mr Andrés Rodríguez Olmos,<br />
Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Teachers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panama has not been<br />
dismissed from his positi<strong>on</strong>. The sancti<strong>on</strong> that was issued for his dismissal (following a<br />
disciplinary inquiry which followed due process) is formally suspended as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an<br />
appeal lodged by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sancti<strong>on</strong>ed party and which is currently pending; (7) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mr Ismael Ruiz is currently before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Rapid Handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Complaints<br />
relating to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining, for its tripartite c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
(8) in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ms Jennifer Malca, informati<strong>on</strong> has been requested from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sports<br />
Institute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panama; (9) as regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> city <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Changuinola, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s SITRAIBANA, SITRAPBI, Comité Ocho de Julio (<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Eighth <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
July), SITRAEMBA, SUNTRACS and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Government signed a settlement <strong>on</strong><br />
29 August 2010 c<strong>on</strong>cluding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s and agreeing not to submit any complaints in<br />
respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> events <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 8 July 2010. Likewise, 82 people affected during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> events were<br />
accorded m<strong>on</strong>thly financial support <strong>on</strong> humanitarian grounds until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir retirement; and<br />
(10) as regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claim that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Security Fund c<strong>on</strong>tinues to deny freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instituti<strong>on</strong> respects freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
engaging in dialogue with more than 38 existing trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fund and<br />
in May 2012 agreements were signed to bring a strike to an end.<br />
79. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all this informati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> firmly expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
committees and subcommittees that were established through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite agreement<br />
signed in February 2012 will produce tangible results in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very near future and requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this respect. It also requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep<br />
it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal proceedings c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong>ists Mr Andrés Góndola, Mr Victor Castillo and Mr Andrés Rodríguez Olmos; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> committee <strong>on</strong> complaints related to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>ist Mr Ismael Ruiz; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment<br />
situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>ist Ms Jennifer Malca; and (4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong> being<br />
carried out by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Anti-corrupti<strong>on</strong> Prosecutor’s Office <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> funds for trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> training.<br />
80. More generally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has observed in different cases related to Panama that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
legal provisi<strong>on</strong>s governing trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector are subject to significant<br />
restricti<strong>on</strong>s. For example, in a case examined in its meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> March 2013 [see<br />
367th <strong>Report</strong>, Case No. 2677, paras 70–73] indicati<strong>on</strong> is made that provisi<strong>on</strong>s are needed<br />
that protect public servants against acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> or interference, and<br />
clearly recognize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to collective bargaining <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants who are not engaged<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that this case also illustrates<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector encounters obstacles in practice. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to submit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se matters to tripartite dialogue and to<br />
keep it informed in this regard.<br />
22 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Case No. 2868 (Panama)<br />
81. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its March 2012 meeting [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 951–1010] when it made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
(d)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note with deep c<strong>on</strong>cern a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s given by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government for refusing to register or grant legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> six trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s in formati<strong>on</strong> menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> different legal requirements or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir interpretati<strong>on</strong> in practice in this case appear to<br />
have c<strong>on</strong>travened Article 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87 under which workers without<br />
distincti<strong>on</strong> whatsoever and without previous authorizati<strong>on</strong> have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to establish<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own choosing.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e hand, urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to adopt measures to amend<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> to bring it in line with C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87 and, as it has already d<strong>on</strong>e with<br />
regard to Case No. 2751, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrative authorities, to examine with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants in a proactive and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structive manner <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s for this situati<strong>on</strong> so as to assess how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> system is<br />
working in practice and how to resolve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> or access to legal<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>ality for trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s whose registrati<strong>on</strong> has been denied. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in that regard.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also understands that some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality<br />
have been submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authority and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to inform it <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s handed down.<br />
Lastly, with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers who signed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> intenti<strong>on</strong> to form<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SINTEGPPI and those who signed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> intenti<strong>on</strong> to form a workers’ trade uni<strong>on</strong> in<br />
“Panama Gaming and Services <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panamá” and/or “Cirsa Panamá SA” were dismissed,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not sent detailed comments <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
serious allegati<strong>on</strong>s and, recalling that pursuant to Article 1 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98 it is<br />
expressly prohibited to “cause <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>, or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rwise prejudice, a worker by<br />
reas<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> membership”, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, should <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s be verified, to take steps to reinstate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both trade uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
immediately and compensate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir losses (salaries and benefits) and to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
82. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 26 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that:<br />
– As regards recommendati<strong>on</strong> (a), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> refusal to grant legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s in formati<strong>on</strong> menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint, is included in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters that will be addressed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Rapid Handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Complaints, established under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panama Tripartite Agreement, and will be<br />
evaluated through tripartite dialogue under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> moderati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Dr Rolando Murgas.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes this informati<strong>on</strong> and trusts that this matter will be resolved in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> near future.<br />
– As regards recommendati<strong>on</strong> (b), c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> (<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality) to bring it in line with C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
committee resp<strong>on</strong>sible for analysing areas for harm<strong>on</strong>izati<strong>on</strong> in nati<strong>on</strong>al legislati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
established under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panama Tripartite Agreement, is drawing up a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters to<br />
be addressed in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s and informati<strong>on</strong> will be<br />
sent when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary c<strong>on</strong>sensus is achieved. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> and trusts that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary amendments to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> will be<br />
adopted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> near future.<br />
– As regards, recommendati<strong>on</strong> (c), <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>on</strong>e denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Industrial Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panamanian Waterway Workers and Related Industries)<br />
was brought before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts. The Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 23
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
a new list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> members, but it did not grant <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> legal<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>ality. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that this case will be examined by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Rapid Handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Complaints. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes this<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> and firmly expects that, <strong>on</strong>ce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal requirements have been met, legal<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>ality will be granted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> in questi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
– As regards recommendati<strong>on</strong> (d), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company “Panama Gaming &<br />
Services <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panamá” and/or “Cirsa Panamá SA”, referred to by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s, were not dismissed but ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r signed a mutual agreement with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
company to terminate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir employment relati<strong>on</strong>ship. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company<br />
“Gaming Properties <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panamá Inc.”, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> founding members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> left <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company, and legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality was denied <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> lacked <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers (40) needed to establish a<br />
company trade uni<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>. In accordance<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s in its 2012 observati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87 by<br />
Panama, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 40 workers required<br />
to form a trade uni<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Code should be reduced so as not to obstruct<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> company trade uni<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusts that this matter will be<br />
addressed within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> in charge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> analysing areas for<br />
harm<strong>on</strong>izati<strong>on</strong> in nati<strong>on</strong>al legislati<strong>on</strong> established under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panama Tripartite<br />
Agreement, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps will be taken to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant<br />
legislative provisi<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Case No. 2400 (Peru)<br />
83. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its November 2012 meeting [see 365th <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
para. 119], when it asked <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to inform it <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal relating<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ist <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise CrediScotia Financiera SA,<br />
Mr William Alburquerque Zevallos (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Instance had ruled against him <strong>on</strong><br />
31 January 2012, having established serious misc<strong>on</strong>duct unrelated to his status as a uni<strong>on</strong><br />
leader) [see 362nd <strong>Report</strong>, paras 111–112].<br />
84. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 16 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeals court<br />
upheld <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first instance ruling and c<strong>on</strong>firmed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al misc<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interested<br />
party. The Government adds that Mr William Alburquerque Zevallos has filed a cassati<strong>on</strong><br />
appeal.<br />
85. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong> and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cassati<strong>on</strong> appeal filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leader.<br />
Case No. 2527 (Peru)<br />
86. In its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case in November 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pending matters [see 365th <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 123–124]:<br />
– The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> hopes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal filed by Mr Arenaza Lander with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Seventh Civil<br />
Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Lima relating to his dismissal will be dealt with<br />
swiftly.<br />
– The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusts that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal complaint regarding acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence filed by<br />
Mr Elías García in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with alleged assaults will proceed without delay.<br />
24 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
87. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 15 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial<br />
prosecutor’s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cañete judicial district shelved <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal complaint filed by<br />
Mr Elías García.<br />
88. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
89. The Government also states that, with regard to Mr Arenaza Lander, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Seventh Civil<br />
Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Lima upheld <strong>on</strong> appeal <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling handed down in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first instance. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <strong>on</strong> 27 March 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court declared <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al grievance appeal filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interested party to be inadmissible.<br />
90. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Case No. 2533 (Peru)<br />
91. In its November 2012 meeting, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters still pending [see 365th <strong>Report</strong>, paras 126–129]:<br />
– The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
acti<strong>on</strong> for wr<strong>on</strong>gful dismissal filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial Mr Wilmert Medina<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise San Fermín SA.<br />
– C<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged dismissal by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company CFG Investment SAC <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive committee and uni<strong>on</strong> members, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> noted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
provided informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings brought by dismissed<br />
workers against CFG Investments (Mr Abel Ant<strong>on</strong>io Rojas, Mr Rodolfo Toyco,<br />
Mr Primitivo Ramos, Mr Marco Ant<strong>on</strong>io Malta and Mr Juan Germán Cáceres), and<br />
five cases which were under appeal (Mr Ángel Maglorio, Mr Alfredo Flores,<br />
Mr Segundino Flores, Mr Alex Javier Rojas and Mr Roberto Juan Gargate). The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> noted that informati<strong>on</strong> and requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to report <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>going proceedings c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists from CFG<br />
Investment SAC.<br />
– Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ascertain whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
enterprise Textiles San Sebastián SAC still existed, and if it did, to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
measures without delay to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise reinstated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials<br />
and workers with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage arrears, recognized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, rectified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> antiuni<strong>on</strong><br />
measures taken against it, refrained from adopting any such measures in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future<br />
and encouraged collective bargaining between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties. If <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement was not<br />
possible for objective and compelling reas<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers c<strong>on</strong>cerned received sufficient and adequate compensati<strong>on</strong> so as<br />
to c<strong>on</strong>stitute a dissuasive sancti<strong>on</strong> against anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissals.<br />
92. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 16 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government provides informati<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> for wr<strong>on</strong>gful dismissal initiated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial<br />
Mr Wilmert Medina, worker at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company San Fermín SA, indicating that a ruling was<br />
issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice, ordering his reinstatement.<br />
93. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged dismissal by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company CFG Investment SAC <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> and uni<strong>on</strong> members, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government provides detailed informati<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings initiated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed workers against CFG<br />
Investment SAC (Mr Abel Ant<strong>on</strong>io Rojas (who did not obtain a favourable ruling ordering<br />
his reinstatement), Mr Rodolfo Toyco, Mr Primitivo Ramos, Mr Marco Ant<strong>on</strong>io Malta and<br />
Mr Juan Germán Cáceres), and five cases which are under appeal (Mr Ángel Maglorio,<br />
Mr Alfredo Flores, Mr Segundino Flores, Mr Alex Javier Rojas and Mr Roberto Juan<br />
Gargate).<br />
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94. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise Textiles San Sebastián SAC, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that,<br />
following a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s and enquiries, it has not been possible to find <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
company. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cludes that it does not seem that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise will c<strong>on</strong>tinue<br />
its producti<strong>on</strong> activity, or that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers will be possible. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to c<strong>on</strong>tinue c<strong>on</strong>ducting its investigati<strong>on</strong>s and to<br />
ensure that all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and workers receive <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal indemnity<br />
and compensati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>stituting a sufficiently dissuasive sancti<strong>on</strong> against anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
dismissals.<br />
95. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with satisfacti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice ordering<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial Mr Wilmert Medina Campos. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> CFG Investment, which are still pending resoluti<strong>on</strong><br />
(except for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>ist Mr Abel Ant<strong>on</strong>io Rojas, where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court ruled against<br />
him) and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard.<br />
Case No. 2638 (Peru)<br />
96. In its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case in November 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> matters that were still pending [see 365th <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
para. 139]:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> received, in particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
12 workers. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 13 remaining workers by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Surquillo.<br />
97. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 10 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that five uni<strong>on</strong> members<br />
have been reinstated and that a fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r four have been reinstated under administrative<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tracts; certain cases have not been <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings.<br />
98. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Case No. 2639 (Peru)<br />
99. In its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case in March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> asked <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> relating to payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basic<br />
wages established in collective agreements by Sociedad Eléctrica del Sur Oeste (SEAL)<br />
and Electropuno SA.<br />
100. In its communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 5 and 10 April 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour<br />
inspectorate has established that members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant federati<strong>on</strong> have been paid <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
wage increases and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social/labour obligati<strong>on</strong>s at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed enterprises<br />
have been fulfilled.<br />
101. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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Case No. 2664 (Peru)<br />
102. In its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case in November 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters still pending [see 365th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 148]:<br />
Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> sent by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged<br />
murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial Mr Manuel Yupanqui Ramos and trusts that fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s will allow <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts to be clarified. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body’s attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> serious and urgent nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this aspect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case and<br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leader Mr Jorge Huanaco.<br />
103. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 15 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that it already sent<br />
detailed informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> those murders and <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s carried out in relati<strong>on</strong> to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those trade uni<strong>on</strong> members from gunshot wounds <strong>on</strong> 12 July 2008, as well as<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s carried out in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> injuries sustained by five individuals and<br />
three police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers following a c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>tati<strong>on</strong> with around 300 striking miners who were<br />
blocking a road and who attacked 19 police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers who had just been performing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
duties in ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r locality and who were <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir way to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> city <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trujillo.<br />
104. The Government adds that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that has elapsed and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s carried<br />
out, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities have not been able to identify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspected perpetrators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts, or<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> participants <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rein, committed against Mr Manuel Jesús Yupanqui Ramos and<br />
Mr Jorge Luis Huanaco Tutuca, and against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Police and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise Minera<br />
Marsa. This led <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecuti<strong>on</strong> Service to decree that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preliminary investigati<strong>on</strong><br />
should not be formalized or c<strong>on</strong>tinued. This decisi<strong>on</strong> was not challenged by any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interested parties during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> clarificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts and n<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interested parties has<br />
appealed against it.<br />
105. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> to send its comments. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes that this case<br />
had been classified as serious and urgent and highlights <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> receiving<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> requested as so<strong>on</strong> as possible.<br />
Case No. 2697 (Peru)<br />
106. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> examined this case at its November 2012 meeting when it requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Lima Registry<br />
Z<strong>on</strong>e against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court ruling ordering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>ists Ms Ana Elizabeth<br />
Mújica Valencia, Ms María Yolanda Zaplana Briceño, Ms Mirian Reyes Candela,<br />
Ms Nelly Cecilia Marimón Lino M<strong>on</strong>tes, Ms Rosemary Alexandra Almeyda Bedoya and<br />
Ms Rocío del Carmen Rojas Castellares [see 365th <strong>Report</strong>, paras 149–151].<br />
107. In its communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 11 January and 10 April 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al and Social Law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
appeal <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that it was inadmissible, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby c<strong>on</strong>firming <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous ruling<br />
ordering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatements and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages owed, ruling which had already<br />
been executed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer.<br />
108. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes this informati<strong>on</strong> with satisfacti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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Case No. 2771 (Peru)<br />
109. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its November 2012 meeting, when it made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following recommendati<strong>on</strong> [see 365th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 163]:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to comment in detail <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGTP’s<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 March 2012. (In that communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGTP reported that, in<br />
May 2010, two trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders were detained for nearly three m<strong>on</strong>ths for alleged<br />
obstructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> running <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public services.)<br />
110. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 18 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authority<br />
has acquitted both trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders.<br />
111. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Case No. 2866 (Peru)<br />
112. At its June 2012 meeting, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
matters still pending [see 364th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 875]:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, in keeping with its <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fer to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, to make<br />
representati<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ec<strong>on</strong>omy and Finance for c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
approval <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a wage increase for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspectors and to keep it informed in this respect.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s<br />
affirmati<strong>on</strong> that various leaders were <strong>on</strong> uni<strong>on</strong> leave during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligatory sec<strong>on</strong>dment<br />
ordered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take steps to modify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law so<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to declare a strike illegal lies not with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative authority but<br />
with an independent body which has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties involved.<br />
113. In its communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 24 August 2012 and 15 January and 30 April 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government states with regard to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (a), that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> arbitrati<strong>on</strong><br />
proceedings arising from collective bargaining, <strong>on</strong> 23 March 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> designated<br />
arbitrati<strong>on</strong> tribunal issued a ruling <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MTPE Labour Inspectors’<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Employment Promoti<strong>on</strong> (MTPE), whereby <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following benefits are granted: (a) inspecti<strong>on</strong> b<strong>on</strong>us: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> equivalent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nine times <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> living<br />
wage, which amounts to 6,075 nuevos soles (PEN) per worker, to be paid in December<br />
each year, for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> performance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> duties; (b) closure b<strong>on</strong>us: a <strong>on</strong>e-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
PEN10,000 <strong>on</strong> completi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining (approximately PEN2.35 milli<strong>on</strong> to be<br />
paid by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour); (c) mobility allowance: PEN15 per inspector per day for<br />
travel to work (as at December 2012, some PEN3 milli<strong>on</strong> were needed); (d) food<br />
allowance: PEN12 per inspector per day for lunches (as at December 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour needed to budget about PEN2.5 milli<strong>on</strong>); (e) holiday allowance: PEN1,000 when<br />
going <strong>on</strong> vacati<strong>on</strong> (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour needs to budget about PEN0.65 milli<strong>on</strong> for<br />
holiday allowances for two periods).<br />
114. The Government adds that fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps having been taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Planning<br />
and Budget Office, by multiple memorandum No. 089 2012 MTPE/4/9 (<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 25 July 2012),<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> budget has now been approved for payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> closure b<strong>on</strong>us granted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
arbitrati<strong>on</strong> award referred to above; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> respective b<strong>on</strong>us was paid to uni<strong>on</strong>ized inspecti<strong>on</strong><br />
staff in July 2012. As regards o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r benefits granted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> award, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> corresp<strong>on</strong>ding<br />
departments <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry are taking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate measures. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been a partial appeal against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arbitrati<strong>on</strong> award due to<br />
infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> budgetary law, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tribunal has temporarily suspended <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>tested clauses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> award and will subsequently issue a decisi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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115. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes this informati<strong>on</strong> and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authority.<br />
116. With regard to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (b), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re have been cases such<br />
as those that occurred between 22 and 25 March 2011, in which trade uni<strong>on</strong> leave was<br />
requested <strong>on</strong>e day in advance, and not 48 hours in advance as required by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrative procedure with a view to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate planning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspecti<strong>on</strong> activities<br />
and visits, which includes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reservati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tickets, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> travel expenses, and<br />
various coordinati<strong>on</strong> measures, as in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r workers. At present, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
are abiding by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se criteria.<br />
117. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes this informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
118. With regard to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (c), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s request<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning reform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> with respect to declaring a strike illegal is being taken<br />
into c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Labour Bill. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft amended regulati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
implementing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Collective Labour Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act seek to make it clear that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers employed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector system, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to declare a strike illegal is<br />
made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorized representative for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> corresp<strong>on</strong>ding sector; this declarati<strong>on</strong> must<br />
be made <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a verificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> validity undertaken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour administrative<br />
authority. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reminds <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, in accordance with its previous<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft amended regulati<strong>on</strong>s should stipulate that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to<br />
declare a strike legal or illegal should lie with a body which is independent from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
parties involved, for example <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authority, and should not lie with administrative<br />
bodies – even <strong>on</strong>e such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour administrative authority – as provided for by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed draft.<br />
119. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 25 June 2012 from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Aut<strong>on</strong>omous<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peruvian Workers c<strong>on</strong>cerning sancti<strong>on</strong>s against three trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists,<br />
and observes that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 30 April 2013,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se sancti<strong>on</strong>s have not been enforced.<br />
Case No. 2291 (Poland)<br />
120. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case, which c<strong>on</strong>cerns numerous acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
intimidati<strong>on</strong> and discriminati<strong>on</strong>, including dismissals, lengthy proceedings and<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-executi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial decisi<strong>on</strong>s, at its meeting in March 2012 [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 202–205]. On that occasi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reiterated its requests to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Mr Jedrejek had been reinstated and,<br />
if not, it <strong>on</strong>ce again urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps to ensure his full<br />
reinstatement pursuant to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court’s decisi<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also firmly expected that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case against 19 senior managers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SIPMA SA pending before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal would be c<strong>on</strong>cluded without any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r undue delay and <strong>on</strong>ce again<br />
requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress made and to transmit a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgment <strong>on</strong>ce handed down.<br />
121. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 4 September 2012, with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mr Jedrejek, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that he was reinstated in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
judgement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court in Lublin. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case against 19 senior<br />
managers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SIMPA SA, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two defendants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trial was quashed for retrial by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court in Lublin and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next hearings were to<br />
be held <strong>on</strong> 4 and 20 September 2012.<br />
122. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Jedrejek, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with satisfacti<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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company has informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government that he was reinstated in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
judgement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court in Lublin.<br />
123. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case against 19 senior managers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SIMPA SA charged with <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences<br />
under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 May 1991 <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> settlement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective disputes, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Penal Code and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 May 1991 <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> 14 October 2003, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two defendants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trial was quashed for<br />
retrial by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court in Lublin and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next court sessi<strong>on</strong>s were to be held <strong>on</strong><br />
4 and 20 September 2012. No informati<strong>on</strong> was provided c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
16 defendants. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls from its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case that 18 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 19 managers were found guilty by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court in Lublin <strong>on</strong> 29 December 2010<br />
and lodged an appeal before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
to: (i) keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress made c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> retrial before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court in<br />
Lublin <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> defendants; and (ii) to indicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r 16 defendants. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again recalls<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> penal case has been pending since 2003 and emphasizes that justice delayed is<br />
justice denied [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, para. 105]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again firmly<br />
expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court in Lublin<br />
will be c<strong>on</strong>cluded without any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r undue delay and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress made and to transmit a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgments as so<strong>on</strong> as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y have<br />
been handed down.<br />
Case No. 2758 (Russian Federati<strong>on</strong>)<br />
124. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case, c<strong>on</strong>cerning allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> numerous violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights, including physical attacks <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders, violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> opini<strong>on</strong> and expressi<strong>on</strong>, Government interference in trade uni<strong>on</strong> matters, refusal by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
state authorities to register trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> and absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
effective mechanisms to ensure protecti<strong>on</strong> against such acts, denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> facilities for<br />
workers’ representatives, violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to bargain collectively and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> failure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State to investigate those violati<strong>on</strong>s, at its November 2012 meeting [see 365th <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 1301–1401]. On that occasi<strong>on</strong>, it made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
(d)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> joint KTR–FNPR proposal will be discussed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
RTK without delay with a view to resolving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues raised in this case. It requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to keep it informed in this respect.<br />
Recognizing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative matters in this case are also being addressed by o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO supervisory mechanism, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, noting its specific mandate,<br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take steps to bring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> into c<strong>on</strong>formity with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining and to keep it informed in<br />
this regard.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures without delay in<br />
order to remove <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaflets from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extremist literature and to ensure<br />
that this does not happen again. It requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this<br />
respect.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
persecuti<strong>on</strong> has been duly investigated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant authorities and to provide details<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such investigati<strong>on</strong>, as well as all o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r relevant informati<strong>on</strong>, including judicial<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong>s in this case. If <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> persecuti<strong>on</strong> has not been examined,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to c<strong>on</strong>duct an independent inquiry into this<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong> without delay, and if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong> reveals that anti-uni<strong>on</strong> motives were<br />
behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arrest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Urusov to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures for his immediate release.<br />
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125. By a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 7 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government informs that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposals for<br />
improving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> and enforcement procedures, as recommended by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
will be c<strong>on</strong>sidered, as a matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> priority, by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Russian Tripartite Commissi<strong>on</strong> (RTK) in<br />
April 2013.<br />
126. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> declarati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaflets circulated at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Tsentrosvarmash”<br />
enterprise in Tver as extremist material, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedure for<br />
listing extremist literature is prescribed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> Preventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Extremist Activities<br />
(No. 114-FZ <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 25 July 2002), which provides that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> declarati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> material<br />
as extremist is made by a federal court; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reafter, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice enters such<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> material <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extremist literature. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r indicates<br />
that despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that pursuant to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong>, an appeal may be lodged against a<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> to enter informati<strong>on</strong> material <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> federal list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extremist literature, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
present case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> filing a judicial appeal against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> local court’s decisi<strong>on</strong> was<br />
not available as it was not established that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leaflets in questi<strong>on</strong> bel<strong>on</strong>ged to any trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>. In this c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong>, and in order to rule out such situati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Protecti<strong>on</strong> has submitted a proposal to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Justice with a view to rec<strong>on</strong>sidering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing procedure.<br />
127. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government informs that a sec<strong>on</strong>d hearing in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Urusov was held<br />
<strong>on</strong> 6 March 2013 and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Khangalasskiy District Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sakha<br />
(Yakutia) handed down a decisi<strong>on</strong> to release <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leader from detenti<strong>on</strong> and to<br />
sentence him to nine m<strong>on</strong>ths and 11 days to corrective labour. The C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Russia (KTR) guaranteed job placement for Mr Urusov up<strong>on</strong> his release.<br />
128. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s reply. It welcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> release <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mr Urusov in March 2013.<br />
129. Noting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> RTK intended to discuss proposals for<br />
improving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> and enforcement procedures as a matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> priority, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
discussi<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that no informati<strong>on</strong> has been provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government as to whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Proposals for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resoluti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues raised in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complaint” have been discussed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> RTK. Recalling that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and its social<br />
partners agreed, in October 2011, to examine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se proposals in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
tripartite body, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments in this respect.<br />
130. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaflets included, following a local court’s decisi<strong>on</strong>, in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extremist material, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government and, in particular, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Protecti<strong>on</strong> has<br />
submitted a proposal to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice to rec<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal procedure in such<br />
cases. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard.<br />
Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, with reference to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
understands that trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaflets c<strong>on</strong>taining such slogans as “let those who caused <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
crisis pay for it”, “fight substandard employment”, and “we demand our night shift pay”<br />
are still <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> federal list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extremist material. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that placing<br />
leaflets c<strong>on</strong>taining such or similar slogans <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extremist literature impedes<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siderably <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s to express <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir views and is an unacceptable<br />
restricti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities and, as such, a grave violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls in this respect that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to express opini<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
including those criticizing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s ec<strong>on</strong>omic and social policy, is <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
essential elements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupati<strong>on</strong>al organizati<strong>on</strong>s. It <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore <strong>on</strong>ce again<br />
urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures without delay in order to remove <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaflets in questi<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extremist literature and to ensure that this<br />
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does not happen again. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this<br />
respect.<br />
Case No. 2760 (Thailand)<br />
131. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case, which c<strong>on</strong>cerns <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights: (i) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
individual dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a leader <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Triumph Internati<strong>on</strong>al (Thailand) Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> in<br />
violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> expressi<strong>on</strong>, following a judicial<br />
procedure which took place in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> defence; (ii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1,959 workers, including 13 uni<strong>on</strong> board members, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
restructuring process, allegedly in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a collective agreement in force; (iii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dangerous sound devices by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police forces to disperse strikers who ga<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>red in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
aftermath <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective dismissal; (iv) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arrest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three uni<strong>on</strong> leaders in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a strike, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unsubstantiated criminal charges; and (v) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference by<br />
authorities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, at its March 2012 meeting [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 221–234]. On that occasi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take<br />
all necessary measures to seek <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> immediate reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ms Kotchadej with full pay<br />
for back wages. If her reinstatement was found not to be possible for objective and<br />
compelling reas<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure that Ms Kotchadej<br />
is paid adequate compensati<strong>on</strong> which would c<strong>on</strong>stitute a sufficiently dissuasive sancti<strong>on</strong><br />
against anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissals. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expected that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
would be in a positi<strong>on</strong> to provide detailed informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date and circumstances <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
assaults against Ms Kotchadej in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> near future in order for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
appropriate steps for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir investigati<strong>on</strong> and to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also expected that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant would be in a positi<strong>on</strong> to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
relevant provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement, including article 6, which allegedly<br />
stipulated that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> event <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a restructure, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning a lay-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f was to be<br />
collectively agreed. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1,959 workers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to inquire whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r anti-uni<strong>on</strong> criteria were applied when identifying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employees to be dismissed. Noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed board members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong> was still pending before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> as so<strong>on</strong> as it is handed down, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r relevant judicial decisi<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court would<br />
take into account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle according to which no pers<strong>on</strong> should be dismissed or<br />
prejudiced in employment by reas<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> membership or legitimate trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
activities, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r past or present [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, para. 770]. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispersal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> which took place <strong>on</strong> 27 August 2009, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again:<br />
(i) urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to undertake appropriate investigati<strong>on</strong>s into this matter,<br />
including as regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> LRAD <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> striking workers and to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
measures to ensure that police forces or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r government authorities do not intervene in<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s with excessive force and in a manner that is likely to cause injury to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
striking workers; and (ii) fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strict observance<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> due process guarantees in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any surveillance operati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’<br />
activities by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> army, in order to guarantee that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legitimate rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s can be exercised in a climate that is free from violence, pressure or threats <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
any kind against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir leaders and members. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep<br />
it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures taken in this respect. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arrest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
leaders, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again: (i) urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide updated<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir present situati<strong>on</strong>, including <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> specific charges filed against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m.<br />
Should <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se charges be related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir legitimate trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities and bearing in<br />
mind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Agreement c<strong>on</strong>cluding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute, it urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> charges are immediately dropped; (ii) requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lawyers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders would be allowed to have full access to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
32 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
arrest warrants as well as to any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r relevant informati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir proper defence and to<br />
keep it informed in this regard; and (iii) requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
any relevant judicial decisi<strong>on</strong> in this respect, in particular, a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal decisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lawyers to receive a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arrest warrants. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
electi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Triumph Internati<strong>on</strong>al (Thailand) Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> Chairpers<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> newly elected Chairpers<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
is recognized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers to elect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
representatives freely and to bargain collectively is fully ensured.<br />
132. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 19 April 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government provides partial informati<strong>on</strong><br />
indicating that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arrest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders is still pending<br />
before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court for examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> evidence and witnesses and that a hearing was<br />
scheduled <strong>on</strong> 24 May 2012.<br />
133. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again notes<br />
with regret that although it had made extensive recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not<br />
provided informati<strong>on</strong> with respect to most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
is bound to reiterate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed recommendati<strong>on</strong>s and firmly expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government will make all efforts to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> requested including by seeking<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerned,<br />
as requested in its previous recommendati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r observes with regret<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant has not provided <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> requested and recalls <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> receiving full informati<strong>on</strong> to enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to carry out a full and<br />
objective c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters before it in full knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
circumstances, it will not pursue its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those matters.<br />
Case No. 2843 (Ukraine)<br />
134. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its November 2011 meeting, when it made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see 362nd <strong>Report</strong>, paras 1458–1499]:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
(d)<br />
(e)<br />
(f)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to amend secti<strong>on</strong> 87 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil<br />
Code so as to eliminate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong> with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong><br />
versus <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legalizati<strong>on</strong> imposed <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> and so as to fully guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers to establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s without previous authorizati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Khmelnitsky regi<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Aut<strong>on</strong>omous Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Crimea.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r a new<br />
branch agreement has been reached for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong> sector and whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU has<br />
participated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining. It fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
KVPU to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r amendments to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> health sector agreement proposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
KVPU have been c<strong>on</strong>sidered and adopted.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to institute an independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pressure put <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s activists at mining enterprises (Frunze,<br />
Nikopol Plant <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ferroalloys and Kryvy Rih Ir<strong>on</strong> Ore Complex) and mines menti<strong>on</strong>ed in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 8 September 2011 and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> powers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR under secti<strong>on</strong> 7 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Social Dialogue will be limited to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r a given organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
meets <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> established objective representativity criteria.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case.<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 33
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
135. In its communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 15 March 2012, 7 July 2012 and 1 August 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in reply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s. As<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerns <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legalizati<strong>on</strong> (registrati<strong>on</strong>) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> legalizati<strong>on</strong> are defined by secti<strong>on</strong> 16 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Law<br />
but it does not address <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need to amend secti<strong>on</strong> 87 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil Code (2003) so as to<br />
eliminate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong> within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al legislati<strong>on</strong> and so as to fully guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers to establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>s without previous authorizati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
136. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Free Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ukraine<br />
(KVPU) organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Khmelnitsky regi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that according<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ukrainian State Register, no documents regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legalizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a KVPU<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Khmelnitsky district and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Free Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Aut<strong>on</strong>omous Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Crimea (ARC) were issued. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ARC, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reiterates its explanati<strong>on</strong>s with<br />
regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU affiliates.<br />
137. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into complaints <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that secti<strong>on</strong>s 12 and 46 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> Law protect against acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state and local government<br />
authorities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and employers and provides for sancti<strong>on</strong>s against such acts.<br />
138. As regards whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r amendments to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> health sector agreement proposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU<br />
have been c<strong>on</strong>sidered and adopted, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that in an effort to engage <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
KVPU in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> improving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing industrial agreements and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
an industrial agreement in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> health-care sector for 2012–16, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Health Care<br />
repeatedly requested that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Free Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Medical Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ukraine (a KVPU<br />
affiliate) submits proposals. Particularly in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a General<br />
Agreement <strong>on</strong> setting basic principles and norms for implementing social and ec<strong>on</strong>omic<br />
policy and labour relati<strong>on</strong>s in Ukraine for 2010–12 and in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopted<br />
order <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cabinet <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ukraine dated 30 March 2011 <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate plan<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> for implementing its provisi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry requested that proposals be made<br />
for adopting changes to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial agreement between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Healthcare Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ukraine for 2007–11. In order to<br />
satisfy this request from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Free Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> for Medical<br />
Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ukraine, Mr Panasenko proposed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Healthcare Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ukraine, Ms Koval, establish a joint representative body for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
subsequent adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> changes and additi<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial agreement with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry. In resp<strong>on</strong>se, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> for Healthcare Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ukraine reported that a<br />
joint representative body for collective bargaining, so as to prepare and introduce changes<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial agreement, can be c<strong>on</strong>sidered <strong>on</strong>ce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representativeness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties<br />
has been c<strong>on</strong>firmed in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> Social Dialogue. In an effort to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>clude <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial agreement between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ukrainian Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Healthcare Employers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Healthcare<br />
Workers for 2012–16, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> Social Dialogue<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> Collective Agreements, a draft order <strong>on</strong> establishing a working group <strong>on</strong><br />
collective bargaining for signing an industrial agreement between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ukrainian Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Healthcare Employers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> for Healthcare Workers was drafted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry for 2012–16. The Ministry says<br />
that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certificate c<strong>on</strong>firming representativeness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Free Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
for Medical Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ukraine, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> its representatives will be engaged in work for<br />
drafting a new industrial agreement for 2012–16 in an advisory capacity.<br />
139. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> powers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Service <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mediati<strong>on</strong> and Rec<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> (NSMR)<br />
under secti<strong>on</strong> 7 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> Social Dialogue, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> assessment<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria for representativeness is carried out in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
34 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidentiality, independence and impartiality. The NSMR and its bodies<br />
assess c<strong>on</strong>formity with representativity criteria and c<strong>on</strong>firm <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representative status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
bodies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al, sectorial and local<br />
levels, in line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> Social Dialogue and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Procedures <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> assessment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>formity with representativity criteria and c<strong>on</strong>firmati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representative status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> bodies and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Procedures). The NSMR, in keeping<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> values <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> openness and transparency in decisi<strong>on</strong>s made <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Procedures, engaged representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
nati<strong>on</strong>al level and also specialists from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social<br />
Policy and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State Statistics Service. On 30 May 2011, in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se proposals, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
draft Procedures were examined <strong>on</strong>ce again by parties to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue to be<br />
approved at meetings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Joint Representative Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employers’ Side <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Level (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Joint Representative Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employers) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Joint<br />
Representative Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> all-Ukrainian Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong>s (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Joint Representative Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s). On 10 June 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR received <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
draft Procedures which had been agreed at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Joint Representative Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s. The Government underlines that although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU was also part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Joint Representative Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s, it did not submit proposals <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft<br />
Procedures to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR nor did it delegate its members to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working group <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Procedures. On 22 June 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR Chairpers<strong>on</strong> reported <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
progress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law at hearings <strong>on</strong> social policy and labour by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Supreme Council, and also <strong>on</strong> 24 June 2011 at a meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Tripartite Social<br />
and Ec<strong>on</strong>omic Council. After discussi<strong>on</strong> and agreement with parties to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue<br />
at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al level, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Procedures were approved by NSMR Order No. 73 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 21 July<br />
2011 and placed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial website. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r explains that according to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a 2011 nati<strong>on</strong>al level assessment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria for<br />
representativeness, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NMSR did not c<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU to be representative in a<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> dated 22 February 2012. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same time, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU, Mr Volynets, that if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems identified during random checks were<br />
resolved, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU could again have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR assess <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
criteria for representativeness in 2012. The documents for reassessing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU’s<br />
compliance at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al level were received at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR <strong>on</strong> 12 April 2012. Taking into<br />
account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR random checks which evaluated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reliability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
submitted data regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU affiliates, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> found that<br />
in 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU had resolved <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems from 2011, and that <strong>on</strong> 1 January 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
total membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU stood at 181,600 people. Taking into account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU’s reassessment <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria for representativeness, <strong>on</strong><br />
26 April 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR recognized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU as representative at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al level.<br />
140. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legalizati<strong>on</strong> (registrati<strong>on</strong>), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that<br />
while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government did not address <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need to amend secti<strong>on</strong> 87 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil Code<br />
(2003) so as to eliminate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong> within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al legislati<strong>on</strong> and so as to fully<br />
guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers to establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>s without previous<br />
authorizati<strong>on</strong> in its resp<strong>on</strong>se, it has indicated to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s (CEACR) that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social<br />
Policy has requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice to examine this issue pursuant to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CEACR’s<br />
request. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary amendments to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> will be<br />
adopted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> near future and refers this aspect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CEACR.<br />
141. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Khmelnitsky regi<strong>on</strong><br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ARC, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s explanati<strong>on</strong>s with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reas<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU organizati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes with<br />
regret that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant has not provided <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> requested and recalls <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> receiving full informati<strong>on</strong> to enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to carry out a full and<br />
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objective c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters before it in full knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
circumstances, it will not pursue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those matters.<br />
142. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> to institute an independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pressure put <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s activists at mining enterprises (Frunze,<br />
Nikopol Plant <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ferroalloys and Kryvy Rih Ir<strong>on</strong> Ore Complex) and mines menti<strong>on</strong>ed in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 8 September 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
indicati<strong>on</strong> that secti<strong>on</strong>s 12 and 46 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Law protect against acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interference by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state and local government authorities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and employers<br />
and provides for sancti<strong>on</strong>s against such acts. Noting with regret that no informati<strong>on</strong> was<br />
provided regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an independent investigati<strong>on</strong>, as requested by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, it urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to institute without delay an independent investigati<strong>on</strong><br />
into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pressure put <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s activists at mining enterprises (Frunze,<br />
Nikopol Plant <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ferroalloys and Kryvy Rih Ir<strong>on</strong> Ore Complex) and mines menti<strong>on</strong>ed in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 8 September 2011, and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome.<br />
143. As c<strong>on</strong>cerns whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r amendments to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> health-sector agreement proposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU<br />
have been c<strong>on</strong>sidered and adopted, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> welcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
explanati<strong>on</strong> that in an effort to engage <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> improving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing<br />
industrial agreements and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an industrial agreement in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> health-care<br />
field for 2012–16, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry requested that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Free Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Medical Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ukraine (a KVPU affiliate) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fer proposals and fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r welcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> indicati<strong>on</strong> that,<br />
despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certificate c<strong>on</strong>firming representativeness in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Free Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> for<br />
Medical Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ukraine, its representatives will be engaged in work for drafting a<br />
new industrial agreement for 2012–16 in an advisory capacity.<br />
144. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with regret that no informati<strong>on</strong> has been provided c<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
agreements reached for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong> sector. It <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r a new branch agreement has been reached for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong> sector and<br />
whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU has participated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining.<br />
145. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s took place with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
social partners prior to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Procedures, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU who was part<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Joint Representative Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s but did not submit proposals <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft<br />
Procedures to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR nor did it delegate its members to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working group <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Procedures. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> welcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that as<br />
regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> powers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR under secti<strong>on</strong> 7 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> Social Dialogue and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Procedures, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> assessment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria for representativeness is<br />
carried out in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidentiality, independence and<br />
impartiality. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with interest that <strong>on</strong> 26 April 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSMR<br />
recognized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> KVPU as representative at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al level.<br />
Case No. 2699 (Uruguay)<br />
146. At its March 2010 meeting, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see<br />
356th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 1391]:<br />
(a)<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed Decree No. 145 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2005, which revoked two decrees,<br />
<strong>on</strong>e which had been in force for over 40 years, which allowed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior<br />
to clear company premises which had been occupied by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> view that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> premises should<br />
respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to work <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-strikers, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management to enter its<br />
premises. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure<br />
respect for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se principles in regulatory legislati<strong>on</strong> and practice.<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
(b)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, in c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative<br />
workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, to take measures to amend Act No. 18566, in<br />
order to give effect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s formulated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> foregoing paragraphs and to<br />
ensure full c<strong>on</strong>formity with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
ratified by Uruguay <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject.<br />
In March 2011, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> next examined this case [see 359th <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 206–210] it noted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government had c<strong>on</strong>vened a tripartite meeting <strong>on</strong><br />
7 February 2011, where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties discussed Act No. 18566 and agreed to create a<br />
tripartite commissi<strong>on</strong> that would prepare a report <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
147. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 9 February 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Organisati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employers<br />
(IOE), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uruguayan Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industries (CIU) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Commerce and Services <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uruguay (CNCS) state that, as regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
premises, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government failed to give effect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>, that<br />
this gave impetus to this type <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> practice and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupied companies had to turn to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
judiciary in search <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental human rights denied to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government. The complainants also indicate that, as regards Act No. 18566 c<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
collective bargaining, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> delay in amending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> immediate c<strong>on</strong>sequence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
creating legal uncertainty over any agreement c<strong>on</strong>cluded under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a law that<br />
is being questi<strong>on</strong>ed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector as a whole, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y reiterate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir positi<strong>on</strong> in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sense that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is required to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law in keeping with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s observati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
148. In its communicati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 April and 14 November 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that,<br />
in keeping with its practice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> respecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> supervisory bodies, for more than<br />
two-and-a-half years it strove to find a c<strong>on</strong>sensus-based soluti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
sectors in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> comments made about different aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 18566, that,<br />
cognizant <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its obligati<strong>on</strong>s and resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities, it c<strong>on</strong>siders <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prior c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> process<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners to have ended, and that it plans to send a bill aimed at settling this<br />
dispute to Parliament for c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> premises, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government indicated that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>flict in Uruguay is currently <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lowest it has<br />
been over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last few years; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> referral to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases related to requests to<br />
clear <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> premises by n<strong>on</strong>-strikers is indicative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> great importance attached to<br />
guaranteeing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom to work; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authorities have <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten ruled in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
protecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to work <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-strikers and employers’ rights by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> very short<br />
trials; and (4) it is clear that employers’ c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al rights are guaranteed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State.<br />
149. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s (CEACR), when examining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98 by Uruguay at its November–December 2012 meeting,<br />
referred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues being examined by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> relating to Act No. 18566<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning collective bargaining and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> company premises (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government sent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same communicati<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
CEACR and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>). The CEACR stated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with interest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to send a bill addressing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues<br />
pending to Parliament with a view to overcoming <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems identified, and is pleased to<br />
learn that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill will be sent to Parliament in November. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> hopes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new<br />
law adopted will take full account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles and comments made. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to inform it <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any developments in that regard in its next report.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also recalls that, <strong>on</strong> numerous occasi<strong>on</strong>s, it has underlined that “in so<br />
far as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike remains peaceful, strike pickets and workplace occupati<strong>on</strong>s should be<br />
allowed. Restricti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> strike pickets and workplace occupati<strong>on</strong>s can <strong>on</strong>ly be accepted where<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> ceases to be peaceful. It is however necessary in all cases to guarantee respect for<br />
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<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom to work <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-striking workers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management to enter <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
premises” (see General Survey <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning rights at work in<br />
light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO Declarati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> Social Justice for a Fair Globalizati<strong>on</strong>, 2012, para. 149).<br />
Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> firmly hopes that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite<br />
dialogue initiated, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures will be taken, taking into account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> comments <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, to ensure full respect for this<br />
principle in law and in practice, in c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative workers’ and<br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> suggests that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rulings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al courts be<br />
taken into account during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> process already initiated.<br />
150. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with satisfacti<strong>on</strong> that, in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 26 December 2012,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that, in keeping with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see<br />
356th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 1391] and following several c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners, it<br />
promulgated Act No. 19027, which, in its single article, provides for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> replacement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
article 8 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 18566. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Higher Tripartite Council will be composed<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> six delegates from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Executive, six delegates from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s, six delegates from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s and an<br />
equal number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> substitutes from each party.<br />
151. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 5 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government states that for more than two years it has been proposing to introduce a<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sensus-based reform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act c<strong>on</strong>cerning collective bargaining objected to by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s, and that, given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tangible results and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
h<strong>on</strong>ouring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al obligati<strong>on</strong>s arising from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, <strong>on</strong> 4 March<br />
2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Executive sent a bill amending Act No. 18566 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11 September 2009 to<br />
Parliament. The Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill give effect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supervisory bodies.<br />
152. Lastly, in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 7 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE, CIU and CNCS allege that:<br />
(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed bill sent to Parliament were ineffective and<br />
totally insufficient; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed bill does not take account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> observati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir totality, for which reas<strong>on</strong> it is<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly a partial soluti<strong>on</strong>; and (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> companies, which is never peaceful, is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
main problem facing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector in Uruguay and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has yet to<br />
provide a soluti<strong>on</strong> to that problem (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants emphasize that, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no right to<br />
strike in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore such occupati<strong>on</strong>s must be c<strong>on</strong>sidered<br />
illegitimate, if not illegal).<br />
153. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
send its observati<strong>on</strong>s in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<strong>on</strong> 7 March 2013.<br />
154. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any<br />
developments c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill sent to Parliament, which seeks to amend Act No. 18566<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning collective bargaining, and to intensify social dialogue <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
occupati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> company premises.<br />
Case No. 2727 (Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela)<br />
155. In its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case, in June 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters still pending [see 364th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 1085]:<br />
(a)<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> Industry in El Tigre (Mr Wilfredo Rafael<br />
Hernández Avile, General Secretary, Mr Jesús Argenis Guevara, Organizati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Secretary, and Mr Jesús Alberto Hernández, Culture and Sports Secretary) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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(b)<br />
(c)<br />
(d)<br />
(e)<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to expedite investigati<strong>on</strong>s in order to identify and<br />
punish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instigators or accomplices <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials whose perpetrator<br />
according to investigati<strong>on</strong>s died while committing a comm<strong>on</strong> crime.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> two trade uni<strong>on</strong> delegates, Mr Felipe Alejandro Matas<br />
Iriarte and Mr Reinaldo José Hernández Berroteran, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that in its<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>se <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government did not provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> developments in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial<br />
proceedings and investigati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aggravated homicide <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> two<br />
abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed trade uni<strong>on</strong> delegates and whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> two accused have been arrested,<br />
and <strong>on</strong>ce again firmly expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authorities will hand down sentences <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators, should <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y be found guilty, and where possible <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instigators and<br />
accomplices. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
developments.<br />
As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Attorney-General’s preparati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal charges against and detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> six workers at PDVSA because, during a<br />
protest in defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir labour rights, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y paralysed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise’s activities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent authorities to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
measures to have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal proceedings brought against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> six uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials at<br />
PDVSA dropped and to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir release without delay. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps to amend secti<strong>on</strong> 139 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Defence<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pers<strong>on</strong>s in Accessing Goods and Services so that it does not apply to services which<br />
are not essential in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strict sense <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> term and so that in no event may criminal<br />
sancti<strong>on</strong>s be imposed in cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> peaceful strikes. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to keep it informed in this regard.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
this case.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> special attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extreme<br />
seriousness and urgent nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters dealt with in this case.<br />
156. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> Industry in El Tigre (Mr Wilfredo Rafael Hernández<br />
Avile, Mr Jesús Argenis Guevara and Mr Jesús Alberto Hernández), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states<br />
in its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 October 2012 that in order to resp<strong>on</strong>d <strong>on</strong>ce again to this<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong> it asked <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Attorney-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic for informati<strong>on</strong>, and<br />
was told that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor had ordered a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> useful, necessary and pertinent<br />
measures, which had proved <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Pedro Guillermo R<strong>on</strong>dón;<br />
however, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact is that <strong>on</strong> 26 September 2009, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was a c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>tati<strong>on</strong> between this<br />
individual and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials bel<strong>on</strong>ging to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Anti-extorti<strong>on</strong> and Abducti<strong>on</strong> Group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Guard (GAES) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Investigative and Criminal Police Corps (CICPC), which<br />
resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed accused, Mr Pedro Guillermo R<strong>on</strong>dón, who<br />
was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ly pers<strong>on</strong> charged in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Wilfredo Rafael Hernández Avile,<br />
Mr Jesús Argenis Guevara and Mr Jesús Alberto Hernández. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor requested that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case be closed, and this request was granted <strong>on</strong> 5 October<br />
2010, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> secti<strong>on</strong> 318(3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Code <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal<br />
Procedure and pursuant to secti<strong>on</strong> 48(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this Code. For <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se reas<strong>on</strong>s, and given that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Attorney-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic c<strong>on</strong>ducted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> corresp<strong>on</strong>ding<br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s, charged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong> resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime in questi<strong>on</strong> and that he<br />
subsequently lost his life, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government informs <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> that it has no fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> to provide regarding this matter, in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ly pers<strong>on</strong><br />
charged died. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is explicitly requested not to comment fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter,<br />
as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent instituti<strong>on</strong>s and authorities have c<strong>on</strong>ducted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> corresp<strong>on</strong>ding<br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s and work and have acted diligently to clarify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case has been<br />
closed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has fully complied with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligati<strong>on</strong><br />
to inform and provide all informati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
157. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Felipe Alejandro Matas Iriarte and Mr Reinaldo José<br />
Hernández Berroteran, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Attorney-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic stated that<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 39
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
interviews, technical inspecti<strong>on</strong>s, expert investigati<strong>on</strong>s and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r steps taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor to date have been unable to identify any<strong>on</strong>e as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrator or perpetrators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts. Never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor is proceeding with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s in order<br />
to fully clarify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts.<br />
158. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> filing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal charges against and detenti<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> six workers at Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Attorney-General,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Attorney-General said in respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
involving six workers from PDVSA GAS (Mr Larrys Ant<strong>on</strong>io Pedrosa, Mr José Ant<strong>on</strong>io<br />
Tovar, Mr Juan Ramón Aparicio Martínez, Mr Jaffet Enrique Castillo Suárez, Mr Roy<br />
Rogelio Chaparro Hernández and Mr José Luis Hernández Alvarado) charged with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> boycotting, provided for and punishable under secti<strong>on</strong> 139 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree with<br />
rank, value and force <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s in accessing goods and services,<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sec<strong>on</strong>d Court acting as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Judicial Circuit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Miranda <strong>on</strong><br />
11 June 2012 deferred <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings. With regard to this case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government <strong>on</strong>ce again categorically rejects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
overstepping its powers, resulting in it issuing judgments without any justificati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
requiring unlawful subjective acti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and its instituti<strong>on</strong>s. The<br />
Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> does not have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authority to request it or to urge any government and its competent authorities, to bring to a<br />
standstill or to c<strong>on</strong>sider terminated any judicial proceedings or to drop criminal<br />
proceedings against individuals who commit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences set out in nati<strong>on</strong>al laws and<br />
regulati<strong>on</strong>s. The Government emphatically calls <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to refrain from issuing<br />
pr<strong>on</strong>ouncements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this kind against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s handed down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent<br />
authorities and instituti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela, to stick strictly to its<br />
sphere <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence and to refrain from issuing subjective and irresp<strong>on</strong>sible judgments<br />
which, moreover, call <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to act in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its own internal regulati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
159. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statements. Underlining that it had classified this<br />
case as serious and urgent, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to recall that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
leaders and trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists c<strong>on</strong>stitutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most serious violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong><br />
and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s procedures were established specifically in order to ensure<br />
respect for trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights and in particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to life <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leaders and trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>ists. Taking this into account, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is surprised, particularly in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s date back to 2009, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is reproaching <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
diligence it is showing in seeking to establish – bey<strong>on</strong>d <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrator – if<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were any instigators or accomplices involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials<br />
Mr Wilfredo Rafael Hernández Avile, Mr Jesús Argenis Guevara and Mr Jesús Alberto<br />
Hernández. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> stresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance, in cases involving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>ists, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> identifying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrator, and also any instigators and accomplices.<br />
160. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> delegates Mr Felipe Alejandro Matas Iriarte and<br />
Mr Reinaldo José Hernández Berroteran, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government’s statements <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor have so far been<br />
unable to identify any<strong>on</strong>e as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrator or perpetrators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor is proceeding with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s in order to fully clarify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
time that has elapsed, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s undertaken have not led to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> identificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
perpetrator or perpetrators and, if applicable, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instigators and accomplices, and firmly<br />
expects that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> near future, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will be in a positi<strong>on</strong> to provide<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> identificati<strong>on</strong> and detecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders.<br />
161. Finally, with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> filing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal charges against and detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> six workers<br />
at PDVSA by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Attorney-General because, during a protest in defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir labour rights, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y paralysed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise’s activities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to<br />
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point out to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> in-depth examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> filing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
criminal charges against and detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists for paralysing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an<br />
enterprise in a peaceful manner does not exceed its mandate and that in fact it regularly<br />
examines allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this sort in many countries. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to recall that<br />
simply citing a generic type <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence, such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> boycotting, without<br />
indicating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> specific acti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists are being charged with, does not in itself<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stitute sufficient grounds to dismiss an allegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> disciplinary acti<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> peaceful<br />
exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> protest acti<strong>on</strong>, particularly if, as in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial process<br />
lasts for several years and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties c<strong>on</strong>cerned remain in custody. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reiterates its previous recommendati<strong>on</strong> and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
specific acti<strong>on</strong>s that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> six workers are being charged with, and whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are still in<br />
custody or have been released. As to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amendment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pers<strong>on</strong>s in Accessing Goods and Services, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes<br />
to state that it was made in order to clarify and ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act does not apply to<br />
services that are not essential in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strict sense <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> term and that in no event criminal<br />
sancti<strong>on</strong>s are imposed in cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> peaceful strikes.<br />
Case No. 2862 (Zimbabwe)<br />
162. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case, c<strong>on</strong>cerning allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
right to organize dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s and protests, at its June 2012 meeting [see 364th <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
paras 1125–1145]. On that occasi<strong>on</strong>, it made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
(d)<br />
(e)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will intensify its efforts in ensuring that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
POSA is not used to infringe up<strong>on</strong> legitimate trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> all c<strong>on</strong>crete measures aimed at ensuring that<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong>s could organize freely peaceful dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s and that permissi<strong>on</strong>s to hold<br />
processi<strong>on</strong>s and dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s are not arbitrarily refused.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
submitted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ZCTU in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 7 and 21 May 2012.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that a full review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> POSA in practice has<br />
been carried out toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to inform<br />
it <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome. If this has not yet been d<strong>on</strong>e, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
do so without delay. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r expects that clear lines <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>duct for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
police and security forces will be elaborated and promulgated without delay. It requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this respect.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to clarify whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> POSA is being<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidered for amendment and, if so, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> firmly expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps without<br />
delay to ensure that trainings <strong>on</strong> human and trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police and security<br />
forces are intensified and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard.<br />
163. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 2 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that it has c<strong>on</strong>ducted<br />
a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> training activities for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law enforcement bodies <strong>on</strong> internati<strong>on</strong>al labour<br />
standards. The Government c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se training activities provide an<br />
informati<strong>on</strong>-sharing platform <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al labour standards, focusing,<br />
in particular, <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir nexus with nati<strong>on</strong>al law and practice<br />
with a view to improving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interacti<strong>on</strong> between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law enforcement bodies and trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s. The Government hopes that, funds permitting, training activities will be cascaded<br />
down to cover more <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provinces, so as to attend a critical mass <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials<br />
sufficient to positively impact <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interacti<strong>on</strong> between trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law<br />
enforcement bodies.<br />
164. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r submits that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incidents referred to by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zimbabwe C<strong>on</strong>gress<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s (ZCTU) in its communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 7 and 21 May 2012 vindicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
call by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government for more informati<strong>on</strong> sharing activities with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law enforcement<br />
bodies given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> processi<strong>on</strong>s were allowed to proceed after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour had intervened with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant authorities riding <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strength <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cooperati<strong>on</strong> understanding established during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed training activities. It<br />
is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s view that more impact can be achieved if such training<br />
activities are cascaded down to provinces where such incidents have been experienced in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> past. The Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> soccer match referred to by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ZCTU was<br />
ended purely <strong>on</strong> security c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s, given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> poor lighting and inadequate security<br />
arrangements at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> stadium where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> match was being played. The police, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
assessment, saw <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> breach <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law and order given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y had not<br />
been informed in advance regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> match to enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m<br />
to make adequate preparati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> match into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> evening.<br />
165. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Order and Security Act (POSA), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>siders that a<br />
joint review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> POSA could not have been carried out before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> training <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law<br />
enforcement bodies <strong>on</strong> internati<strong>on</strong>al labour standards since it was necessary for all those<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerned to have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same c<strong>on</strong>ceptual understanding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues involved. The<br />
Government informs that a joint review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> POSA in practice has been<br />
scheduled am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> activities to be carried out in 2013 in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Inquiry’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no<br />
intenti<strong>on</strong> to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that this piece <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> does not apply to<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities. The Government c<strong>on</strong>siders that what needs to be corrected is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
practice, particularly with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incidences where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> POSA has been invoked by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law enforcement bodies.<br />
166. The Government c<strong>on</strong>cludes by indicating that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues pertaining to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s in this case are being attended to by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
implementing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Inquiry, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is obliged to report. The Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to c<strong>on</strong>sider closing this case with a view to avoiding multiple reporting over<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same issues. The Government commits itself to implementing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> activities intended to<br />
improve observance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and to reporting to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office<br />
<strong>on</strong> all progress made in this respect.<br />
167. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 9 May 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ZCTU informs that <strong>on</strong> 10 April 2013, its<br />
sou<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rn regi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice based in Masvingo notified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its intenti<strong>on</strong> to hold May<br />
Day celebrati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> 1 May 2013 at Mucheke stadium in Masvingo. The celebrati<strong>on</strong>s were<br />
to commence with a processi<strong>on</strong>. On 24 April 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Police Chief Superintendent,<br />
Officer Commanding Police in Masvingo Central District replied banning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> holding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> processi<strong>on</strong>. The reas<strong>on</strong>s pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fered for banning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> processi<strong>on</strong> were said to be a security<br />
reas<strong>on</strong> without elaborati<strong>on</strong>. On 26 April 2013, ZCTU, through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zimbabwe Lawyers for<br />
Human Rights, filed an urgent chamber applicati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zimbabwe<br />
challenging <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> banning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> processi<strong>on</strong>. It was <strong>on</strong>ly after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> has been served<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police, <strong>on</strong> 30 April 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> processi<strong>on</strong> was allowed to go ahead but under strict<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. As a result, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> processi<strong>on</strong> went ahead <strong>on</strong> 1 May, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> celebrati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
However, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attitude <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zimbabwean authorities created<br />
an organizing problem for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ZCTU as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reply came <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> evening <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> May Day<br />
making it difficult for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> to inform its members that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> processi<strong>on</strong> will go ahead as<br />
planned. The police acti<strong>on</strong> was a well-calculated move to instigate fear am<strong>on</strong>g ZCTU<br />
members and distract ZCTU attenti<strong>on</strong> from organizing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> celebrati<strong>on</strong>s. They fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
demanded to be paid for escorting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> processi<strong>on</strong>, a demand <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ZCTU resisted. As a<br />
result, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ZCTU’s view, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities achieved <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir objective as <strong>on</strong>ly 18 people<br />
managed to join <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> processi<strong>on</strong> at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scheduled times.<br />
42 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
168. The ZCTU fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r alleges denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> visas to a six-member delegati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chinese<br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s whom it had invited to Zimbabwe as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> solidarity work.<br />
169. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s reply and its request to close this case. In<br />
this respect, in line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special procedures for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Labour Organizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaints alleging violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> [see, in<br />
particular, Annex I <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, para. 72] and, given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> questi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
raised <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rein, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new allegati<strong>on</strong>s submitted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
will c<strong>on</strong>tinue to examine acti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government had been able to take <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s made to it.<br />
170. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> training activities for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law enforcement bodies.<br />
Noting with interest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government attaches to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cascading <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such<br />
activities at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial level, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to c<strong>on</strong>tinue<br />
engaging with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office in this regard and taking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures aimed at<br />
ensuring that such activities take place.<br />
171. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> POSA, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that, while it<br />
plans to review <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this legislati<strong>on</strong> in practice, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no intenti<strong>on</strong> to<br />
amend it. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that a full review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> POSA in<br />
practice will be carried out toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners without fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r delay. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
same time, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tinuing difficulties with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> POSA in<br />
practice, as dem<strong>on</strong>strated by this case and acknowledged by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Inquiry’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> POSA be brought into line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures, in<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners, in order to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> POSA. It requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> all c<strong>on</strong>crete steps taken in this respect.<br />
172. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that no informati<strong>on</strong> has been provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
measures taken to elaborate and promulgate clear guidelines for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police<br />
and security forces. It notes with c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> banning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a May Day<br />
processi<strong>on</strong> in Masvingo. It <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore reiterates its previous request and asks <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>crete steps taken in this respect.<br />
173. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
submitted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ZCTU in its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 9 May 2013.<br />
* * *<br />
174. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> governments c<strong>on</strong>cerned to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any<br />
developments relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following cases.<br />
Case Last examinati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> merits Last follow-up examinati<strong>on</strong><br />
1962 (Colombia) November 2002 June 2008<br />
2086 (Paraguay) June 2002 November 2012<br />
2096 (Pakistan) March 2004 March 2011<br />
2153 (Algeria) March 2005 November 2012<br />
2173 (Canada) March 2003 June 2010<br />
2304 (Japan) November 2004 November 2010<br />
2355 (Colombia) November 2009 March 2012<br />
2362 (Colombia) March 2010 November 2012<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 43
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Case Last examinati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> merits Last follow-up examinati<strong>on</strong><br />
2384 (Colombia) June 2008 June 2009<br />
2450 (Djibouti) March 2011 March 2012<br />
2488 (Philippines) June 2007 June 2011<br />
2603 (Argentina) November 2008 November 2012<br />
2616 (Mauritius) November 2008 November 2012<br />
2634 (Thailand) March 2009 November 2012<br />
2637 (Malaysia) March 2009 November 2012<br />
2652 (Philippines) March 2010 November 2012<br />
2654 (Canada) March 2010 March 2013<br />
2680 (India) November 2009 March 2013<br />
2690 (Peru) June 2010 March 2013<br />
2702 (Argentina) March 2013 –<br />
2706 (Panama) March 2013 –<br />
2709 (Guatemala) November 2012 –<br />
2722 (Botswana) June 2010 March 2013<br />
2724 (Peru) November 2010 March 2013<br />
2730 (Colombia) November 2010 November 2012<br />
2747 (Islamic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iran) June 2011 November 2012<br />
2752 (M<strong>on</strong>tenegro) March 2012 –<br />
2755 (Ecuador) June 2010 March 2011<br />
2763 (Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela) March 2013 –<br />
2764 (El Salvador) November 2010 March 2013<br />
2788 (Argentina) November 2011 March 2013<br />
2793 (Colombia) November 2011 –<br />
2815 (Philippines) November 2012 –<br />
2816 (Peru) March 2013 –<br />
2825 (Peru) November 2011 March 2013<br />
2826 (Peru) March 1013 –<br />
2827 (Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela) March 2013 –<br />
2829 (Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Korea) November 2012 –<br />
2836 (El Salvador) November 2011 March 2013<br />
2844 (Japan) June 2012 –<br />
2851 (El Salvador) November 2012 –<br />
2852 (Colombia) November 2012 –<br />
2858 (Brazil) November 2012 –<br />
2860 (Sri Lanka) March 2013 –<br />
2861 (Argentina) November 2012 –<br />
2863 (Chile) November 2012 –<br />
2870 (Argentina) November 2012 –<br />
2872 (Guatemala) November 2011 –<br />
2877 (Colombia) March 2013 –<br />
44 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Case Last examinati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> merits Last follow-up examinati<strong>on</strong><br />
2890 (Ukraine) March 2013 –<br />
2894 (Canada) March 2013 –<br />
2895 (Colombia) March 2013 –<br />
2905 (Ne<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rlands) November 2012 –<br />
2906 (Argentina) November 2012 –<br />
2907 (Lithuania) March 2013 –<br />
2909 (El Salvador) March 2013 –<br />
2915 (Peru) March 2013 –<br />
2930 (El Salvador) March 2013 –<br />
2934 (Peru) November 2012 –<br />
2938 (Benin) March 2013 –<br />
2940 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) March 2013 –<br />
2944 (Algeria) March 2013 –<br />
2952 (Leban<strong>on</strong>) March 2013 –<br />
2977 (Jordan) March 2013 –<br />
175. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> hopes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se governments will quickly provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> requested.<br />
176. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has received informati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> follow-up <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cases<br />
Nos 1787 (Colombia), 1865 (Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Korea), 2225 (Bosnia and Herzegovina), 2228<br />
(India), 2257 (Canada), 2341 (Guatemala), 2382 (Camero<strong>on</strong>), 2428 (Bolivarian Republic<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela), 2430 (Canada), 2434 (Colombia), 2460 (United States), 2478 (Mexico),<br />
2512 (India), 2528 (Philippines), 2540 (Guatemala), 2547 (United States), 2595<br />
(Colombia), 2602 (Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Korea), 2611 (Romania), 2656 (Brazil), 2660 (Argentina),<br />
2667 (Peru), 2674 (Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela), 2678 (Georgia), 2710 (Colombia),<br />
2719 (Colombia), 2725 (Argentina), 2736 (Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela), 2741 (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
United States), 2746 (Costa Rica), 2750 (France), 2772 (Camero<strong>on</strong>), 2775 (Hungary),<br />
2780 (Ireland), 2808 and 2812 (Camero<strong>on</strong>), 2820 (Greece), 2833 (Peru), 2838 (Greece),<br />
2840 (Guatemala), 2848 (Canada), 2854, 2856 and 2910 (Peru), which it will examine at<br />
its next meeting.<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
CASE NO. 2942<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Argentina<br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Argentine Educators (CEA) and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago Circle for Sec<strong>on</strong>dary and Higher Educati<strong>on</strong> (CISADEMS)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
allege that, as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> various disputes over<br />
wage-related claims made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago Circle<br />
for Sec<strong>on</strong>dary and Higher Educati<strong>on</strong><br />
(CISADEMS) between 2009 and 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authorities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago del<br />
Estero – which are a party in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute –<br />
issued resoluti<strong>on</strong>s calling for compulsory<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sole purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> impeding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike<br />
177. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated April 2012 from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Argentine Educators (CEA) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago Circle for Sec<strong>on</strong>dary and Higher<br />
Educati<strong>on</strong> (CISADEMS). The CEA and CISADEMS sent new allegati<strong>on</strong>s in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complaint in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated June 2012.<br />
178. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated February 2013.<br />
179. Argentina has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
180. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> April 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CEA and CISADEMS state that CISADEMS is<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> filing claims for a wage review and for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eliminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> irregular<br />
payments with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Subsecretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago del Estero. They<br />
allege that when several hearings prior to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute yielded no results and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to<br />
strike was subsequently taken, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Subsecretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour issued repeated resoluti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
calling for compulsory c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong>. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s, in every<br />
dispute, c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> is ordered at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong>. Hearings for<br />
compulsory c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> are always scheduled between ten and 15 days after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike<br />
called by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> and where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> force used is declared<br />
illegal. A soluti<strong>on</strong> was never found owing to a lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposals from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers.<br />
Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> compulsory c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> process is never exhausted (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants<br />
refer to different administrative proceedings since 2009). The complainants state that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
are <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an unfair practice whereby <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abusive exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> powers derived<br />
from Act No. 14786 c<strong>on</strong>cerning compulsory c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> impedes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> rights, while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Subsecretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour becomes both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judge and interested<br />
party by ruling <strong>on</strong> a dispute involving a body that is part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial executive, which<br />
violates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> due process and, in so doing, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al instruments that<br />
refer to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to defence and to a natural judge.<br />
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181. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s add that, in accordance with Act No. 26075 (Educati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Funding Act, which lays down, toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with Decree No. 457/07, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework<br />
agreement for collective bargaining in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong> sector), in February 2011, federal<br />
government representatives, which included <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial educati<strong>on</strong> authorities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
entirety (including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago del Estero), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al authorities and trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> representatives from teachers’ associati<strong>on</strong>s with trade uni<strong>on</strong> status and a field <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
activity that extended to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whole Argentine Republic (CISADEMS was represented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CEA), met to bargain collectively. The complainants state that, <strong>on</strong> this occasi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
parties agreed to set a minimum wage for teachers, whose basic wage could not fall below<br />
50 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum wage set in that sector throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country.<br />
182. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> June 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s refer to cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
compulsory c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> that took place in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sector in 2011 and 2012.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
183. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial<br />
authorities have not intervened or violated any trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights. The Government states<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a round table, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial authority’s c<strong>on</strong>stant efforts to reach out<br />
to trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s, support <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above statement. The Government adds that,<br />
according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial authority, a working group was created to deal exclusively with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial educati<strong>on</strong> system. In accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working group was<br />
subsequently divided up into specific instituti<strong>on</strong>al spaces, which led to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
round table <strong>on</strong> educati<strong>on</strong>, am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provincial authority, CISADEMS did not participate in that round table <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its own accord.<br />
184. The Government also sends a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago del Estero relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint. The<br />
provincial authority indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour has been granted ministerial<br />
status as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amendment to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministries Act. It states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are no<br />
collective disputes with any trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province, be it regarding wages<br />
or any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r problems that could affect social dialogue or industrial peace. It also states<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province has underg<strong>on</strong>e changes in all areas, including industry and producti<strong>on</strong>, as<br />
well as social inclusi<strong>on</strong> policies, for which reas<strong>on</strong> it worked to c<strong>on</strong>solidate instituti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
spaces for dialogue and c<strong>on</strong>sensus. In this c<strong>on</strong>text, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant legal instruments were<br />
drawn up and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round tables with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>s that are members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General<br />
Labour C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> (CGT) and with o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r uni<strong>on</strong>s that are unrelated to that trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
centre (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong> sector, farmers’ associati<strong>on</strong>s and security councils) were established.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>sequently, with a view to tackling <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong> sector, a working<br />
group was set up in 2005 to deal exclusively with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial<br />
educati<strong>on</strong> system. The working group was created to deal specifically with issues relating<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong>al sphere and was composed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all legally established trade uni<strong>on</strong> entities.<br />
The <strong>on</strong>ly organizati<strong>on</strong> that did not participate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table for debating and<br />
discussing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>, social and legislative aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
area in questi<strong>on</strong> was CISADEMS. The provincial authority states that it has worked with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remaining entities for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all workers and students <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province and that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> also benefited despite not having participated or c<strong>on</strong>tributed<br />
useful ideas. The provincial authority indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dialogue highlighted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need to<br />
expand <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> discussi<strong>on</strong> and, c<strong>on</strong>sequently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial executive, through<br />
Decree No. 770, extended <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table to o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r state and private trade uni<strong>on</strong> sectors,<br />
which led to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to divide up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> areas for discussi<strong>on</strong> and debate. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> express<br />
request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGT (delegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago del Estero), Act No. 7054 was promulgated<br />
which instituti<strong>on</strong>alized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table <strong>on</strong> dialogue and labour. In order to place a greater<br />
focus <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> each trade uni<strong>on</strong> instituti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following spaces for instituti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
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dialogue were created: (a) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table <strong>on</strong> dialogue and labour; (b) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table <strong>on</strong><br />
educati<strong>on</strong>; (c) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table <strong>on</strong> land and producti<strong>on</strong>; and (d) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic and Social<br />
Council. The provincial authority adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial executive appointed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s affiliated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGT, toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chief <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cabinet, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> coordinators<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible for regulating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act and, to date, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y have laid down<br />
regulati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table <strong>on</strong> educati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table involving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state. The<br />
provincial authority states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se norms has facilitated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> participati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> structures that are nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r political nor related to trade uni<strong>on</strong>s but which deal with social<br />
problems such as those related to land, farmers and religious associati<strong>on</strong>s. The provincial<br />
authority states that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province, trade uni<strong>on</strong>s are part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a single c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
CGT, Santiago del Estero branch, which is composed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a total <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 85 trade uni<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial authority states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>, CISADEMS,<br />
does not participate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spaces for dialogue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its own accord.<br />
185. The provincial authority states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority competent to deal with collective disputes<br />
in Santiago del Estero is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Subsecretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour. The Subsecretariat prepared a report<br />
relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint (this report gives details <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> CISADEMS before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative authority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province, including its<br />
request for hearings with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial government to deal with claims for wage increases<br />
and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r issues relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its members; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dates <strong>on</strong> which CISADEMS<br />
strikes were scheduled; and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resoluti<strong>on</strong>s that led to compulsory c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong>). The<br />
provincial authority adds that, as regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged incompetence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Subsecretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province in dealing with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases referred to in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint, it should be<br />
noted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago del Estero signed an agreement with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
aimed at jointly determining how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative services would be shared<br />
between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al and provincial authorities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment sector in an integrated<br />
and harm<strong>on</strong>ious manner. This is aimed at streng<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ning and promoting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aut<strong>on</strong>omous<br />
functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial governments in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> full exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour enforcement<br />
powers, which include m<strong>on</strong>itoring full compliance with labour legislati<strong>on</strong>, particularly that<br />
referring to working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s and working envir<strong>on</strong>ment, and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resoluti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
individual or collective disputes. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial authority states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provinces <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Argentina are members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Council, which sets all<br />
labour-related standards in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
186. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s allege that as<br />
part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> various disputes over wage-related claims made by CISADEMS between 2009 and<br />
2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago del Estero – which are involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dispute – issued resoluti<strong>on</strong>s calling for compulsory c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sole purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
impeding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike, while failing to formulate proposals for<br />
examining agreements.<br />
187. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial<br />
authorities have not intervened or violated any trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government sends a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago del Estero indicating that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are<br />
no collective disputes with any trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province, be it regarding<br />
wages or any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r problems that could affect social dialogue or industrial peace; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
province has underg<strong>on</strong>e changes in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> industry and producti<strong>on</strong>, as well as social<br />
inclusi<strong>on</strong> policies, for which reas<strong>on</strong> it worked to c<strong>on</strong>solidate instituti<strong>on</strong>al spaces for<br />
dialogue and c<strong>on</strong>sensus; (3) in this c<strong>on</strong>text, round tables with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>s that are<br />
members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGT and with o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r uni<strong>on</strong>s that are unrelated to this trade uni<strong>on</strong> centre<br />
(<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong> sector, farmers’ associati<strong>on</strong>s and security councils) were established and,<br />
in 2005, with a view to tackling <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong> sector, a working group was<br />
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set up to deal exclusively with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial educati<strong>on</strong> system;<br />
(4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working group was created to deal specifically with issues relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
educati<strong>on</strong>al sphere and was composed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all legally established trade uni<strong>on</strong> entities. The<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly organizati<strong>on</strong> that did not participate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table for debating and discussing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>, social and legislative aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area in<br />
questi<strong>on</strong> was CISADEMS; (5) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial authority has worked with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remaining<br />
entities for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all workers and students <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> also benefited, despite not having participated or c<strong>on</strong>tributed useful ideas;<br />
(6) at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> express request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGT (delegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago del Estero), to which,<br />
according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial government, 85 trade uni<strong>on</strong>s are affiliated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province, Act<br />
No. 7054 was promulgated which instituti<strong>on</strong>alized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table <strong>on</strong> dialogue and labour<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table <strong>on</strong> educati<strong>on</strong>, am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs; (7) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
CISADEMS does not participate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spaces for dialogue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its own accord; (8) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authority competent to deal with collective disputes in Santiago del Estero is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Subsecretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, which prepared a report relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint (this report<br />
gives details <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> CISADEMS before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrative authority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province, including its request for hearings with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provincial government to deal with claims for wage increases and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r issues relating to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its members; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dates <strong>on</strong> which CISADEMS strikes were scheduled; and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resoluti<strong>on</strong>s that led to compulsory c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong>); and (9) as regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged<br />
incompetence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Subsecretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province in dealing with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases<br />
referred to in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint, it should be noted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago del Estero<br />
signed an agreement with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government aimed at jointly determining how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative services would be shared between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al and provincial authorities<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment sector in an integrated and harm<strong>on</strong>ious manner, which includes<br />
m<strong>on</strong>itoring full compliance with labour legislati<strong>on</strong>, particularly that referring to working<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s and working envir<strong>on</strong>ment and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resoluti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual or collective<br />
disputes. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>’s statement<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that it participated, represented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CEA, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining that<br />
took place between federal government representatives and trade uni<strong>on</strong> representatives,<br />
during which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties agreed to set a minimum wage for teachers. Never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, bearing<br />
in mind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
CISADEMS does not participate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round tables set up in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its own<br />
accord, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> to c<strong>on</strong>sider joining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spaces<br />
established for dialogue and, in particular, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table <strong>on</strong> educati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
188. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, as regards compulsory c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that it has had to<br />
examine several cases from Argentina involving objecti<strong>on</strong>s to orders for compulsory<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to a dispute in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public educati<strong>on</strong> sector by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrative authority, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter was a party in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a neutral, independent third party, in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
parties have c<strong>on</strong>fidence, may be enough to break a stalemate resulting from a collective<br />
dispute, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties cannot resolve by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves, and reiterates that it is necessary<br />
to entrust <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> initiating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> procedure in collective disputes to a<br />
body which is independent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute [see 349th <strong>Report</strong>, Case No. 2535,<br />
para. 351; 342nd <strong>Report</strong>, Case No. 2420, para. 221; and 338th <strong>Report</strong>, Case No. 2377,<br />
para. 403]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
measures, including legislative measures if required, to that end and thus bring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> and practice into c<strong>on</strong>formity with C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this respect.<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
189. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reiterates that it is necessary to entrust <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
initiating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> procedure in collective disputes to a body which is<br />
independent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute and <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to take measures, including legislative measures if required, to<br />
that end, thus bringing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> and practice into c<strong>on</strong>formity with<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
keep it informed in this respect.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> CISADEMS to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sider joining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spaces for dialogue established in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Santiago del Estero and, in particular, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> round table <strong>on</strong> educati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
CASE NO. 2765<br />
INTERIM REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bangladesh<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bangladesh Cha-Sramik Uni<strong>on</strong> (BCSU)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant alleges<br />
interference by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers to its Central Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, as<br />
well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violent suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s organized to protest this<br />
interference<br />
190. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case <strong>on</strong> its merits at its May–June 2012 meeting, when<br />
it presented an interim report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body [see 364th <strong>Report</strong>, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body at its 315th Sessi<strong>on</strong> (June 2012), paras 309–317].<br />
191. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 28 November 2012.<br />
192. Bangladesh has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to<br />
Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Representatives C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1971<br />
(No. 135).<br />
A. Previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
193. In its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see 364th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 317]:<br />
(a)<br />
Recalling that it has already c<strong>on</strong>sidered that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> (Makh<strong>on</strong><br />
Lal Karmaker – Ramjovan Koiry’s panel) should be able to exercise its functi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
without delay and be recognized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government pending any decisi<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial<br />
50 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
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(b)<br />
authorities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rulings<br />
made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court Divisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appellate Divisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court (with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> writ petiti<strong>on</strong>s filed by both parties) as so<strong>on</strong> as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
are handed down. It <strong>on</strong>ce again urgently requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
any ruling handed down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Court following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed case.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>sidering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tradictory versi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputy<br />
Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, Srim<strong>on</strong>gal, with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violent suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> to protest against interference in uni<strong>on</strong> electi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> 20 December 2009 in<br />
various places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Moulvibazar District and during ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> held in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Moulvibazar District, and c<strong>on</strong>sidering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> factual discrepancies between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputy Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s and newspaper clippings provided<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant in this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>duct a thorough and independent investigati<strong>on</strong> immediately into all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
violent suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s and to keep it informed in this regard.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
194. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 28 November 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government recapitulates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> past<br />
events including: (i) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged no c<strong>on</strong>fidence vote <strong>on</strong> 12 July 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Bangladesh Cha-Sramik Uni<strong>on</strong> (BCSU) in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> elected <strong>on</strong><br />
26 October 2008 (Makh<strong>on</strong> Lai Karmaker – Ramvajan Koiry’s panel); (ii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subsequent<br />
set-up by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tea workers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an ad-hoc committee<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 30 members, headed by Mr Bijoy Bunarjee to run <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir activities for an interim period<br />
pending new electi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> within 120 days as per <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
BCSU’s c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>; (iii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> filing by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aggrieved executive committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a case with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Court; (iv) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Court’s order to suspend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour to create <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ad hoc committee; and (v) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> writ petiti<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ad hoc committee<br />
against this order, followed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court’s decisi<strong>on</strong> to stay <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> order <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
Court for six m<strong>on</strong>ths. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that: (i) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ad hoc committee<br />
has been running its activities as per <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> directi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court; (ii) meanwhile, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme<br />
Court passed an order with a directi<strong>on</strong> not to hold any electi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> until disposal<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Court (No. 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2010); and (iii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Court had also<br />
directed to dispose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case as expeditiously as possible.<br />
195. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violent suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour investigated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputy Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
stated in his report that he could not find any evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violent suppressi<strong>on</strong>, and that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was no case recorded at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> local police stati<strong>on</strong> in this regard.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
196. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that this case c<strong>on</strong>cerns allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> BCSU’s Central Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
violent suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s organized to protest this interference.<br />
197. With regard to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (a), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government mainly<br />
reiterates its previous observati<strong>on</strong>s. It notes in particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that:<br />
(i) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ad hoc committee has been running its activities as per <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> directi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High<br />
Court; (ii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court has meanwhile passed an order with a directi<strong>on</strong> not to hold<br />
any electi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> until disposal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Court (No. 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
2010); and (iii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Court had also directed to dispose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case as expeditiously<br />
as possible.<br />
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198. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> cannot but regret that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ad hoc committee has now been operating for<br />
almost five years in spite <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong> (albeit allegedly challenged) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> BCSU Central<br />
Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> 26 October 2008. In a previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has already recalled <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance it attaches to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle that, in order to<br />
avoid <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> danger <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> serious limitati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers to elect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir representatives<br />
in full freedom, complaints brought before labour courts by an administrative authority<br />
challenging <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> electi<strong>on</strong>s should not – pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> final outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings – have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> validity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such electi<strong>on</strong>s. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also reiterates that measures taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative authorities when<br />
electi<strong>on</strong> results are challenged run <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> risk <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> being arbitrary, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> removal by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders from <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice is a serious infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> free<br />
exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights [see Case No. 2765 (Bangladesh), 360th <strong>Report</strong>, paras 286<br />
and 287; and Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, paras 441, 440 and 444]. Therefore <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will take measures to recognize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> elected<br />
Central Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> (Makh<strong>on</strong> Lal Karmaker – Ramjovan Koiry’s panel) without<br />
delay and will ensure that it is able to effectively exercise its functi<strong>on</strong>s pending any<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authorities. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter, in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that three<br />
years have elapsed since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> filing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case and that no new electi<strong>on</strong>s may be held<br />
before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resoluti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case pursuant to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court’s order, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
recalls that justice delayed is justice denied and firmly trusts that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Court will<br />
hand down its decisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed case without delay. It <strong>on</strong>ce again requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide, as so<strong>on</strong> as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are handed down, a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rulings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour Court, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court Divisi<strong>on</strong> and Appellate Divisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Supreme Court (with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> writ petiti<strong>on</strong>s filed by both parties). The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this respect.<br />
199. With regard to recommendati<strong>on</strong> (b), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government merely<br />
reiterates its statement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour investigated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Deputy Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour stated that he could not find any evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violent<br />
suppressi<strong>on</strong>, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was no case recorded at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> local police stati<strong>on</strong> in this regard.<br />
200. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes generally to recall <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental principle that workers should<br />
enjoy <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to peaceful dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s to defend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir occupati<strong>on</strong>al interests [see<br />
Digest, op. cit., para. 133]. The use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> forces <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> order during trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s should be limited to cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> genuine necessity. In cases in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dispersal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public meetings by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police has involved loss <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> life or serious injury, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has attached special importance to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> circumstances being fully investigated<br />
immediately through an independent inquiry and to a regular legal procedure being<br />
followed to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> justificati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police and to determine<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities [see Digest, op. cit., paras 49 and 150]. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
recalls its previous c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> noting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> factual discrepancies between, <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e side, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputy Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r side, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s made, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> newspaper clippings provided, by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant with regard<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violent suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> to protest against interference in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
electi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> 20 December 2009 in various places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Moulvibazar District and during<br />
ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> held in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same district. In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tradictory versi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputy Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, Srim<strong>on</strong>gal, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> setting up <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an independent inquiry (c<strong>on</strong>ferred up<strong>on</strong> an<br />
independent body and not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> government) would be a particularly appropriate method <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
fully ascertaining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts and, if need be, determining resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities, punishing those<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible and preventing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> repetiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such acti<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore expects<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will ensure a thorough and independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violent suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s, and urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed in this regard.<br />
52 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
201. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing interim c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will take measures to recognize<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> elected Central Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> (Makh<strong>on</strong> Lal Karmaker –<br />
Ramjovan Koiry’s panel) without delay and will ensure that it is able to<br />
effectively exercise its functi<strong>on</strong>s pending any decisi<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial<br />
authorities, and requests to be kept informed in this respect.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> firmly trusts that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Court will hand down its<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed case without delay, and <strong>on</strong>ce again requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide, as so<strong>on</strong> as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are handed down, a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
rulings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Court, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court Divisi<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Appellate Divisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court (with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> writ petiti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties).<br />
(c) In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> factual discrepancies between, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e side, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputy Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r side, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s made,<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> newspaper clippings provided, by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
violent suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> to protest against interference in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> electi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> 20 December 2009 in various places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Moulvibazar<br />
District and during ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> held in that district, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will ensure a thorough and<br />
independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violent suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> and urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard.<br />
CASE NO. 2884<br />
DEFINITIVE REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chile<br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> University Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour Directorate (APU)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Servants (ANEF)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Servant Associati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Interior and related services (FENAMINSA) and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Servants <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister and<br />
Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government (ANFUSEGG)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainants allege acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir leaders<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Directorate and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-renewal<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tracts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members employed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Minister and Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 53
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
202. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its November 2012 meeting, when it presented<br />
an interim report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body [see 365th <strong>Report</strong>, paras 357–408, approved by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body at its 316th Sessi<strong>on</strong> (November 2012)].<br />
203. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 27 February 2013.<br />
204. Chile has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
1949 (No. 98), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Relati<strong>on</strong>s (Public Service) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1978 (No. 151).<br />
A. Previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
205. At its November 2012 meeting, after having examined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
n<strong>on</strong>-renewal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tracts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers affiliated with ANFUSEGG and FENAMINSA,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see 365th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 408]:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to reply, without delay, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s made by<br />
ANFUSEGG c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 178 public servants employed <strong>on</strong> a fixed-term<br />
or fee c<strong>on</strong>tract from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry for being members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ANFUSEGG and for<br />
participating in normal trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities, and to those made by FENAMINSA<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 800 public servants employed <strong>on</strong> a fixed-term or fee<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tract, some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom had served for over 30 years, for being members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
206. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 27 February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that, as regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s made by FENAMINSA, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior and Public Safety sent its<br />
observati<strong>on</strong>s informing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> that it is necessary to bear in mind that, in<br />
accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 3 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrative Statute (Act No. 18834),<br />
fixed-term posts are temporary in nature and that article 10 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same text provides that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> durati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fixed-term c<strong>on</strong>tracts shall not exceed 31 December each year. According to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Comptroller General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic, public servants<br />
employed <strong>on</strong> a fixed-term c<strong>on</strong>tract cannot claim ownership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> post <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y occupy, unlike<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficially appointed public servants. Pers<strong>on</strong>s occupying fixed-term posts may be dismissed<br />
in two ways: firstly, by not renewing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>tracts before 31 December each year; and,<br />
sec<strong>on</strong>dly, by terminating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>tract early by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an administrative act, which will<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly be effective if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> respective act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> appointment included <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formula “as l<strong>on</strong>g as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
services are necessary”. The posts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s whose c<strong>on</strong>tracts were not renewed were<br />
removed in keeping with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, which was known to those pers<strong>on</strong>s because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
presumpti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law menti<strong>on</strong>ed in article 8 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil Code and because<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir appointment, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which, as public servants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y could not have been<br />
unaware. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government supports <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior<br />
and Public Safety and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling handed down <strong>on</strong> 1 July 2011 by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Santiago, which rejects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal for protecti<strong>on</strong> filed by FENAMINSA against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry. It also supports <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling handed down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chile <strong>on</strong><br />
13 December 2010 in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “early terminati<strong>on</strong>” <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fixed-term<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tracts in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector.<br />
207. The Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior and Public Safety states that it aligned itself with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws in<br />
force and with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal and administrative jurisprudence in that area, which has led both<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Comptroller General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts to rule in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>s. The Ministry adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are no grounds to support <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers employed <strong>on</strong> a<br />
fixed-term c<strong>on</strong>tract was motivated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir affiliati<strong>on</strong> with that organizati<strong>on</strong> or by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
54 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
political ideology, particularly since it has not even been proven that all or at least <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed public servants were associated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>. The Ministry also points out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> is entitled to<br />
make use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> powers c<strong>on</strong>ferred up<strong>on</strong> it by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal system to benefit its members<br />
and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> has taken representative acti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> behalf <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> its own initiative, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry has d<strong>on</strong>e nothing to impede<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir activities.<br />
208. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s made by ANFUSEGG, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government attaches <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister and Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, which<br />
indicate that public servants <strong>on</strong> both regular and fixed-term c<strong>on</strong>tracts are affiliated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> and that 152 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 364 public servants thought to be currently employed by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister and Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government are members <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>. The<br />
Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister and Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government adds that it has fully<br />
respected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 19 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, which guarantees <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to join<br />
a uni<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> manner provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law regulating associati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants<br />
employed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State administrati<strong>on</strong>, and that ANFUSEGG has been functi<strong>on</strong>ing<br />
normally from 11 March 2010 to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present day and that it has enjoyed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> full support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities in that endeavour. The Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister and Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government indicates that, to date, no complaint has been filed with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Comptroller General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic or with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts regarding a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to<br />
join a uni<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister and Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government. Lastly,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister and Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government points out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants carried out from March 2010 to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present day, referred to<br />
by ANFUSEGG, can be attributed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment having been<br />
reached, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> needs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> service and to voluntary resignati<strong>on</strong>s, but cannot in any way be<br />
attributed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> or to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir participati<strong>on</strong> in<br />
normal trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities.<br />
209. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that reading <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by<br />
both State departments is not sufficient to determine whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r or not C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 151<br />
has been violated. The dismissals in questi<strong>on</strong>, in both cases, were carried out in strict<br />
accordance with c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al and legal norms, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s in force, and<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> jurisprudence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Comptroller General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
210. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that when it examined this case at its November 2012 meeting, it<br />
requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send without delay its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s made<br />
by ANFUSEGG c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 178 public servants employed <strong>on</strong> fixed-term or<br />
fee c<strong>on</strong>tracts from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister and Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government for<br />
being members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ANFUSEGG and for participating in normal trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities, and<br />
by FENAMINSA c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 800 public servants employed <strong>on</strong> a fixed-term<br />
or fee c<strong>on</strong>tract, some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom had served for over 30 years, for being members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> [see 365th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 408)].<br />
211. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 178 public servants employed <strong>on</strong><br />
fixed-term or fee c<strong>on</strong>tracts from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister and Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government for being members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ANFUSEGG and for participating in normal trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> activities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister and Secretary-<br />
General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that: (1) it has fully respected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 19 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, which guarantees <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to join a uni<strong>on</strong> in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> manner provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law regulating associati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants employed by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State administrati<strong>on</strong>; (2) ANFUSEGG has been functi<strong>on</strong>ing normally from 11 March<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 55
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
2010 to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present day and that it has enjoyed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> full support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities in that<br />
endeavour; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants carried out from March 2010 to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present<br />
day, referred to by ANFUSEGG, can be attributed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment<br />
having been reached, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> needs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> service and to voluntary resignati<strong>on</strong>s, but cannot<br />
in any way be attributed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> or to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
participati<strong>on</strong> in normal trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities; and (4) to date, no complaint has been filed<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Comptroller-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic or with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts regarding a<br />
violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to join a uni<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister and Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> will not pursue its examinati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
212. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s made by FENAMINSA c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 800 public<br />
servants employed <strong>on</strong> a fixed-term or fee c<strong>on</strong>tract, some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom had served for over<br />
30 years, for being members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry’s statement to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that: (1) in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 3<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrative Statute (Act No. 18834), fixed-term posts are temporary in nature<br />
and that article 10 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same text provides that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> durati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fixed-term c<strong>on</strong>tracts shall<br />
not exceed 31 December each year; (2) according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Comptroller-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic, public servants employed <strong>on</strong> a fixed-term c<strong>on</strong>tract<br />
cannot claim ownership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> post <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y occupy, unlike <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficially appointed public<br />
servants; (3) pers<strong>on</strong>s occupying fixed-term posts may be dismissed in two ways: firstly, by<br />
not renewing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>tracts before 31 December each year; and, sec<strong>on</strong>dly, by terminating<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>tract early by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an administrative act, which will <strong>on</strong>ly be effective if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
respective act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> appointment included <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formula “as l<strong>on</strong>g as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir services are<br />
necessary”; (4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> posts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s whose c<strong>on</strong>tracts were not renewed were removed<br />
in keeping with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, which was known to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presumpti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law menti<strong>on</strong>ed in article 8 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil Code and because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir appointment, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which, as public servants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y could not have been unaware; (5) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government supports <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior and Public Safety and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ruling handed down <strong>on</strong> 1 July 2011 by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santiago, which rejects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
appeal for protecti<strong>on</strong> filed by FENAMINSA against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry. It also supports <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ruling handed down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chile <strong>on</strong> 13 December 2010 in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
legality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “early terminati<strong>on</strong>” <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fixed-term c<strong>on</strong>tracts in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector; and<br />
(6) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are no grounds to support <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
effect that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers employed <strong>on</strong> a fixed-term c<strong>on</strong>tract was motivated<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir affiliati<strong>on</strong> with that organizati<strong>on</strong> or by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir political ideology, particularly since it<br />
has not even been proven that all or at least <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed public servants<br />
were associated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> will not pursue its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
213. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that it does not have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mandate and will not pr<strong>on</strong>ounce itself with<br />
respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> advisability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> recourse to fixed-term or indefinite c<strong>on</strong>tracts. Never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to draw to attenti<strong>on</strong> that, in certain circumstances, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> renewal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
fixed-term c<strong>on</strong>tracts for several years may affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights.<br />
However, this case does not raise this problem.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
214. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to c<strong>on</strong>sider that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case does not call for fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r examinati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
56 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
CASE NO. 2912<br />
DEFINITIVE REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chile<br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipal Health Officials (CONFUSAM)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Servants (ANEF)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Inter-enterprise Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Metallurgy,<br />
Communicati<strong>on</strong>s, Energy and Allied Workers (SME)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Unitary C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Transport and Related<br />
Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chile (CONUTT)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Federati<strong>on</strong> (FESINEM)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tenth Regi<strong>on</strong> Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fishing Industry<br />
Workers (FETRAINPES)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Seafarers’ C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> (CONGEMAR)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> University Health Service<br />
Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als (FENPRUS)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Temporary Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coordinating C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commerce Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Temporary Workers’ Federati<strong>on</strong><br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pharmacies Federati<strong>on</strong><br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> North-West Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Banking C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tresm<strong>on</strong>tes Lucchetti Subc<strong>on</strong>tractors<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainants allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government has recently submitted a bill to<br />
Parliament that seeks to introduce amendments<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Penal Code and which, if approved, would<br />
violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong><br />
and C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87, 98 and 135, as it not<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly criminalizes a range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legitimate trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> protests and acti<strong>on</strong>s (occupying<br />
workplaces and streets) but also makes workers’<br />
representatives who organize such activities<br />
criminally liable for any public disorder that<br />
occurs<br />
215. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipal<br />
Health Officials (CONFUSAM), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Servants (ANEF), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Inter-enterprise Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Metallurgy, Communicati<strong>on</strong>s, Energy and Allied<br />
Workers (SME), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Unitary C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Transport and Related Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Chile (CONUTT), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Federati<strong>on</strong> (FESINEM), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tenth Regi<strong>on</strong> Federati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fishing Industry Workers (FETRAINPES), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Seafarers’<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> (CONGEMAR), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> University Health Service<br />
Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als (FENPRUS), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Temporary Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coordinating C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commerce Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Temporary Workers’ Federati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pharmacies<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 57
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Federati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> North-West Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Banking C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tresm<strong>on</strong>tes<br />
Lucchetti Subc<strong>on</strong>tractors, dated 20 October 2011.<br />
216. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 28 February 2013.<br />
217. Chile has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
1949 (No. 98), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Relati<strong>on</strong>s (Public Service) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1978 (No. 151).<br />
A. The complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
218. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 October 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CONFUSAM, ANEF, SME, CONUTT,<br />
FESINEM, FETRAINPES, CONGEMAR, FENPRUS, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Temporary Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Coordinating C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commerce Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Temporary Workers’<br />
Federati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pharmacies Federati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> North-West Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Banking<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tresm<strong>on</strong>tes Lucchetti Subc<strong>on</strong>tractors allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
has recently submitted a bill to Parliament which, if approved, would – as is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case with<br />
most current legislati<strong>on</strong> – violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Nos 87, 98 and 135, as it not <strong>on</strong>ly criminalizes a range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legitimate trade uni<strong>on</strong> protests<br />
and acti<strong>on</strong>s (occupying workplaces and streets) but also makes workers’ representatives<br />
who organize such activities criminally liable for any public disorder that occurs.<br />
Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, public disorder has been upgraded from a minor to a more serious <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence.<br />
219. The complainants c<strong>on</strong>sider that, if approved, this legal initiative would criminalize strikes,<br />
occupati<strong>on</strong>s and pickets, and that hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social and uni<strong>on</strong> leaders would be<br />
prosecuted and held in custody while <strong>on</strong> trial, even if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> accused were innocent.<br />
Specifically, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill c<strong>on</strong>tains <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following provisi<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>e. Amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Penal Code as follows:<br />
(1) In secti<strong>on</strong> 261, add <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following subparagraph 2: “This secti<strong>on</strong> shall be understood to<br />
cover members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> forces <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law and order and public security and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Gendarmerie <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chile going about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir duties.”<br />
(2) Replace secti<strong>on</strong> 262 with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following:<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 262. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences referred to in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous secti<strong>on</strong> shall be punishable by a<br />
short-term pris<strong>on</strong> sentence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> medium length if any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following circumstances pertain:<br />
1a. If an attack involves <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> weap<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
2a. If, as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> coerci<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities agree to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators’ demands.<br />
If attacks involve assault against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities or those coming to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir aid, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> penalty<br />
shall be a short-term pris<strong>on</strong> sentence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum to medium length.<br />
If <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances do not apply, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> penalty shall be a short-term pris<strong>on</strong> sentence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
minimum length.<br />
In determining whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r an attack has involved <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> weap<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
secti<strong>on</strong> 132 and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Arms C<strong>on</strong>trol Act, No. 17798 shall apply.<br />
The penalties stipulated in this secti<strong>on</strong> shall be imposed if an attack against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authorities does not c<strong>on</strong>stitute an <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence for which a greater penalty is established in law, in<br />
which case <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> greater penalty shall be imposed.<br />
(3) Substitute <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following for secti<strong>on</strong> 269:<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 269. Those who take part in disorder or any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> force or violence<br />
involving any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following shall be punishable by a short-term pris<strong>on</strong> sentence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> medium<br />
length:<br />
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1. Paralysing or interrupting any public service, such as hospital or emergency<br />
services or those that provide electricity, fuel, drinking water, communicati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
transport;<br />
2. Invading, occupying or looting houses, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fices or commercial, industrial,<br />
educati<strong>on</strong>al, religious or any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r establishments, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r private, public or<br />
municipal;<br />
3. Impeding or altering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> free movement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s or vehicles al<strong>on</strong>g bridges,<br />
roads, highways or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r similar areas used by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public;<br />
4. Attacking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir agents c<strong>on</strong>trary to secti<strong>on</strong>s 261 or 262 or in any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ways set out in secti<strong>on</strong>s 416, 416bis, 416ter and 417 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Code <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Military<br />
Justice or in secti<strong>on</strong>s 17, 17bis, 17ter and 17quater <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree Law No. 2460 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
1979 or in secti<strong>on</strong>s 15A, 15B, 15C and 15D <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree Law No. 2859 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1979, as<br />
applicable;<br />
5. Using firearms, cutting or stabbing implements, or explosive, incendiary, chemical<br />
or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r devices or materials capable <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> causing harm to pers<strong>on</strong>s or property; or<br />
6. Causing damage to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> property <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r publicly, municipally or<br />
individually owned.<br />
The penalty provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preceding paragraph shall be imposed without prejudice<br />
to any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r penalty, as appropriate, to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators may also be liable for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
involvement in damage, ars<strong>on</strong>, attacks, robbery, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Arms C<strong>on</strong>trol Act,<br />
No. 17798 or, in general, o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences committed in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disorder or acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
force or violence.<br />
Those who incite, promote or encourage disorder or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> force or violence that<br />
involve any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> factors menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first paragraph, provided that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir occurrence was<br />
foreseen by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators, shall be punishable by a short-term pris<strong>on</strong> sentence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> medium<br />
length.<br />
(4) Add, after secti<strong>on</strong> 269, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following new secti<strong>on</strong>s 269-A and 269-B:<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 269-A: Any pers<strong>on</strong> who impedes or hinders <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fire<br />
Brigade or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r public services intended to provide assistance in emergencies or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
disasters or incidents that pose a threat to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s shall be punishable by a<br />
short-term pris<strong>on</strong> sentence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> medium length, unless <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir acti<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>stitute ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence<br />
incurring a greater penalty.<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 269-B: For <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences covered by paragraphs 1, 1bis and 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this part, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
perpetrators shall incur <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> maximum penalty, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> penalty has <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>on</strong>e degree, or a penalty<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum, if it has two or more degrees, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence was committed with<br />
faces obscured or in any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r manner such as to impede, hinder or delay <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> identificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
those resp<strong>on</strong>sible.<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> two …<br />
This bill is signed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice, as provided for in law.<br />
220. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants, this bill is a legal aberrati<strong>on</strong> that seeks to resolve social<br />
c<strong>on</strong>flicts by jailing those who dissent or who do not agree with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s or acti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, a ministry, an enterprise or a service, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby seriously undermines<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a plural and democratic society. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaints, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir opini<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill is shared by experts in relevant legal matters, who, am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r things, have<br />
pointed out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> as drafted would give rise to many doubts am<strong>on</strong>g judges in<br />
view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> significant problems <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> placing an interpretati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> “violence or public<br />
disorder”; “disorder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences have always been problematic, because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> descripti<strong>on</strong> given<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislator is never sufficient to cover all circumstances”; and looting is robbery with<br />
force and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State Security Act exists to punish incitement to violence, so new legislati<strong>on</strong><br />
is not required.<br />
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221. The complainants add that a significant group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders from various sectors<br />
and branches <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> producti<strong>on</strong> in both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public and private sphere recently requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to withdraw this legal initiative, but without success; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y will <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore<br />
shortly request Parliament not to process this governmental initiative. The complainants<br />
express <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>cern at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has chosen <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> logic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> repressi<strong>on</strong> to<br />
tackle social c<strong>on</strong>flicts and is c<strong>on</strong>tinuing al<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> path <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> failing to h<strong>on</strong>our its internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
commitments, is not respecting ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s that it freely agreed to ratify and, far<br />
from rectifying this unlawful behaviour, is attempting to reduce its compliance even<br />
fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants request that a missi<strong>on</strong> be sent to Chile to meet all those<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerned, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aim <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> finding specific ways to halt <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> systematic violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
standards that Chile has ratified and to amend legislati<strong>on</strong> and make <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
administrative changes to harm<strong>on</strong>ize all Chilean laws with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO standards ratified by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chilean State.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
222. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 28 February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill to<br />
streng<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n public order is intended to protect those who wish to dem<strong>on</strong>strate peacefully<br />
and punish those who resort to violence and cause serious public disorder when strikes<br />
occur. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, it is vital to point out that this bill is not an existing<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chilean legislati<strong>on</strong>, but merely a proposal from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Executive Authority<br />
submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>gress in October 2011 for due parliamentary debate by<br />
democratically elected representatives. It is currently being discussed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
C<strong>on</strong>gress and has not been approved.<br />
223. The Government adds that, as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> discussi<strong>on</strong> am<strong>on</strong>g deputies in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
C<strong>on</strong>gress, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above bill has changed substantially since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint was<br />
presented (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has sent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most recent versi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill, bulletin<br />
No. 7975-25, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Security and Drugs <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> House <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Deputies in August 2012). Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reiterates that approval or rejecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
this legal initiative by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>gress is still pending. Never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, even if it is<br />
approved as currently drafted, it would not violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s cited by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainants ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r in form or in substance, as it protects those who dem<strong>on</strong>strate<br />
peacefully and punishes those who cause serious public disorder with violence or<br />
intimidati<strong>on</strong>. In reality, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill that are referred to, as well as representing<br />
comm<strong>on</strong> sense, are fully in line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ism and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
relevant criteri<strong>on</strong> established by bodies involved in m<strong>on</strong>itoring compliance with ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
224. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has submitted a<br />
bill to Parliament which, if approved, would violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> and C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87, 98 and 135, as it not <strong>on</strong>ly criminalizes a range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
legitimate trade uni<strong>on</strong> protests and acti<strong>on</strong>s (occupying workplaces and streets) but also<br />
makes workers’ representatives who organize such activities criminally liable for any<br />
public disorder that occurs.<br />
225. In this respect, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statements that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill<br />
to streng<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n public order is intended to protect those who wish to dem<strong>on</strong>strate peacefully,<br />
punishing those who resort to violence and cause serious public disorder when a<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> occurs; (2) this is not an existing provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chilean legislati<strong>on</strong>, but<br />
merely a proposal from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Executive Authority, submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>gress in<br />
October 2011 for due parliamentary debate by democratically elected representatives,<br />
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which is currently being discussed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>gress and has not been approved;<br />
(3) as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discussi<strong>on</strong> am<strong>on</strong>g deputies in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>gress, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
above bill has changed substantially since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint was presented (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
has sent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most recent versi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill, bulletin No. 7975-25, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Security and Drugs <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> House <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputies in August 2012); (4) approval or<br />
rejecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this legal initiative by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>gress is still pending but, never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less,<br />
even if it is approved as currently drafted, it would not violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s cited<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants, as it protects those who dem<strong>on</strong>strate peacefully and punishes those<br />
who cause serious public disorder with violence or intimidati<strong>on</strong>; and (5) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill are fully in line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ism and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant<br />
criteri<strong>on</strong> established by bodies involved in m<strong>on</strong>itoring compliance with ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
226. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill, as provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants,<br />
includes provisi<strong>on</strong>s intended to punish those who commit or instigate disorder or acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
force or violence involving, am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r things: paralysing or interrupting hospital or<br />
emergency services or those that provide electricity, fuel, drinking water, communicati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and transport; invading, occupying or looting houses, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fices or commercial, industrial,<br />
educati<strong>on</strong>al, religious or any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r establishments, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r private, public or municipal;<br />
or impeding or altering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> free movement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s or vehicles al<strong>on</strong>g bridges, roads,<br />
highways or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r similar areas used by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that<br />
a new versi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill, supplied by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, differs in that, for instance, it<br />
provides for those who take part in “serious” disorder to be punishable by a short-term<br />
pris<strong>on</strong> sentence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum to medium length and that public disorder shall be c<strong>on</strong>sidered<br />
serious if it involves any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following: (1) paralysing or interrupting, by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> force<br />
against property or violence or intimidati<strong>on</strong> against pers<strong>on</strong>s, any public service, such as<br />
hospital or emergency services or those that provide electricity, fuel, drinking water,<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong>s and transport; (2) invading, with violence or intimidati<strong>on</strong> against pers<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> owners, houses, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fices or commercial, industrial,<br />
educati<strong>on</strong>al, religious or any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r establishments, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r private, public or municipal;<br />
(3) looting houses, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fices or commercial, industrial, educati<strong>on</strong>al, religious or any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
establishments, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r private, public or municipal; (4) impeding or altering, with<br />
violence or intimidati<strong>on</strong> against pers<strong>on</strong>s, free movement al<strong>on</strong>g bridges, roads, highways or<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r similar areas used by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public and resisting acti<strong>on</strong>s by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities; (5) attacks<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities; (6) use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> firearms; and (7) causing damage to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> property <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs.<br />
227. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> do not protect abuses<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sisting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal acts while exercising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike” and that “trade uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
should respect legal provisi<strong>on</strong>s which are intended to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> maintenance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
order; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public authorities should, for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir part, refrain from any interference which<br />
would restrict <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s to organize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> holding and proceedings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
meetings in full freedom”, in particular “during labour disputes” [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006,<br />
paras 667, 147 and 131]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to dem<strong>on</strong>strate and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
right to strike, peacefully exercised, are essential elements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
that, in exercising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights provided for in this C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, workers and employers and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir respective organizati<strong>on</strong>s, like o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r pers<strong>on</strong>s or organized collectivities, shall respect<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> land. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities should not<br />
resort to arrests and impris<strong>on</strong>ment in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>, or participati<strong>on</strong><br />
in, a peaceful strike; such measures entail serious risks <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> abuse and are a grave threat to<br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> (see Digest, op. cit., paragraph 671).<br />
228. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, observing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants object has<br />
been replaced by ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r text supplied by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> final text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill must not allow for interpretati<strong>on</strong>s susceptible to infringe <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right<br />
to carry out peaceful dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s and strikes, and firmly expects that c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s will<br />
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be held <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill in questi<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative workers’ and employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above principles and c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s will be duly taken into<br />
account.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
229. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> firmly expects that c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s will be held with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most<br />
representative workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> final draft <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill to introduce certain amendments to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Penal Code and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
principles referred to in its c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s will be duly taken into account.<br />
CASE NO. 2796<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colombia<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour (CGT)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
reports <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> transfer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Health Service<br />
Workers (SINALTRAINSALUD) employed at<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hospital San José de Buga, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
impositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a collective accord and anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
dismissals in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company AJE Colombia SA<br />
and death threats to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
SINTRAAJE Colombia<br />
230. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its November 2011 meeting, when it presented<br />
an interim report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body [see 362nd <strong>Report</strong>, paras 501–543, approved by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body at its 312th Sessi<strong>on</strong> (November 2011)].<br />
231. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated August, September and<br />
November 2012.<br />
232. Colombia has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. Previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
233. At its meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> November 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> formulated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outstanding allegati<strong>on</strong>s [see 362nd <strong>Report</strong>, para. 543]:<br />
62 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
(a) As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
SINALTRAINSALUD, Mr José Ancizar Gallego Card<strong>on</strong>a, from his post as a porter at<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hospital San José de Buga to a workplace outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hospital premises, with inferior<br />
working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, suggesting anti-uni<strong>on</strong> harassment, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to send detailed observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> this allegati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
(d)<br />
(e)<br />
(f)<br />
Recalling that, pursuant to Article 4 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government must<br />
guarantee that direct negotiati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements with employees are possible<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong> and that such negotiati<strong>on</strong>s should not be used in<br />
practice for anti-uni<strong>on</strong> purposes, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure<br />
respect for this principle at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company AJE Colombia EU, and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
new developments in this regard.<br />
As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> members, Mr Luis Enrique Peña Aroca,<br />
Mr Carlos Samir Sierra Farfan and Mr Hernando López Puentes, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers have initiated any proceedings before<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour judge.<br />
As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, Ms Sandra Patricia Mejía Rendón,<br />
Ms Any Dahiary Ramírez Díaz, Mr Nels<strong>on</strong> Darío Garzón Parra, and Mr John Henry<br />
Aguazaco Castañeda, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings under way to suspend trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard and to<br />
communicate a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any court rulings handed down.<br />
As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged threats against uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial, Mr John Henry Aguazaco, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> to report <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se threats to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent<br />
authority, and trusts that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will take all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to c<strong>on</strong>duct<br />
an independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s and to ensure protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial in questi<strong>on</strong> from any act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> intimidati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning Mr Alexander Zuluaga Camel, Mr Henry Cruz<br />
Correa, Mr Ender Buelvas Catalan and Mr Omar Ospina Ramírez, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> this matter.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
234. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> August, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government provides informati<strong>on</strong> with respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SINALTRAINSALUD, Mr José<br />
Ancizar Gallego Card<strong>on</strong>a, from his post as a porter at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hospital San José de Buga to a<br />
workplace outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hospital premises, with inferior c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> work which, according<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> harassment. In particular, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government indicates that: (1) Mr Ancizar was reinstated in his job as a porter; (2) <strong>on</strong><br />
3 February 2012 in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Labour Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Circuit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Guadalajara, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> worker agreed to put <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir differences aside; and<br />
(3) under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>flicts referred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
(CETCOIT) framework, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will c<strong>on</strong>tinue to assist <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties in seeking<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sensus.<br />
235. In its communicati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> September and November 2012, in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that:<br />
(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s SINTRAAJE and SINALTRALAC signed a collective<br />
agreement in 2010 with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company AJE Colombia SA and <strong>on</strong> 25 May 2012 a new<br />
collective agreement was signed, with validity from 1 March 2012 to 28 February 2014<br />
(<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government sends a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour to CETCOIT dated 27 September 2012, c<strong>on</strong>firming this informati<strong>on</strong> and sending a<br />
copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement); (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company reported that n<strong>on</strong>-uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers<br />
had presented a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> claims and <strong>on</strong> that basis a collective labour accord had been signed;<br />
(3) in Colombia collective accords are permitted, but jurisprudence and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour establish that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefits <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective accords must not exceed those <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreements; (4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government improved its protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> by<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
adopting Act No. 1453 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2011, which sancti<strong>on</strong>s pers<strong>on</strong>s entering into collective accords<br />
granting better c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s overall to n<strong>on</strong>-uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers by comparis<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s established in collective agreements with uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same<br />
company; (5) fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour initiated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Programme for capacity<br />
building, preventi<strong>on</strong> and c<strong>on</strong>trol for companies with simultaneous collective accords and<br />
agreements, which will so<strong>on</strong> be complemented with a special inspecti<strong>on</strong>, surveillance and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trol initiative in that area; and (6) in this case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers enjoy additi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
benefits such as trade uni<strong>on</strong> allowances, leave and special disciplinary treatment.<br />
236. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Luis Enrique Peña Aroca,<br />
Mr Carlos Samir Sierra Farfan and Mr Hernando López Puentes, members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SINTRAAJE<br />
Colombia, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y took acti<strong>on</strong> before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour courts in which<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claims brought against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company were dismissed (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government sends a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGT to CETCOIT, dated 27 September 2012, c<strong>on</strong>firming this<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> and indicating that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts dismissed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first and sec<strong>on</strong>d<br />
instance in 2010).<br />
237. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leaders, Ms Sandra<br />
Patricia Mejía Rendón, Ms Any Dahiary Ramírez Díaz, Mr Nels<strong>on</strong> Darío Garzón Parra,<br />
Mr John Henry Aguazaco Castañeda, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings under way to suspend trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> immunity, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that <strong>on</strong> mutual agreement and with a view to<br />
improving relati<strong>on</strong>s with trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers in questi<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company AJE<br />
Colombia SA ended <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings to suspend trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity and those workers<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinue to provide services in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s and exercising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right to organize<br />
(<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government sends a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGT addressed to CETCOIT,<br />
dated 27 September 2012, c<strong>on</strong>firming this informati<strong>on</strong>).<br />
238. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged threats to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leader, Mr John Henry Aguazaco, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government reports that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company decided to take all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> precauti<strong>on</strong>s required by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
situati<strong>on</strong> and change <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> worker’s route to make him feel safer in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his duties.<br />
The Government also reports that it has a protecti<strong>on</strong> programme for uni<strong>on</strong> leaders at risk<br />
(<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGT indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> threats made against<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SINTRAAJE Colombia ceased as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company’s interventi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
reassigning him to o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r routes).<br />
239. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning Mr Alexander Zuluaga Camel, Mr Henry Cruz<br />
Correa, Mr Ender Buelvas Catalán and Mr Omar Ospina Ramírez, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y c<strong>on</strong>tinue working pursuant to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir work c<strong>on</strong>tracts.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
240. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s still pending c<strong>on</strong>cerned <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> SINALTRAINSALUD, employed at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hospital<br />
San José de Buga, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a collective accord and anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissals in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
company AJE Colombia SA, and death threats against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SINTRAAJE<br />
Colombia.<br />
Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (a)<br />
241. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
SINALTRAINSALUD, Mr José Ancizar Gallego Card<strong>on</strong>a, from his post as a porter at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Hospital San José de Buga to a workplace outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hospital premises, with inferior<br />
working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with interest that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that:<br />
(1) Mr Ancizar was reinstated to his post as a porter; (2) <strong>on</strong> 3 February 2012, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> First<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Labour Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Circuit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guadalajara, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
worker reached an agreement to put <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir differences aside; and (3) under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CETCOIT<br />
framework, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will c<strong>on</strong>tinue to assist <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties in seeking c<strong>on</strong>sensus.<br />
Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (b)<br />
242. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a collective accord in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
company AJE Colombia SA, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that:<br />
(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s SINTRAAJE and SINALTRALAC signed a collective<br />
agreement in 2010 with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company AJE Colombia SA and that <strong>on</strong> 25 May 2012 a new<br />
collective agreement was signed, with validity from 1 March 2012 to 28 February 2014<br />
(<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government sends a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGT addressed to CETCOIT<br />
dated 27 September 2012, c<strong>on</strong>firming this informati<strong>on</strong> and sending a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreement); (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company reported that n<strong>on</strong>-uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers had presented a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
claims and <strong>on</strong> that basis a collective labour accord had been signed; (3) in Colombia<br />
collective accords are permitted, but jurisprudence and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour establish<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefits <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective accords must not exceed those <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements;<br />
(4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government improved its protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> by adopting Act<br />
No. 1452 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2011, which sancti<strong>on</strong>s pers<strong>on</strong>s entering into collective accords granting better<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s overall to n<strong>on</strong>-uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers by comparis<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s established<br />
in collective agreements with uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same company; (5) likewise, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour initiated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> programme for capacity building, preventi<strong>on</strong> and c<strong>on</strong>trol<br />
for companies with simultaneous collective accords and collective agreements, which will<br />
so<strong>on</strong> be complemented with a special inspecti<strong>on</strong>, surveillance and c<strong>on</strong>trol initiative in that<br />
area; and (6) in this case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers enjoy additi<strong>on</strong>al benefits such as trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> allowances, leave and special disciplinary treatment.<br />
243. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> welcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a new collective agreement by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerned, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures adopted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to avoid collective accords being signed for anti-uni<strong>on</strong> purposes. Recalling<br />
<strong>on</strong>ce again that, pursuant to Article 4 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government must<br />
guarantee that direct negotiati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements with employees are possible<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong> and that such negotiati<strong>on</strong>s should not be used in<br />
practice for anti-uni<strong>on</strong> purposes, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure<br />
respect for this principle and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments in this regard.<br />
Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (c)<br />
244. In relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> members Mr Luis Enrique Peña Aroca, Mr Carlos<br />
Samir Sierra Farfan and Mr Hernando López Puentes, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government reports that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y took an acti<strong>on</strong> before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour courts in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claims<br />
brought against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company were dismissed (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGT c<strong>on</strong>firmed this informati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
indicated that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts dismissed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first and sec<strong>on</strong>d instance in 2010).<br />
Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (d)<br />
245. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leaders, Ms Sandra Patricia Mejía<br />
Rendón, Ms Any Dahiary Ramírez Díaz, Mr Nels<strong>on</strong> Darío Garzón Parra, Mr John Henry<br />
Aguazaco Castañeda, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings under way to suspend trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that <strong>on</strong> mutual agreement and with a<br />
view to improving relati<strong>on</strong>s with trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers in questi<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company<br />
AJE Colombia SA ended <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings to suspend trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity and those<br />
workers c<strong>on</strong>tinue to provide services in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s and exercising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right to<br />
organize (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGT c<strong>on</strong>firmed this informati<strong>on</strong>).<br />
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Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (e)<br />
246. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged threats to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leader Mr John Henry Aguazaco, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company decided to take all<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> precauti<strong>on</strong>s required by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> and to change <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> worker’s route to make him<br />
feel safer in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his duties. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGT indicates that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> threats ceased as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company’s interventi<strong>on</strong>, reassigning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> worker to<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r routes, and welcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initiatives taken to protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> life <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this uni<strong>on</strong> leader. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> can <strong>on</strong>ly encourage <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government wholeheartedly to promote fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r such<br />
initiatives.<br />
Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (f)<br />
247. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning Mr Alexander Zuluaga Camel, Mr Henry Cruz<br />
Correa, Mr Ender Buelvas Catalán and Mr Omar Ospina Ramírez, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company AJE Colombia SA c<strong>on</strong>tinues to abide by<br />
its work c<strong>on</strong>tracts. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> will not pursue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
248. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure respect for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle<br />
relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> direct negotiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “collective accords” as set out in its<br />
c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any steps taken in this regard.<br />
CASE NO. 2880<br />
DEFINITIVE REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colombia<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Villavicencio<br />
supported by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour (CGT)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
labour relati<strong>on</strong>ship <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 36 employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Villavicencio, who were entitled<br />
to legal, c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al and internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right to join a trade uni<strong>on</strong>,<br />
was terminated <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts<br />
had been suppressed pursuant to Municipal<br />
Decrees Nos 176 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 29 December 1997 and 116<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 June 2001<br />
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249. The complaint was presented in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 27 May 2011 from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Villavicencio. It was supported by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour (CGT).<br />
250. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 14 September 2012.<br />
251. Colombia has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
1949 (No. 98), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Relati<strong>on</strong>s (Public Service) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1978 (No. 151), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1981 (No. 154).<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
252. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 27 May 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Villavicencio alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour relati<strong>on</strong>ship <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 36 employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Villavicencio, who were entitled to legal, c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al and internati<strong>on</strong>al protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right to join a trade uni<strong>on</strong>, was terminated <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts had been<br />
suppressed. It states that this legal procedure is acceptable under nati<strong>on</strong>al legislati<strong>on</strong><br />
provided that certain legal requirements are complied with, including an agreement signed<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipal council empowering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mayor to reorganize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
territory; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> carrying out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a technical survey <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> staffing requirements; approval from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrative department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public service; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earmarking <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> funds by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Finance to finance <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new staffing arrangements; and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issuance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a decree by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Executive Chief – in this case <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mayor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Villavicencio – setting up<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new administrative structure and staffing plan. The complainant states that, without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
said legal requirements having been complied with, six <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers listed were notified<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to suppress <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts pursuant to Municipal Decree No. 176 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
29 December 1997 and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r 30 workers pursuant to Municipal Decree No. 116 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
12 June 2001.<br />
253. The complainant states that <strong>on</strong> 1 June 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Villavicencio made a public declarati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> technical survey that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mayor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Villavicencio should have c<strong>on</strong>ducted did not exist as it had not<br />
been <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficially presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise c<strong>on</strong>tracted to carry it out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficially. The<br />
complainant adds that, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants were individually notified that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts<br />
were being suppressed, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y had decided to establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Public Employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Villavicencio (ASOSIEMPUVI). Their decisi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
al<strong>on</strong>g with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> names <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> founder members and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s executive<br />
board, was communicated to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mayor <strong>on</strong> 19 June 2001, and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social<br />
Welfare <strong>on</strong> 20 June 2001. The complainant states that all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees c<strong>on</strong>cerned lodged<br />
an appeal with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrative Tribunal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Meta to have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> declared null and void and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir labour rights restored in accordance with article<br />
85 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrative Disputes Code. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
handed down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tribunal <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 36 appeals and c<strong>on</strong>firmed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State<br />
were negative, that is, in not a single case were grounds found for declaring null and void<br />
or irregular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> taken pursuant to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decrees issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mayor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Villavicencio.<br />
254. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> states that, following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> some 200 public<br />
service posts since July 2006, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrative Tribunal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Meta and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State decided to reverse <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case law and declared Decree No. 116 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 June 2001 to be<br />
null and void in 15 cases c<strong>on</strong>cerning employees, most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom were not involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
founding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ASOSIEMPUVI, and ordered that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y be reinstated. The complainant<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> states that, given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reversal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case law and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that every <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employees whose appeal was rejected was in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same situati<strong>on</strong> as those who were<br />
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reinstated, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y decided to request court protecti<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s that had g<strong>on</strong>e<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m. The Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State, which is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent judicial body in such matters,<br />
ruled against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir requests for protecti<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir fundamental rights<br />
and ruled that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were irreceivable.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
255. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 14 September 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint<br />
does not meet <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirements to be admissible under ILO’s procedures, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> states explicitly that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> was established after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employees had been notified <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts. The Government c<strong>on</strong>siders<br />
that, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> circumstances, it is impossible to claim that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong><br />
was violated and that certain aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case directly affected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
Government asserts that no workers affiliated to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> were dismissed since, as noted,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong> was established after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong> notifying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir jobs. The Government also recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> past<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidered that it is <strong>on</strong>ly called up<strong>on</strong> to rule <strong>on</strong> allegati<strong>on</strong>s regarding restructuring and<br />
streamlining programmes or processes that have given rise to acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
discriminati<strong>on</strong> or interference in uni<strong>on</strong> affairs, which is not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case under<br />
examinati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
256. The Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> that did<br />
not exist can hardly have been violated and that it is hard to see how restructuring can have<br />
infringed C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no evidence to suggest that any attempt was made<br />
to undermine freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>. The Government states that, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> itself notes, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authorities have already ruled <strong>on</strong> each individual case<br />
and have handed down rulings rejecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeals presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerned. It adds that, although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State has, <strong>on</strong> several occasi<strong>on</strong>s, examined<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree No. 116 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2001, it has declared <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeals by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual<br />
employees to be partially null and void. The Government cites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following ruling handed<br />
down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State: “The jurisprudence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secti<strong>on</strong> has been upheld in so far<br />
as, where a service is disc<strong>on</strong>tinued following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a post, and specifically in<br />
respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual administrative decisi<strong>on</strong>s against which an appeal is lodged, it is<br />
impossible to generalize or lay down a rule that can be applied equally to every case; each<br />
suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a post by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore has to be analysed <strong>on</strong> its own<br />
merits.”<br />
257. The Government states fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Villavicencio has informed it that:<br />
(1) each <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s cited in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list sent by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> received due<br />
compensati<strong>on</strong> as required by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 15 employees c<strong>on</strong>cerned were notified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Vice-Secretariat for Human Development that, by virtue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decrees Nos 176 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1997 and<br />
116 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2001, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> post that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y occupied had been removed from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> posts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
central administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mayor’s Office, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y could choose between a<br />
preferential right to reinstatement or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> compensati<strong>on</strong>, for which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were<br />
given five days to make known <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir decisi<strong>on</strong> in writing; (3) at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were notified<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts, n<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 36 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials had trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity and all<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m received due compensati<strong>on</strong>; and (4) n<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeals for legal protecti<strong>on</strong> or for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> posts to be declared null and void was upheld in<br />
respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees referred to by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
258. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case under examinati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant alleges that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour relati<strong>on</strong>ship <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 36 employees (identified by name) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
68 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Villavicencio in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Meta, who were entitled to legal, c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al and<br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right to join a trade uni<strong>on</strong>, was terminated <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir post had been terminated pursuant to Municipal Decrees Nos 176 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
29 December 1997 and 116 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 June 2001. The complainant states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Administrative Tribunal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Meta and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State rejected all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeals<br />
lodged by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees c<strong>on</strong>cerned and that, following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> some 200 posts,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 15 workers (o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 36 workers<br />
menti<strong>on</strong>ed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant) and declared that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree No. 116 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
12 June 2001 was null and void.<br />
259. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> in this respect that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> states explicitly that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> was established after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employees had been notified <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts and that it was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore<br />
impossible to claim that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> had been violated or that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
raised issues that directly affected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>; (2) that no workers affiliated to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong> had been dismissed since, as noted, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong> was established after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> notifying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> can hardly have been violated if it did not exist<br />
and it is hard to see how restructuring can have infringed C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is<br />
no evidence to suggest that any attempt was made to undermine freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
(4) as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant notes, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authorities have already ruled <strong>on</strong> each individual<br />
case and handed down rulings rejecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeals presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees referred<br />
to in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint; and (5) although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State has <strong>on</strong> several occasi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
examined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree No. 116 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2001, it has in individual instances declared<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree to be partially null and void (n<strong>on</strong>e<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases do not c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
36 dismissed workers menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s). The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Villavicencio has informed it that:<br />
(1) each <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s cited in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list sent by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> received due<br />
compensati<strong>on</strong> as required by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees c<strong>on</strong>cerned were notified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Vice-Secretariat for Human Development that, by virtue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decrees Nos 176 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1997 and<br />
116 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2001, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> post that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y occupied had been removed from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> posts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
central administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mayor’s Office, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y could choose between a<br />
preferential right to reinstatement or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> compensati<strong>on</strong>, for which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were<br />
given five days to make known <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir decisi<strong>on</strong> in writing; (3) at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were notified<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts, n<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 36 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials had trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity and all<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m received due compensati<strong>on</strong>; and (4) n<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeals for legal protecti<strong>on</strong> or for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> posts to be declared null and void was upheld in<br />
respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees referred to by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant.<br />
260. Given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> circumstances, and bearing in mind all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided and,<br />
specifically, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> posts c<strong>on</strong>cerned a large number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees (some<br />
200 according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant) and not just <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 36 identified in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ASOSIEMPUVI was established after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> was taken to suppress <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> posts in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Villavicencio and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various jurisdicti<strong>on</strong>al bodies rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
appeals lodged by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers listed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> length <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that has<br />
passed since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> restructuring, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> will not proceed any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with its<br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s presented in this case.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
261. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to decide that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case does not call for fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r examinati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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CASE NO. 2933<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colombia<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bogota Telecommunicati<strong>on</strong>s Company Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
(SINTRATELEFONOS)<br />
supported by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Single C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers (CUT)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
allege anti-uni<strong>on</strong> practices and dismissals in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Bogota Telecommunicati<strong>on</strong>s Company SA ESP<br />
262. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 6 March 2012 from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bogota<br />
Telecommunicati<strong>on</strong>s Company Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> (SINTRATELEFONOS), which is<br />
supported by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Single C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers (CUT). SINTRATELEFONOS sent<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 8 July 2012.<br />
263. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated December 2012.<br />
264. Colombia has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right<br />
to Organise and Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Relati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
(Public Service) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1978 (No. 151), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
1981 (No. 154).<br />
A. The complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
265. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s allege that, in 2008, SINTRATELEFONOS initiated a<br />
process aimed at capitalizing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company by linking up with a strategic partner, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby<br />
paving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> way for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> privatizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this public company. The Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
SINTRATELEFONOS dem<strong>on</strong>strated its total rejecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this process by organizing<br />
marches and dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s state that, as a means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
retaliati<strong>on</strong> and intimidati<strong>on</strong>, between 6 October 2008 and 30 May 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company<br />
dismissed, with compensati<strong>on</strong>, 27 workers affiliated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> without just<br />
cause, whose names appear below: Danilo Henrique Hernández R., Hernando Canencio<br />
Benavides, Adel Fabian Ruales Alvear, Óscar Aldana Mejía, Luz Nidia Regalado<br />
G<strong>on</strong>zález, Waldemiro Padilla Madrid, Jorge Eliecer Solorzano Morales, Julio Ediberto<br />
Pérez Yañez, Álvaro Henry Jimenez Vasquez, Norma C<strong>on</strong>stanza Villanueva S., Héctor<br />
Mauricio Mantilla Alba, Mauricio Puerto Rangel, Sandra Yaneth Castelblanco C., Martha<br />
Sulay Valcarcel M., Arnulfo Alfredo Mejía Ortiz, Jh<strong>on</strong> Bair<strong>on</strong> Martínez Rodríguez, José<br />
Al<strong>on</strong>so Gualtera Silva, Raúl Enrique Camargo Susa, Adriana Marcela Acosta, Mauricio<br />
Arturo Suárez León, Luis Orlando Guevara Ruiz, Yamel Ant<strong>on</strong>io Santana Millán, Dolly<br />
Chávez Quiroz, Nirza Pantevis, Isabel G<strong>on</strong>zález Serrano, José Andres Moreu Pineda, and<br />
Ylbey Mora Morales.<br />
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266. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s indicate that SINTRATELEFONOS filed several<br />
applicati<strong>on</strong>s for protecti<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company in order to secure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissed workers, alleging that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company had c<strong>on</strong>ducted itself in a manner that was<br />
anti-uni<strong>on</strong> in nature. Bogota Circuit Criminal Court No. 18 ordered, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d instance,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 15 dismissed workers in a ruling handed down <strong>on</strong> 12 February 2010.<br />
In ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r ruling, handed down <strong>on</strong> 26 May 2010, this time in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first instance, Bogota<br />
Municipal Criminal Court No. 36 ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r three workers.<br />
267. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s add that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling handed down by Bogota Circuit<br />
Criminal Court No. 18 was overturned by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court in ruling T-660 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2010<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that, in that case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> for protecti<strong>on</strong> was inadmissible. They state<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling handed down by Bogota Municipal Criminal Court No. 36 was partially<br />
overturned in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d instance by Circuit Criminal Court No. 50 in its ruling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 July<br />
2010. Both rulings entailed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal, for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d time, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers who had<br />
been reinstated. Thirteen workers, several <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom were affected by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rulings being<br />
overturned, are in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> initiating judicial proceedings before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour courts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> city <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bogota in an attempt to secure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir reinstatement.<br />
268. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s also denounce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals appear to have<br />
led many workers to leave <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> for fear <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reprisals at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir employer. In<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> introducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> voluntary retirement measures was allegedly weakening <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
269. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated December 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government transmits <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company’s reply<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>. The company maintains that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> cannot provide evidence to support its claim that acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> and repetitive and systematic dismissals took place, or that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
company violated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>’s right to express itself, to dem<strong>on</strong>strate and<br />
to defend itself. The company adds that terminating a c<strong>on</strong>tract without just cause, as l<strong>on</strong>g<br />
as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> correct amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal compensati<strong>on</strong> is paid, is a power c<strong>on</strong>ferred up<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
company by law, subject to criteria <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>able objectivity. The company states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
27 c<strong>on</strong>tract terminati<strong>on</strong>s menti<strong>on</strong>ed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> took place over a<br />
period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two-and-a-half years within a company that employed more than 3,000 workers<br />
in 2009–10, and 2,702 workers in May 2011, 2,304 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom benefited from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreement. The company states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se figures dem<strong>on</strong>strate that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 27 terminati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
were not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an anti-uni<strong>on</strong> policy pursued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entity in questi<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
company also indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court has already ruled <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter and<br />
that it did not find <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re to be any violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers to join a uni<strong>on</strong>. Lastly, it<br />
states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> voluntary retirement plan <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company in 2010 is a valid legal<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which more than 700 workers availed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own free will, and that<br />
no discriminati<strong>on</strong> based <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong> affiliati<strong>on</strong> occurred.<br />
270. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same communicati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government refers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
company and finds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged acts do not c<strong>on</strong>stitute anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
Government reiterates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court, in its ruling T-660 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2010,<br />
determined that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company had not engaged in anti-uni<strong>on</strong> practices and did not c<strong>on</strong>sider<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an employment c<strong>on</strong>tract, in and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> itself, to c<strong>on</strong>stitute a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
right to associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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271. The Government also indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts that are <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present complaint<br />
are also <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a complaint filed with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate <strong>on</strong> 9 May 2011 and<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspectorate will so<strong>on</strong> take a decisi<strong>on</strong>. Lastly, it states that in order to bring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
parties toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r and to reach a c<strong>on</strong>sensus <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s made, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases referred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO (CETCOIT) examined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case at its meeting<br />
<strong>on</strong> 30 November 2012, which resulted in a partial agreement being reached.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
272. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case refers to allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
27 uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bogota Telecommunicati<strong>on</strong>s Company in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
changes relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> capitalizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company, which were criticized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
273. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> observati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company that<br />
coincide, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that:<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company limited itself to exercising its legal power to dismiss a worker without<br />
just cause, as l<strong>on</strong>g as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> correct amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal compensati<strong>on</strong> is paid;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 27 terminati<strong>on</strong>s, which were carried out over a period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two-and-a-half years<br />
within a company <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> more than 3,000 workers, more than 2,000 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom are<br />
members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>, were not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an anti-uni<strong>on</strong> policy pursued<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company; and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court did not c<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts denounced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stitute a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
274. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that it is not called up<strong>on</strong> to pr<strong>on</strong>ounce up<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> questi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
breaking <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a c<strong>on</strong>tract <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment by dismissal except in cases in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<strong>on</strong> dismissal imply anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, para. 779]. In this<br />
regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present complaint, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 27 uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company between 6 October 2008<br />
and 30 May 2011 was an act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> retaliati<strong>on</strong> against SINTRATELEFONOS’s campaign<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company’s capitalizati<strong>on</strong> process.<br />
275. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> filed several applicati<strong>on</strong>s for protecti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
grounds that its right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> had been violated; that Bogota Circuit<br />
Criminal Court No. 18 ordered, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d instance, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 15 dismissed<br />
workers in a ruling handed down <strong>on</strong> 12 February 2010, in which it c<strong>on</strong>sidered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissals to denote blatant anti-uni<strong>on</strong> persecuti<strong>on</strong>, that could push workers to leave <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong>; and that, in ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r ruling handed down <strong>on</strong> 26 May 2010, this time in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first<br />
instance, Bogota Municipal Criminal Court No. 36 ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
three workers.<br />
276. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling handed down by Bogota Circuit Criminal Court<br />
No. 18 was overturned by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court in ruling T-660 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2010 <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds<br />
that, in that case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> for protecti<strong>on</strong> was inadmissible; that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling handed<br />
down by Bogota Municipal Criminal Court No. 36 was partially overturned in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d<br />
instance by Circuit Criminal Court No. 50 in its ruling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 July 2010; and that both<br />
rulings entailed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal, for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d time, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers who had been reinstated.<br />
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277. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed ruling, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court recalled<br />
its jurisprudence, according to which, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is reas<strong>on</strong>able doubt as to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a dismissal, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer must provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objective reas<strong>on</strong>s that justify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment c<strong>on</strong>tract. However, in this particular case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court found <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re to be insufficient factual evidence to c<strong>on</strong>stitute<br />
reas<strong>on</strong>able doubt as to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged anti-uni<strong>on</strong> persecuti<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court took <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following into c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relati<strong>on</strong>ship<br />
between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals that were <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> for protecti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers affiliated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> (more than 2,000) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time over which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals took place; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that, during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period in<br />
questi<strong>on</strong>, workers affiliated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> and workers not affiliated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> were dismissed; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> evidence to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers who<br />
were dismissed were trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials or activists; and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> evidence to prove <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
alleged impact <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals <strong>on</strong> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers.<br />
278. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court declared <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> for<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> inadmissible owing to a lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> evidence, it c<strong>on</strong>sidered it to be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>sibility<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ordinary courts to determine, by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a thorough examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> evidence,<br />
whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> had actually been violated in this case. Taking<br />
note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>’s statement to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that several workers are<br />
initiating judicial proceedings before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour courts in an attempt to secure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
reinstatement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those judicial proceedings. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint presented to it<br />
regarding this case.<br />
279. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that<br />
CETCOIT examined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case at its meeting <strong>on</strong> 30 November 2012, which resulted in a<br />
partial agreement being reached. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CETCOIT is a nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
tripartite body established to resolve disputes relating to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
collective bargaining. The mechanism <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> CETCOIT is voluntary and allows for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaints pending before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>, as<br />
well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disputes, which have not yet been submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO. It aims at facilitating<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreements between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties, based <strong>on</strong>, am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r things, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement c<strong>on</strong>cluded within CETCOIT, <strong>on</strong><br />
30 November 2012, indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue rec<strong>on</strong>ciled by that agreement refers to ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
subject matter not covered in Case No. 2933. The agreement also menti<strong>on</strong>s that if, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
future, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties reach a similar agreement regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint that is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Case No. 2933, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint will be dropped. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> welcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process<br />
aimed at resolving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se issues at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al level through dialogue with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social<br />
partners and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any agreements that may be reached before CETCOIT regarding this case.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
280. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings initiated before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour courts by several<br />
workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company in an attempt to secure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir reinstatement, as well<br />
as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint<br />
presented to it regarding this case.<br />
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(b) Welcoming <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process aimed at resolving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al level<br />
through dialogue with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any<br />
agreements that may be reached before CETCOIT regarding this case.<br />
CASE NO. 2935<br />
DEFINITIVE REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colombia<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers and Employees in Public and<br />
Aut<strong>on</strong>omous Services and Decentralized and Territorial<br />
Instituti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colombia (SINTRAEMSDES)<br />
supported by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Single C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers (CUT) and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Protecti<strong>on</strong> Workers<br />
and Public Servants (SINALTRAEMPROS)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
allege anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissals following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
presentati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> demands in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Y<strong>on</strong>do, as well as dismissals and<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r anti-uni<strong>on</strong> acti<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Health<br />
Supervisory Body<br />
281. The complaints are c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers and<br />
Employees in Public and Aut<strong>on</strong>omous Services and Decentralized and Territorial<br />
Instituti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Colombia (SINTRAEMSDES) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> March 2012 and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Protecti<strong>on</strong> Workers and Public Servants (SINALTRAEMPROS) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
August 2012. The Single C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers (CUT) supported <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint<br />
presented by SINTRAEMSDES in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 16 March 2012.<br />
282. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 21 October 2012 and<br />
February 2013.<br />
283. Colombia has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
284. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> March 2012, SINTRAEMSDES reports that <strong>on</strong> 30 August 2002<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> presented a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> demands to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Y<strong>on</strong>do. The complainant<br />
alleges that following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presentati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> demands, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality dismissed<br />
19 uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers (listed by name) between 5 February 2003 and 12 May 2004. The<br />
complainant fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r reports that as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining, a collective agreement<br />
was signed <strong>on</strong> 12 October 2006. Lastly, SINTRAEMSDES reports that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed<br />
workers filed legal proceedings before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al courts claiming that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals<br />
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happened during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective dispute, but that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts ruled against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers.<br />
285. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> August 2012, SINALTRAEMPROS reports that <strong>on</strong> 19 November<br />
2011, more than 25 public servants <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Health Supervisory Body met in<br />
Zipaquirá to form a trade uni<strong>on</strong>, thus creating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first trade uni<strong>on</strong> branch committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Supervisory Body. The complainants indicate that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supervisory Body<br />
was notified <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> branch committee <strong>on</strong> 29 December 2011. The<br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> alleges that as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> branch committee, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrati<strong>on</strong> began a smear, intimidati<strong>on</strong> and workplace harassment campaign against<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders and that, in that c<strong>on</strong>text, Mr Arcesio Rodríguez B<strong>on</strong>illa and Ms Ana<br />
María Gaitán Parra were dismissed, workplace harassment was used to force Mr Jesús<br />
Alberto Gutiérrez Torres and Ms Francy Leny Cuenca to give up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir uni<strong>on</strong> activities, and<br />
Ms Vivian Marcela Delapena filed a complaint claiming workplace harassment and antiuni<strong>on</strong><br />
persecuti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
286. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 21 October 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports, with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s presented by SINTRAEMSDES, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mayor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Y<strong>on</strong>do<br />
indicated that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tracts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers listed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint were terminated in an<br />
administrative restructuring process carried out in 2003 and that, in keeping with labour<br />
standards, all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed workers were awarded compensati<strong>on</strong>. It fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r indicates that<br />
all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers filed complaints before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour courts but that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts ruled in favour<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> was not<br />
violated and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> restructuring process was pursued in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipality.<br />
287. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that, thanks to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
pursuit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sensus and dialogue, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to this case have succeeded in reaching an<br />
important agreement in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>flicts referred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO (CETCOIT). The Government supplies a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signed<br />
agreement according to which it was decided: (i) to establish a platform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> direct and<br />
permanent dialogue between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leaders and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Health Supervisory Body; (ii) that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual complaints <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial nature would be<br />
resolved by judges and in full compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to due process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerned; (iii) that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CETCOIT will remain at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disposal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to find<br />
soluti<strong>on</strong>s promoting understanding and overcoming any differences that might arise; and<br />
(iv) that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint presented to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO is c<strong>on</strong>sidered resolved and will be withdrawn.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
288. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that in this case <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers and Employees in<br />
Public and Aut<strong>on</strong>omous Services and Decentralized and Territorial Instituti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Colombia (SINTRAEMSDES) reports <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 19 uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers. In this<br />
regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mayor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Y<strong>on</strong>do indicated that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tracts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers in questi<strong>on</strong> were<br />
terminated in an administrative restructuring process carried out in 2003 and that, in<br />
keeping with labour standards, all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed workers were awarded compensati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
(2) all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers in questi<strong>on</strong> filed complaints before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour courts but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts<br />
ruled in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, while taking note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this<br />
informati<strong>on</strong>, in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time elapsed (from six m<strong>on</strong>ths to a year) between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
presentati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> demands (August 2002) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dates <strong>on</strong> which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers<br />
started being dismissed, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts rejected all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaints filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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workers in questi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> will not proceed with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
289. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also observes that SINALTRAEMPROS alleges that as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> branch committee in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Health Supervisory Body, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrati<strong>on</strong> began a smear, intimidati<strong>on</strong> and workplace harassment campaign against<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leaders and that in that c<strong>on</strong>text Mr Arcesio Rodríguez B<strong>on</strong>illa and Ms Ana<br />
María Gaitán Parra were dismissed, and Mr Jesús Alberto Gutiérrez Torres and<br />
Ms Francy Leny Cuenca were forced to give up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir uni<strong>on</strong> activities. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that: (1) thanks to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pursuit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sensus<br />
and dialogue, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to this case have succeeded in reaching an important agreement<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>flicts referred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ILO (CETCOIT); and (2) according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signed agreement, it was decided: (i) to<br />
establish a platform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> direct and permanent dialogue between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leaders and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Health Supervisory Body; (ii) that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual<br />
complaints <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial nature would be resolved by judges and in full compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
right to due process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties c<strong>on</strong>cerned; (iii) that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CETCOIT will remain at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
disposal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to find soluti<strong>on</strong>s promoting understanding and overcoming any<br />
differences that might arise; and (iv) that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint presented to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO is c<strong>on</strong>sidered<br />
resolved and will be withdrawn. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes this informati<strong>on</strong> with interest and, in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, will not pursue its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
290. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to decide that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case does not call for fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r examinati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
CASE NO. 2786<br />
INTERIM REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Dominican Republic<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> (CNUS)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: Anti-uni<strong>on</strong> acts and dismissals in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprises “Frito Lay Dominicana”,<br />
“Universal Aloe” and “MERCASID”, as well as<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> refusal to register various trade uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
291. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its March 2012 meeting when it presented an<br />
interim report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>, paras 487–508, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body at its 310th Sessi<strong>on</strong> (March 2012)].<br />
292. Since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been no reply from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has been obliged to<br />
postp<strong>on</strong>e its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case. At its March 2013 meeting [see 367th <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
para. 5], <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made an urgent appeal and drew <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedural rules set out in paragraph 17 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its<br />
127th <strong>Report</strong>, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> may present a report <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case even if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> observati<strong>on</strong>s or informati<strong>on</strong> requested from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government have not been received in due time. To date, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not sent any<br />
informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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293. The Dominican Republic has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Right to Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective<br />
Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. Previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
294. At its March 2012 meeting, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see<br />
363rd <strong>Report</strong>, para. 508]:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r self-employed workers and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tract workers may bargain collectively; and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> as regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspecti<strong>on</strong> flaws (absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> impartiality and failure to carry out<br />
inspecti<strong>on</strong>s).<br />
B. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
295. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that has elapsed since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous<br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not provided <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested informati<strong>on</strong>, even<br />
though it has been requested to do so several times, including through an urgent appeal.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to be more cooperative in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future.<br />
296. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances and in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicable procedure [see<br />
127th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 17, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body at its 184th Sessi<strong>on</strong>], <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> finds itself obliged to present a report <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case without<br />
being able to take into account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> it had hoped to receive from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government.<br />
297. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reminds <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whole procedure is to<br />
ensure respect for trade uni<strong>on</strong> freedoms both in law and in practice; this <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore c<strong>on</strong>vinced that while this procedure protects governments against unreas<strong>on</strong>able<br />
accusati<strong>on</strong>s, governments, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir side, must recognize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> formulating, for<br />
objective examinati<strong>on</strong>, detailed and accurate replies <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
made against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m [see First <strong>Report</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, para. 31].<br />
298. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reiterates its previous c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested informati<strong>on</strong> and draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
legislative aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
299. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing interim c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not provided <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
informati<strong>on</strong> requested in March 2012 <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters still pending and<br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to be more cooperative in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate without delay<br />
whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r self-employed workers and c<strong>on</strong>tract workers may bargain<br />
collectively, and draws this aspect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
(c) As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged anti-uni<strong>on</strong> practices in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprises “Frito Lay<br />
Dominicana”, “Universal Aloe” and “MERCASID”, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong>, in particular regarding<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspecti<strong>on</strong> flaws (absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> impartiality and failure to<br />
carry out inspecti<strong>on</strong>s).<br />
CASE NO. 2980<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Salvador<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Private Enterprises (ANEP)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: Presentati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities,<br />
without prior c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite<br />
nati<strong>on</strong>al body, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a proposed reform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 19 laws<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s, which<br />
affects employers’ interests and empowers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic to appoint employer<br />
sector representatives <strong>on</strong> joint and tripartite<br />
management boards<br />
300. The complaint was presented in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 21 August 2012 from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Private Enterprises (ANEP).<br />
301. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 26 February 2013.<br />
302. El Salvador has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to<br />
Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
303. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 21 August 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ANEP alleges that, <strong>on</strong> 16 August 2012,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic introduced a proposal to reform 19 organic laws <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial<br />
aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s, without c<strong>on</strong>sulting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ and workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reform would modify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> former’s participati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> said instituti<strong>on</strong>s by<br />
empowering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President to designate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector’s representatives <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
management boards, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby violating ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87 and, specifically, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s to choose <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir representatives freely and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligati<strong>on</strong> for<br />
public authorities to abstain from any interventi<strong>on</strong> that is liable to restrict that right or<br />
impede its legal exercise.<br />
304. The ANEP states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed reform violates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> independence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employers’ and workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s and, by empowering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President to decide who<br />
should represent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector in aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s (which currently have<br />
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joint or tripartite management boards), c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference that goes against<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98.<br />
305. The ANEP alleges that this is c<strong>on</strong>trary to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles laid down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> with regard to tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> participati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employers’ and workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s in joint and tripartite bodies. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>, preventing an organizati<strong>on</strong> from taking part in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
joint and tripartite bodies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a sector or industry in which it is representative is an<br />
infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
306. The ANEP adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts has drawn attenti<strong>on</strong> to organizati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
principles for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> governance and proper administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social security instituti<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
whereby <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process is supervised by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public authorities and administered jointly by<br />
employers and workers, whose c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s account for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bulk <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social security<br />
system’s revenue. A reform such as that proposed, under which it would be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President<br />
who appoints <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ representatives in instituti<strong>on</strong>s as important as social security,<br />
is c<strong>on</strong>trary to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>al principles for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir proper administrati<strong>on</strong> laid down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ILO in defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers and employers who c<strong>on</strong>tribute to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> system.<br />
307. The ANEP emphasizes that El Salvador has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO’s Tripartite C<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong><br />
(Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour Standards) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1976 (No. 144), which requires States<br />
Members to hold nati<strong>on</strong>al tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> any proposed reform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law. The<br />
statutes/rules <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Salvador’s Higher Labour Council, which is a tripartite body, stipulate<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council must be c<strong>on</strong>sulted <strong>on</strong> any proposed new law prior to its introducti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
However, no formal or informal tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council has been held <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed reform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 19 laws, and this<br />
violates both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> letter and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spirit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 144, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law<br />
establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Higher Labour Council as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> designated c<strong>on</strong>sultative body.<br />
308. The ANEP adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed reform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 19 laws <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
so as to restrict <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> free exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector’s right to appoint its<br />
representatives <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management boards <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such instituti<strong>on</strong>s as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Security<br />
Institute (ISSS) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Housing Fund (FSV), undermines <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sector’s<br />
representative capacity. The ANEP recalls that, under article 19, paragraph 5(d), <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ILO C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, a State Member that ratifies a C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> commits itself to take such<br />
acti<strong>on</strong> as may be necessary to make its provisi<strong>on</strong>s effective, that is to say <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State is under<br />
an obligati<strong>on</strong> not just to include <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s domestic legislati<strong>on</strong> but<br />
also to ensure its implementati<strong>on</strong> in practice.<br />
309. The applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87, 98, 142 and 144 entails <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> any proposal to reform <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Security Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social<br />
Housing Fund Act, etc., and it is thus a fundamental resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State to c<strong>on</strong>sult<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sectors c<strong>on</strong>cerned before introducing any such reform.<br />
310. The ANEP states that its complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State and Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Salvador is<br />
presented <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are violating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87,<br />
98, 142 and 144 and infringing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>’s right to appoint its representatives freely<br />
in 19 aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s (notably <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ISSS, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FSV, etc.), and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
authorities are guilty <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference in that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are promoting legislative reforms<br />
that violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> independence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir activities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle whereby <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State is required to hold tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
before introducing legislative reforms and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> equity in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
tripartite bodies.<br />
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311. Am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reforms it challenges, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ANEP includes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Institute for<br />
Vocati<strong>on</strong>al Training (NIVT), which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> has already<br />
examined at its March 2013 meeting [see 367th <strong>Report</strong>, Case No. 2930].<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
312. In its resp<strong>on</strong>se to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ANEP’s complaint, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated<br />
26 February 2013 that <strong>on</strong> 16 August 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic, through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Welfare, sent three communicati<strong>on</strong>s calling <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Legislative Assembly to introduce three draft legislative decrees revising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Vocati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Training Act (examined by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> in a previous case),<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Security Act and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Housing Fund Act.<br />
313. The Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al basis and grounds for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed<br />
legislative decrees can be found in article 133.2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Salvador, which<br />
empowers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic to introduce legislati<strong>on</strong> through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> government<br />
ministries, and in article 168.15 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, which c<strong>on</strong>fers <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibility and obligati<strong>on</strong> to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> efficient management and c<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
affairs. The proposed legislative reforms are designed to establish a legal mandate for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
public administrati<strong>on</strong> to select <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most competent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> private sector by<br />
broadening and diversifying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appointees so as to enhance <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
participati<strong>on</strong> and representati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector in <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ISSS and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FSV, in full compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President’s c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
powers and duties.<br />
314. The Government notes that, far from reducing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector’s participati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
said instituti<strong>on</strong>s’ management boards, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed reforms are designed to broaden,<br />
democratize and enhance <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representativity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various branches <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> private enterprise<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s. The instituti<strong>on</strong>s will c<strong>on</strong>tinue to be aut<strong>on</strong>omous, that is<br />
to say <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y will retain <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir juridical pers<strong>on</strong>ality, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own assets and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir technical,<br />
administrative and financial independence, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Acts under<br />
which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were created, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y will be subject to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority, management and<br />
guidance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> central administrati<strong>on</strong> so as to be able to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> community rapidly,<br />
appropriately and efficiently with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public services called for under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir respective<br />
mandates.<br />
315. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ANEP’s allegati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed reforms violate ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Nos 87, 98, 142 and 144 by undermining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ANEP’s right to appoint its representatives<br />
freely <strong>on</strong> 19 aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s (notably <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ISSS and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FSV), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s claims have no basis in fact and are irrelevant, inasmuch<br />
as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposals are made in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legitimate exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President’s attributi<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities under article 168.15 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are defined as<br />
including “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> efficient management and c<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public affairs”.<br />
316. The Government c<strong>on</strong>cludes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al labour standards ratified by El Salvador<br />
have not been violated and, in so far as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s have in its opini<strong>on</strong> no<br />
basis in fact, requests that Case No. 2980 be dismissed.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
317. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present complaint <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ANEP alleges that, without<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sulting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Higher Labour Council (nati<strong>on</strong>al tripartite body), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Republic presented <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Assembly with a proposal to reform 19 basic laws <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s in areas that affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ sector<br />
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(notably <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ISSS, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FSV, etc.) and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed reforms would empower <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
President to appoint <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ and workers’ representatives <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instituti<strong>on</strong>s’<br />
management boards. The ANEP states that this is an infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s to elect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir representatives freely, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
n<strong>on</strong>-interference by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir activities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
independence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong><br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> equity in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bipartite and tripartite bodies, in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87, 98, 142 and 144 ratified by El Salvador.<br />
318. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement in its reply that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
President’s right to propose legislati<strong>on</strong> is recognized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, as is its<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibility and obligati<strong>on</strong> to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> efficient management and c<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
affairs (article 168.15 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore c<strong>on</strong>siders that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President’s acti<strong>on</strong> falls within his legitimate powers and that ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87,<br />
98, 142 and 144 have not been violated; (2) in order to fulfil <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> said obligati<strong>on</strong> effectively,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President’s proposed reforms are designed to enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong> to<br />
select <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most competent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> private sector by broadening and diversifying<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> appointees so as to enhance <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> participati<strong>on</strong> and representati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employer sector in <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s; and (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed<br />
reforms is to broaden, democratize and enhance <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representativity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various<br />
branches <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> private enterprise in <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
319. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cludes from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s reply that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed reform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
19 laws <strong>on</strong> aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ISSS, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FSV and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIVT) which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Executive<br />
presented to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Assembly were not submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Higher Labour Council so<br />
that it could hold <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prior c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law establishing this tripartite<br />
body; and (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government recognizes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed reform enables <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
administrati<strong>on</strong> to appoint <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> private sector, which it justifies by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reform’s objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enhancing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representativity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various branches <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> private<br />
enterprise in <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> can<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly c<strong>on</strong>clude that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative proposals in questi<strong>on</strong> are in grave c<strong>on</strong>flict with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> aut<strong>on</strong>omy, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-interference by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> activities<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ and workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those organizati<strong>on</strong>s to elect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
representatives freely and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> prior tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> in matters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
legislati<strong>on</strong>, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore c<strong>on</strong>stitute a direct and serious violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87, 98, and 144. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deplores this situati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
320. Given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> circumstances, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle<br />
that tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> should take place before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government submits a draft to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Legislative Assembly or establishes a labour, social or ec<strong>on</strong>omic policy and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
importance that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> introducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft legislati<strong>on</strong> affecting collective bargaining or<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment should be preceded by full and detailed c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
appropriate organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers and employers [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006,<br />
paras 1070 and 1075]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has emphasized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance that should be<br />
attached to full and frank c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s taking place <strong>on</strong> any questi<strong>on</strong>s or proposed<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> affecting trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights [see Digest, op. cit., para. 1074], and recalls that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> legislati<strong>on</strong> helps to give laws, programmes and measures<br />
adopted or applied by public authorities a firmer justificati<strong>on</strong> and to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are<br />
well respected and successfully applied; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government should seek general c<strong>on</strong>sensus as<br />
much as possible, given that employers’ and workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s should be able to<br />
share in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> securing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> well-being and prosperity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> community as a<br />
whole, this being particularly important in light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> growing complexity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems<br />
faced by societies and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that no public authority can claim to have all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> answers<br />
or assume that its proposals will naturally achieve all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir objectives [see Digest,<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
op. cit., para. 1076]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> calls up<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to abide by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
principles fully in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future.<br />
321. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> tripartite bodies are appointed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m<br />
freely, and that in-depth c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s are urgently held with those organizati<strong>on</strong>s within<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Higher Labour Council, so that mutual agreement can be reached <strong>on</strong> ensuring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
balanced tripartite compositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management boards <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
referred to in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint (notably <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ISSS, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FSV and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIVT), and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> shared<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> so reached is submitted without delay to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Assembly in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative reform previously proposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
322. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles set<br />
out in its c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s with respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> free appointment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’<br />
representatives and to tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>, and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
to respect those principles fully in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government urgently c<strong>on</strong>duct in-depth<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Higher Labour Council so that mutual agreement can be reached <strong>on</strong><br />
ensuring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> balanced tripartite compositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management boards <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aut<strong>on</strong>omous instituti<strong>on</strong>s referred to in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint (notably <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ISSS,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FSV and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIVT), and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> shared decisi<strong>on</strong> so reached be<br />
submitted without delay to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Assembly in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its<br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative reform previously proposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government.<br />
(c) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
developments in this regard.<br />
CASE NO. 2918<br />
DEFINITIVE REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spain<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Citizens’ Service Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Commissi<strong>on</strong>s (FSC-CCOO)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: A royal decree-law that suspends a<br />
collective agreement relating to an increase in<br />
remunerati<strong>on</strong>s throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
administrati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
82 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
323. The complaint is set out in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Citizens’ Service Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Commissi<strong>on</strong>s (FSC-CCOO) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 17 November<br />
2011.<br />
324. The Government sent its reply in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 24 April 2012.<br />
325. Spain has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
1949 (No. 98), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Relati<strong>on</strong>s (Public Service) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1978 (No. 151), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1981 (No. 154).<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
326. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 17 November 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FSC-CCOO declares that it is filing a<br />
complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spain for violating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to collective bargaining<br />
and freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, and in particular for violating ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87, 98,<br />
151 and 154.<br />
327. The FSC-CCOO explains that <strong>on</strong> 25 September 2009, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Agreement for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Sector was signed. Agreed <strong>on</strong>, am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r measures, were a<br />
wage increase <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 0.3 per cent for 2010 and a wage revisi<strong>on</strong> clause applicable in 2012,<br />
which aimed to maintain <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purchasing power <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>nel working in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
administrati<strong>on</strong>s during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement’s validity period, as follows:<br />
5. Remunerati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>nel working in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
45. Remunerati<strong>on</strong> measures c<strong>on</strong>form to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> maintaining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purchasing<br />
power <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>nel working in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong>s during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> validity period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this<br />
agreement. To this end, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following will be taken into account: budgetary development in<br />
line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> increase in CPI, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic growth forecast, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> financing capacities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
General State Budget and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> calculated increased productivity in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public service based <strong>on</strong><br />
measures or specific programs.<br />
46. For 2010 it is agreed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re will be a 0.3 per cent wage increase in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> overall<br />
wage sum.<br />
47. To fulfil <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se objectives, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s have agreed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following clause <strong>on</strong> wage revisi<strong>on</strong>: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrati<strong>on</strong> commits to take appropriate measures<br />
to incorporate, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2012 budget, loans needed to compensate for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possible loss <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
purchasing power <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public employees during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> validity period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this agreement.<br />
As <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 January 2012, and within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first trimester <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that year, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amount<br />
corresp<strong>on</strong>ding to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deviati<strong>on</strong> which, where applicable, will have resulted between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
increase provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General State Budget for budgetary years 2010 and<br />
2011, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> actual inflati<strong>on</strong> for those years will be incorporated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage sum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2012.<br />
As <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 January 2013, and within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first trimester <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that year, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amount<br />
corresp<strong>on</strong>ding to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deviati<strong>on</strong> which, where applicable, will have resulted between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
increase provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General State Budget for 2012, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> actual inflati<strong>on</strong><br />
for that year will also be added to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage sum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2013.<br />
48. Besides <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> increases indicated above, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fulfilment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic agreements<br />
established and applicable for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period 2010-2012 is guaranteed. Therefore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> increases in<br />
remunerati<strong>on</strong> stated above will be applied irrespective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> improvements<br />
stipulated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pacts or agreements previously signed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> different public administrati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence, including those aimed at incorporating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total specific<br />
allowance in special payments.<br />
328. Law No. 26/2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 December, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general state budget for 2010, in Chapter I <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Title III, laid <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> foundati<strong>on</strong> and coordinati<strong>on</strong> for general ec<strong>on</strong>omic planning relating to<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
expenditure <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public service, giving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement cited above effect to c<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
agreed <strong>on</strong> salary increase. Paragraph 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> secti<strong>on</strong> 22 stipulates that, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 January 2010,<br />
public servants’ remunerati<strong>on</strong> shall not undergo an overall increase greater than 0.3 per<br />
cent with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> rate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009, which, c<strong>on</strong>versely, allows for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a wage increase <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 0.3 per cent, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following terms:<br />
On <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> increased expenditure <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public service<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 22. Basis and coordinati<strong>on</strong> for general ec<strong>on</strong>omic planning relating to<br />
expenditure <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public service.<br />
[…]<br />
Two. As <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 January 2010, public servants’ remunerati<strong>on</strong>, including, where relevant,<br />
that which according to special payments comes under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 21, paragraph 3, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Law 42/2006, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 29 December, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General State Budget for 2007, as provided for in<br />
paragraph 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 22 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law No. 2/2008, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 December, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General State Budget for<br />
2009, shall not undergo an overall increase greater than 0.3 per cent with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009, in terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uniformity for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> two periods under comparis<strong>on</strong>, as regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>nel and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir age.<br />
These remunerati<strong>on</strong> increases shall be applied irrespective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong><br />
improvements stipulated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pacts or agreements previously signed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> different public<br />
administrati<strong>on</strong>s according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence.<br />
Three. Besides <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general remunerati<strong>on</strong> increase provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preceding<br />
paragraph, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrati<strong>on</strong>s, entities and companies referred to in paragraph 1 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this<br />
secti<strong>on</strong> may allot up to 0.3 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage sum to finance employment pensi<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s or collective insurance c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s which c<strong>on</strong>sist <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> retirement cover for<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>nel included in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir respective areas, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d final provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>solidated Text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> Pensi<strong>on</strong> Plans and Funds.<br />
329. The FSC-CCOO adds that <strong>on</strong> 20 May 2010 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Service<br />
called <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s to a meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Negotiating Table <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Administrati<strong>on</strong>s with no fixed negotiating agenda, aiming to explain how a 5 per cent cut<br />
in public servants’ wages would be carried out, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y assured, would be approved in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers to be held that same day. Far from holding “real” negotiati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Administrati<strong>on</strong> at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting was not even capable <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> explaining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> what was<br />
going to be approved a few hours later, directing trade uni<strong>on</strong> representatives to listen to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
radio from 6 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last press c<strong>on</strong>ference would be transmitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers taking place that same evening, so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y could find out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> details<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> restricti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> public servants’ wages, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y had announced would be<br />
implemented.<br />
330. In this case, negotiati<strong>on</strong>s did not take place, nor was any specific informati<strong>on</strong> given <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir measures and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir scope, adopting a fait accompli policy. The measures in questi<strong>on</strong><br />
were adopted unilaterally.<br />
331. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previously cited Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 May 2010, a royal decree-law was<br />
adopted, c<strong>on</strong>taining an “Extraordinary measures plan to reduce public spending by ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
15,000 milli<strong>on</strong> within two years”, which was outlined by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last press<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ference as:<br />
The royal decree-law approved today will enable us to close 2011 with a 6 per cent<br />
deficit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GDP for all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong>s as opposed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 7.5 per cent deficit<br />
previously envisaged.<br />
The approved measures seek to distribute <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effort equally between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whole <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> society<br />
and involve all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The plan will reduce public spending by an additi<strong>on</strong>al 5,250 milli<strong>on</strong> euros this year and<br />
by ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r 10,000 milli<strong>on</strong> euros in 2011.<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
The Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minsters has approved a royal decree-law and three agreements that<br />
draw up urgent measures for reducing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public deficit. They c<strong>on</strong>sist <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a set <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> initiatives<br />
drawn up in different areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrati<strong>on</strong>, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> primary objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> accelerating<br />
fiscal c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong> provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Stability and Growth Program, which will allow <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
financial year <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2011 to be closed with a public deficit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 6 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GDP, as opposed to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 7.5 per cent initially envisaged.<br />
This special adjustment plan highlights Spain’s c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> stability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> joint<br />
currency and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> coordinated resp<strong>on</strong>se which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> member countries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> M<strong>on</strong>etary Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
have decided to bring to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> turbulence that has affected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Euro ec<strong>on</strong>omies in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last few<br />
weeks, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y have advised to accelerate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fiscal c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong> plans envisaged by a<br />
large number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> countries in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area.<br />
Likewise, it forms part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s str<strong>on</strong>g commitment to sustain <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
finances, which was already established in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State Budget <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2010 with a current expenditure<br />
cut equalling 0.8 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GDP. This commitment was fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r deepened with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Updated<br />
Stability and Growth Program which was sent to Brussels last January, stating clearly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reducing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spanish public deficit by 3 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GDP in 2013.<br />
The document cited above detailed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instruments with which this objective would be<br />
met: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Immediate Acti<strong>on</strong> Plan 2010, entailing a reducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5,000 milli<strong>on</strong> euros by adopting<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-availability agreements in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State budget expenditure for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current financial year; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Framework Agreements with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Aut<strong>on</strong>omous Communities and Local Corporati<strong>on</strong>s to<br />
involve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> territorial entities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fiscal c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong> plan; and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2011-2013 Austerity<br />
Plan which puts forward far-reaching cuts to public spending to save up to 2.6 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
GDP. It also outlined a deficit reducti<strong>on</strong> path for each <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong>s according<br />
to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> overall public deficit would decrease as follows: 11.2 per cent in 2009; 9.8 per<br />
cent in 2010; 7.5 per cent in 2011; 5.3 per cent in 2012; and 3 per cent in 2013.<br />
The measures approved today modify this pattern <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decrease, by c<strong>on</strong>centrating almost<br />
two thirds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adjustment between 2010 and 2011 and leaving just <strong>on</strong>e third <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total<br />
c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> final two years <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> program, so that now <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deficit would stand at<br />
9.3 per cent in 2010; 6 per cent in 2011; 4.4 per cent in 2012; and 3 per cent in 2013. To<br />
achieve this, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has approved, in this royal decree-law and in <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
agreements, a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> adjustment measures in different areas. It is also presenting new<br />
framework agreements to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aut<strong>on</strong>omous communities and local corporati<strong>on</strong>s so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
territorial entities also cooperate in this new, more ambitious, fiscal c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong> objective.<br />
Measures included in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> royal decree-law<br />
The royal decree-law specifies <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adjustment measures to be adopted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next few<br />
weeks to achieve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong>al reducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1.6 points <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> GDP <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public deficit in<br />
2011. The predicted savings for public expenditure equal an additi<strong>on</strong>al 5,250 milli<strong>on</strong> in 2010<br />
and ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r 10,000 milli<strong>on</strong> in 2011.<br />
A reducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 per cent in public wages<br />
The royal decree-law establishes an average reducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 per cent per annum in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
wages <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants. This will be applied progressively to minimise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
lowest wages. The scale will oscillate between 0.56 per cent and 7 per cent according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
income level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al group, will affect all pers<strong>on</strong>nel in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and will be applied equally to basic and complementary remunerati<strong>on</strong>. The senior <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials<br />
will have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir wages reduced by between 8 per cent and 15 per cent. This reducti<strong>on</strong> will come<br />
into force <strong>on</strong> payrolls from June, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages will remain frozen for 2011.<br />
The savings that this measure should generate for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General State Administrati<strong>on</strong> are<br />
quantified as 535 milli<strong>on</strong> euros in 2010 and 1,035 milli<strong>on</strong> in 2011. For <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> territorial<br />
administrati<strong>on</strong>s it should result in savings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1,765 milli<strong>on</strong> this year and 3,465 milli<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next<br />
year.<br />
[…]<br />
There are three key factors that will c<strong>on</strong>tribute to this adjustment <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expenditure<br />
side: withdrawing transiti<strong>on</strong>al measures, spending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum possible <strong>on</strong> unemployment<br />
benefits due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need for progressive ec<strong>on</strong>omic recovery and finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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Government is going to apply in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next three financial years, which are as follows: freezing<br />
public servants’ remunerati<strong>on</strong>s for 2011 following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 per cent reducti<strong>on</strong> foreseen for 2010.<br />
332. Thereby, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> points out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> result reached through collective<br />
bargaining <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector was completely eliminated, rendering invalid <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> binding<br />
commitments reached between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties.<br />
333. The complaint organizati<strong>on</strong> notes that Royal Decree-Law No. 8/2012 c<strong>on</strong>tains <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following:<br />
Thus in compliance with article 36, secti<strong>on</strong> 2, paragraph two and article 38, paragraph 10<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Basic Statute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employees, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Negotiating Table <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Administrati<strong>on</strong>s met <strong>on</strong> 20 May <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this year to inform <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s about both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 25 September in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms set forth, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures and<br />
criteria laid out by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law in this area.<br />
334. The Royal Decree-Law which adopts extraordinary measures to reduce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public deficit<br />
was validated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>gress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputies <strong>on</strong> 27 May 2010, in which article 1 modifies<br />
Law No. 26/2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 December, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general state budget for 2010, which in its new<br />
draft (and which remains to be seen <strong>on</strong>ce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> budget year has advanced) establishes a 5 per<br />
cent reducti<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage sum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants, which includes all remunerati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
relating to wages and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r areas, as well as social expenditure. The Preamble states:<br />
It is necessary to refer to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Agreement for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
sector in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2010-2012, singed <strong>on</strong> 25 September 2009, in<br />
which is adopted, inter alia, a salary increase <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 0.3 per cent for 2010 and a wage revisi<strong>on</strong><br />
clause to comply with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> maintaining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purchasing power <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants<br />
during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement’s validity period, taking into account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> budgetary development in line<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CPI, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic growth forecast, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> financing capacities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General State<br />
Budget and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> calculated increased productivity in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public service based <strong>on</strong> measures or<br />
specific programs.<br />
Ec<strong>on</strong>omic measures in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above Agreement are directly affected by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic crisis<br />
referred to above, rendering it impossible to uphold <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> measures agreed up<strong>on</strong>,<br />
and urgent acti<strong>on</strong> to reduce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public deficit is called for.<br />
In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers has agreed, through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law,<br />
under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 38, secti<strong>on</strong> 10 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law No. 7/2007, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 April, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Basic<br />
Statute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Employees, to partially suspend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> clauses referring to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
agreement <strong>on</strong> remunerati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Additi<strong>on</strong>ally, complying with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 36, secti<strong>on</strong> 2, paragraph two and<br />
article 38, secti<strong>on</strong> 10 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Basic Statute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Employees, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General<br />
Negotiating Table <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Administrati<strong>on</strong> met <strong>on</strong> 20 May <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this year to inform <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s Agreement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
25 September in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms set forth, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures and criteria laid out by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal<br />
Decree-Law in this area.<br />
335. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d additi<strong>on</strong>al provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law<br />
No. 8/2010, seeks to protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> infringement <strong>on</strong> public servant’s remunerati<strong>on</strong>, and<br />
completely ignores <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage rights c<strong>on</strong>tained in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements and accords in<br />
force; it suspends <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Agreement for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Sector, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
25 September 2009, which adopted, am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r measures, a wage increase <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 0.3 per cent<br />
for 2010 and a wage revisi<strong>on</strong> clause for 2012, aimed at maintaining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purchasing power<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement’s validity period, as follows:<br />
Sec<strong>on</strong>d additi<strong>on</strong>al provisi<strong>on</strong>. Suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Agreement for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2010-2012 social dialogue. It has<br />
been agreed that from 1 June 2010 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> partial suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Agreement for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2010-2012 social dialogue signed<br />
86 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
<strong>on</strong> 25 September 2009, shall come into effect, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary timeframe for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> correct<br />
applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law, and specifically, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic measures.<br />
336. Never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, as can be seen, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unilateral modificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s is not<br />
c<strong>on</strong>fined, as can be seen, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Agreement cited above, since this would have led to a wage freeze for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous year,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> moment <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage rise for 2010 c<strong>on</strong>sisting in a maximum 0.3 per cent rise, ceased to<br />
apply; fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, it also entails an average 5 per cent reducti<strong>on</strong> in wages and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r types<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> for both civil servants and public employees. These wage reducti<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
imposed unilaterally by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, by a royal decree-law, were applied to all public<br />
servants’ payrolls from June 2010.<br />
337. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> points out that prior to resorting to legal procedures, it called<br />
for a 24-hour strike <strong>on</strong> 8 June 2010, which c<strong>on</strong>cerned all civil servants and public<br />
employees, aiming to achieve compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreements made between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, and in particular, strict compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and<br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Agreement 2010–12 for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Sector, signed 25 September 2009, as well<br />
as compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> clauses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreements and accords reached both in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
different public administrati<strong>on</strong>s, and also in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage clauses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreements and<br />
accords <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public entities and companies which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government simply repealed with no<br />
fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r follow-up.<br />
338. The collective agreements or accords were already in force for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se employees when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
events that sparked this complaint took place; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir [<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements] precepts <strong>on</strong><br />
remunerati<strong>on</strong> in no way allow for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a reducti<strong>on</strong>, and much less so if such<br />
practises are imposed unilaterally by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrati<strong>on</strong>. The restrictive measures adopted<br />
regarding remunerati<strong>on</strong>s apply to both civil servants and public employees in different<br />
public sector instituti<strong>on</strong>s and companies (in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter case governed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> private sector<br />
workers’ regulati<strong>on</strong>s). The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> maintains that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se measures<br />
infringe <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> in force.<br />
339. The FSC-CCOO points out that its legal services filed many cases with separate judicial<br />
bodies. The first claims brought before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Court, all<br />
resulted in orders which urged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>ality to be examined, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court issued a decree <strong>on</strong> 7 June, published in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Official State Bulletin<br />
(BOE) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 4 July, which refused to c<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unc<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>ality raised by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Social Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Court without assessing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> core <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case lodged,<br />
asserting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law “nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r regulates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general regime <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to<br />
collective bargaining nor does <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inviolability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement figure as <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
its fundamental elements.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
340. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 24 April 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government denies that Royal Decree-Law<br />
No. 8/2010 which adopts extraordinary measures to reduce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public deficit violates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
standards set out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spain or ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87, 98, 151 and 154.<br />
It also states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Agreement for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Sector within<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2010–12 social dialogue, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 25 September 2009 (BOE 26/10), is not a<br />
c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al collective agreement, regulated by part III <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Statute, but ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
an agreement within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social bilateral dialogue between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
and trade uni<strong>on</strong>s which does not set out working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, but as a political agreement,<br />
sets out a specific line for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expenditure policy <strong>on</strong> pers<strong>on</strong>nel and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r areas such as<br />
training etc. Indeed, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement which is made up <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 50 points grouped in<br />
six paragraphs does not <strong>on</strong>ly focus <strong>on</strong> compensati<strong>on</strong> but is much broader in scope. It also<br />
covers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following: encouraging <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> good management, quality and efficiency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
public services; improving working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, enhancing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>alism and<br />
productivity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants; rati<strong>on</strong>alizing public employment, reducing instability and<br />
modernizing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrati<strong>on</strong>; streng<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ning trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights and supporting channels<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining; and in additi<strong>on</strong>, it regulates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> corresp<strong>on</strong>ding Follow-up<br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interpretati<strong>on</strong> and Evaluati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Agreement. From <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
that referring to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants has elicited complaints from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
CCOO regarding Royal Decree-Law No. 8/2010.<br />
341. The Government points out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding was c<strong>on</strong>cluded in a<br />
c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic crisis, as is clearly stated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> text itself, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> positi<strong>on</strong><br />
regarding remunerati<strong>on</strong> is also clear: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle, not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objective, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
remunerati<strong>on</strong> measures comply with, is to maintain purchasing power by taking into<br />
account budgetary development in line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> growth <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>sumer Price Index<br />
(CPI), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic growth forecast, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> financing capacities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general state budget<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> calculated increased productivity in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public service based <strong>on</strong> measures or<br />
specific programs, and also agreed <strong>on</strong> is a small rise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 0.3 per cent in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nominative wage<br />
sum. The agreement was made under circumstances <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic difficulty and Royal<br />
Decree-Law No. 8/2010 was passed under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se same circumstances. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, with<br />
regard to Royal Decree-Law No. 8/2010, it must be emphasized that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measure agreed <strong>on</strong><br />
at first, later turned out to be inadequate or insufficient to tackle <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> demands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
situati<strong>on</strong>. The Government recalls that article 169(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> empowers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State to establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general planning basis and coordinati<strong>on</strong> for ec<strong>on</strong>omic activity and<br />
highlights that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both civil servants and public employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
administrati<strong>on</strong>s weighs heavily <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Treasury. The state is empowered to direct<br />
general ec<strong>on</strong>omic activity to achieve ec<strong>on</strong>omic stability – macroec<strong>on</strong>omic objective stated<br />
in article 40(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recovery <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> budgetary equilibrium may<br />
gradually c<strong>on</strong>tribute to.<br />
342. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CCOO, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Negotiating Table <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Administrati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 May 2010, held without agenda, aimed to explain how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 per cent<br />
cut in public servants’ wages, which was to be approved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers,<br />
would be carried out. Regarding this issue, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government adjoins <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Service, due to both its participati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
proceedings and its resp<strong>on</strong>sibility for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO standards. These<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s state:<br />
Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 May 2010, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Negotiating Table <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Administrati<strong>on</strong>s, “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minutes from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting show that despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time pressure and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
urgency generated by a particularly serious ec<strong>on</strong>omic situati<strong>on</strong> in Spain and Europe, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
integral parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Negotiating Table were aware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposals that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Administrati<strong>on</strong> planned to introduce in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General State Budget Law for 2010. In this regard,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minutes record how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Service took <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> floor and<br />
emphasized that c<strong>on</strong>vening this meeting was in line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commitment adopted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
meeting held by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Negotiating Table <strong>on</strong> 12 May 2010, to, as so<strong>on</strong> as possible<br />
analyse <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government planned to apply to reduce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public deficit. In<br />
this last meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 May, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s present made clear <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir positi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed measures could affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants, and requested to<br />
call for a new meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Negotiating Table to carry out a more in-depth analysis<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir possible effects. This meeting took place 20 May. It is established, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, that each<br />
side present at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Negotiating Table <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Administrati<strong>on</strong>s held 20 May, was<br />
aware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposals made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, and that each side had <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> opportunity to propose<br />
what it thought necessary to defend its interests, being aware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> what was being sought by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r. […]; each side was able to express its positi<strong>on</strong> and was aware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> what <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r side was<br />
seeking […].<br />
343. Therefore, without prejudice to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Service, it should be noted that, following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preamble to Royal Decree-Law No. 8/2010,<br />
88 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 May aimed to inform <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se organizati<strong>on</strong>s. It was not,<br />
and does not purport to be a meeting for negotiati<strong>on</strong>s. The aim was to fulfil <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government’s commitment to accelerate, in 2010 and 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initially<br />
predicted deficit, in resp<strong>on</strong>se to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> serious deteriorati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public finances which had<br />
to be addressed as a prerequisite for stable and lasting ec<strong>on</strong>omic recovery. This was also<br />
expressed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preamble to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law.<br />
344. The C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court issued Decree No. 85/2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2 June, in which it refused to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged unc<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>ality raised in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>flict with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FNMT.<br />
And it also issued Decree No. 101/2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 July, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unc<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>ality put<br />
forward by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Court in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <strong>on</strong> State Ports and Port<br />
Authorities and Decree No. 104/2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 July; this last issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unc<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>ality was<br />
raised by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Andalusia, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>nel labour<br />
affairs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Andalusia.<br />
345. The Government points out that collective agreements resulting from collective bargaining<br />
which is c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>ally guaranteed, employ <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir binding force in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same way as norms<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal order, within a hierarchical structure in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> norm <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> superior rank is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
law, in material terms. In o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r terms, <strong>on</strong>ly if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law had not been validated<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>gress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputies, could it be c<strong>on</strong>sidered that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Agreement had suffered an unjustified attack by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Executive Power; however, it was<br />
validated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>gress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputies, which did not deem it necessary for it to be<br />
processed as a draft law.<br />
346. The Government adds that in line with article 86 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>: (1) in cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
extraordinary and urgent need, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government may issue temporary legislative provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
which shall take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree-laws and which may not affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
basic State instituti<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights, duties and liberties c<strong>on</strong>tained in part 1, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> system <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Aut<strong>on</strong>omous Communities, or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Electoral Law; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree-laws must be<br />
submitted forthwith to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>gress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputies, which must be summ<strong>on</strong>ed for this<br />
purpose if not already in sessi<strong>on</strong>. They must be debated and voted up<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir entirety<br />
within thirty days after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir promulgati<strong>on</strong>. C<strong>on</strong>gress must expressly declare itself in favour<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ratificati<strong>on</strong> or repeal within said period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time, for which purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Standing Orders<br />
shall establish a special summary procedure; (3) during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period established in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
foregoing clause, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir passage through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cortes may be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same as for Government<br />
bills, by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> emergency procedure.<br />
347. The Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative provisi<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extraordinary and urgent<br />
need, were tried by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> understanding that as far as<br />
exercising political authority (article 97 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>), which “According to<br />
Judgement No. 29/1982 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> May (RTC 1982/29) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court, in principle<br />
and with a reas<strong>on</strong>able margin <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discreti<strong>on</strong>, it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> political bodies –<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and C<strong>on</strong>gress – to determine when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong>, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
extraordinary and urgent need, calls for a decree-law to establish regulati<strong>on</strong>s. This margin<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discreti<strong>on</strong> for legislative provisi<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>ferred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> political bodies does not prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Court from c<strong>on</strong>trolling it …” (STC 111/1983, 2 December [RTC 1983, 111], FJ 5).<br />
Therefore <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government in principle has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence and can use its initiative to<br />
decide when a situati<strong>on</strong>, due to reas<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extraordinary and urgent need, requires<br />
legislative acti<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a decree-law, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se reas<strong>on</strong>s are clearly explained.<br />
348. The C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court in this case ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative provisi<strong>on</strong>s, emphasizing that<br />
“if urgent measures had not been undertaken to radically reduce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public deficit, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
speculative attacks <strong>on</strong> our ec<strong>on</strong>omy would have intensified and over €27 milli<strong>on</strong> euros,<br />
which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interest <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> debt would have cost in 2011, could have increased<br />
geometrically, making it impossible to use <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> funds saved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures referred to<br />
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above for productive acti<strong>on</strong> which, giving incentive to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> real ec<strong>on</strong>omy, would enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
very serious unemployment situati<strong>on</strong> in our country to be improved as quickly as<br />
possible”, also taking into account that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> length <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time it would have taken to process a<br />
law, even by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> emergency procedure, would have let to a “serious deteriorati<strong>on</strong> in<br />
our financial system, affected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> credibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> our ec<strong>on</strong>omy and would have probably<br />
hindered us from establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> foundati<strong>on</strong>s for sustainable recovery, since we could not<br />
be compelled to geometrically increase <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interest to serve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> debt”. The Government<br />
points out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present <strong>on</strong>e, thus, would figure as a clear decree-law used to handle<br />
“problematic ec<strong>on</strong>omic situati<strong>on</strong>s” – a legal instrument, appropriate and suited to<br />
overcoming specific situati<strong>on</strong>s which, for reas<strong>on</strong>s difficult to foresee, require immediate<br />
regulatory acti<strong>on</strong> to be carried out within a shorter timeframe than that required by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
usual route or by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> emergency proceedings for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> parliamentary laws.<br />
349. The Nati<strong>on</strong>al Court argues that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement can be modified during its validity<br />
period by ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r collective agreement, making it possible, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, for it to be<br />
suspended, modified and also suppressed during its validity through a law, which should<br />
respect its essential c<strong>on</strong>tent, and when extraordinary and urgent circumstances arise,<br />
comply with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general evaluati<strong>on</strong> test, so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fulfilment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal good or goods<br />
protected by such measures, is carried out in a way that least impinges <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right for<br />
collective bargaining as well as <strong>on</strong> its functi<strong>on</strong>al side – freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
350. The Government points out that during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> debate and vote <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> validati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal<br />
Decree-Law No. 8/2010 in C<strong>on</strong>gress, also submitted for c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> was to process it as<br />
a draft law, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposal was rejected by a majority. Effectively, processing it as a draft<br />
law and giving separate political representati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> opportunity to participate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
process would have improved <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s, in line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> normal democratic<br />
procedures <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> drafting laws, but never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> validated Royal Decree-Law has no less<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al legitimacy, nor is it, as was stated, inferior to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law.<br />
351. In any case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claim <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unc<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>ality, c<strong>on</strong>sidering<br />
it manifestly unfounded to determine, in a preliminary examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues raised, its<br />
lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> viability and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore it was advisable to resolve this claim in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first<br />
procedural phase to avoid procedural delays which would affect o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r proceedings. In<br />
Decree No. 85/2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claim is dismissed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following main reas<strong>on</strong>s relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
“infringement” <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> material limit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree-Law: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> material limit<br />
prohibits <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree-Law from regulating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disputed right, or<br />
from countering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s or essential attributes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this right; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Royal Decree-Law No. 8/2010 under questi<strong>on</strong>, “d<strong>on</strong>’t regulate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general regime <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
right to collective bargaining recognised in article 37(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, nor do <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
stipulate anything <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> binding force <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements in general, nor<br />
specifically, <strong>on</strong> those directly affected by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, which retain this binding force which is<br />
typical for this type <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> source, taken from its positi<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> system <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> sources <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law”;<br />
(3) in reference to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> binding force, it specifies that intangibility and inalterability should<br />
not be c<strong>on</strong>fused with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> binding force <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement, and reiterates that, as<br />
has already been declared in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court No. 210/1990 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
20 December, FFJJ 2 and 3 “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supposed intangibility or inalterability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreement before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal standard does not emanate or derive from article 37(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, even if it is a supervening norm” so that “by virtue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
normative hierarchy, it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement that should respect and submit not <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formal law, but more generally, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> higher-ranking norms, and not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>trary”;<br />
(4) given that it negates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law <strong>on</strong> collective bargaining, it does not<br />
examine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supposed infringement <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
352. The Nati<strong>on</strong>al Court (that pushed forward <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> questi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unc<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>ality), pr<strong>on</strong>ounces<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs, Judgement No. 115/2011 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 July, which, through extensive reference to<br />
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<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vicissitudes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Order <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court, dismisses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
demands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certain trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Court goes <strong>on</strong> to say:<br />
The doubts c<strong>on</strong>cerning c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>ality, raised by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chamber <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High<br />
Court, have been allayed. The Court c<strong>on</strong>siders <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m manifestly unfounded, and in recognizing<br />
that a statutorily valid collective agreement may be modified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reas<strong>on</strong>s previously menti<strong>on</strong>ed, we must necessarily c<strong>on</strong>clude that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reducti<strong>on</strong> in<br />
remunerati<strong>on</strong> imposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Tax Administrati<strong>on</strong> Agency (AEAT) <strong>on</strong> its employees<br />
did not infringe <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> articles 7, 28(1), 37(1) and 86(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> nor<br />
those <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 41 ET, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> AEAT is subject to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law and right to c<strong>on</strong>form with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 103(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, being obliged, as a result, to apply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reducti<strong>on</strong> imposed by articles 22(4) and 25 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law No. 26/2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 December for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
General State Budget <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2010, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms stated by article 1 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law 8/2010 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
20 May.<br />
[…]<br />
We also maintain that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been no expropriati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any kind since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
remunerati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants cannot exceed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage sum established annually by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
General State Budget Law, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 21(2) EBEP. This is<br />
precisely <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case here, since Royal Decree-Law No. 8/2010 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 May, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
urgent and extraordinary need, reduced <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage sum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants, it being c<strong>on</strong>sidered<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vehicle used does not affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> essential c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> in its functi<strong>on</strong>al approach to collective bargaining, which this<br />
Chamber respects under its own terms, in line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mandate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 5(1) LOPJ.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>sequently, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decrease in remunerati<strong>on</strong> imposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> AEAT was caused by its<br />
obligati<strong>on</strong> to fulfil articles 22.4 and 25 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law No. 26/2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 December, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> versi<strong>on</strong><br />
given by Royal Decree-Law No. 8/2010 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 May, it must be c<strong>on</strong>cluded without doubt that<br />
this interventi<strong>on</strong> was lawful and did not violate articles 7, 28(1), 37(1) and 86(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, in relati<strong>on</strong> to Article 41 ET, which forces both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> primary appeal and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
subsidiary <strong>on</strong>e to be dismissed, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>troversial decrease has affected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> overall wage<br />
sum with a reducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 per cent, making it c<strong>on</strong>sequently inadmissible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage rate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
31 December 2009 to be maintained.<br />
353. In c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reiterates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> collective<br />
bargaining and working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong>s have been complied with,<br />
in short:<br />
– The limitati<strong>on</strong>s imposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law <strong>on</strong> expenditure <strong>on</strong> pers<strong>on</strong>nel are feasible and<br />
founded and are adjusted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spain and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> overall legal system, in<br />
which it is up to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State to establish a wage ceiling for public servants through an<br />
inflati<strong>on</strong>-c<strong>on</strong>tainment policy by reducing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public deficit, and, as a priority, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investments in expenditure.<br />
– The complaint c<strong>on</strong>stantly refers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s Agreement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
25 September 2009, which, as previously shown, regulated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
public servants, but was an agreement made within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue,<br />
which settled <strong>on</strong> a specific course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expenditure and pers<strong>on</strong>nel policy,<br />
and, as such, was embodied in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General State Budget Law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spain for 2010.<br />
– Notwithstanding, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> modificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General State Budget Law by Royal Decree-<br />
Law No. 8/2010, affects public workers who fall within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreements c<strong>on</strong>cluded under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> original wording <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> said General State Budget Law,<br />
and who have had <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir wages reduced.<br />
– Royal Decree No. 8/2010 was issued according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 86 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same effectiveness as a law passed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cortes<br />
Generales.<br />
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– The collective agreements are to be subject to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> corresp<strong>on</strong>ding right established by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, which is superior in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> normative hierarchy; in o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r words, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> primacy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement stems from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement’s submissi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
which make this possible.<br />
– Thus, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement may be altered by a decree-law, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> normative hierarchy.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
354. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that in this case <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> objects to Royal<br />
Decree-Law No. 8/2010, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers <strong>on</strong> 20 May 2010 (published<br />
<strong>on</strong> 24 May 2010) and validated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>gress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputies <strong>on</strong> 27 May 2010 which:<br />
(1) citing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic crisis and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need for urgent acti<strong>on</strong> to reduce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public deficit,<br />
suspends <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> clauses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Agreement for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public service<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 25 September 2009, which agree <strong>on</strong> a wage increase <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 0.3 per cent for 2010 and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tain a wage review clause applicable in 2012; this unilateral measure is part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a 5 per<br />
cent cut in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r types <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees working in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> different<br />
public administrati<strong>on</strong>s, but also in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r types <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a large<br />
part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector entities, including companies, associati<strong>on</strong>s and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r public entities<br />
whose staff work under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour standards <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> private sector; (2) all public sector<br />
employees were covered by collective agreements or accords in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> clauses <strong>on</strong><br />
remunerati<strong>on</strong> did not provide for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a decrease. It is alleged that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s were informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures described <strong>on</strong> 20 May 2010 as a mere formality, not<br />
given sufficient detail and negotiati<strong>on</strong>s would have been held without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m anyway, thus<br />
adopting a fait accompli policy.<br />
355. As for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> that Royal Decree-Law No. 8/2010<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> May 2010, which set down cuts in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r types <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those<br />
working in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector at large, was adopted<br />
unilaterally by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers after a briefing with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Public Service, which was a mere formality, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Negotiating Table (body provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
legislati<strong>on</strong>) were aware <strong>on</strong> 12 May 2010 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed changes that were going to be<br />
introduced, (to analyse as quickly as possible <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government planned<br />
to apply to reduce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public deficit), with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s stating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir positi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
issue and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n requesting a new meeting to carry out a more thorough review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
possible effects, a meeting which took place <strong>on</strong> 20 May 2010. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government highlights <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time pressure and urgency that was felt due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> particularly<br />
serious ec<strong>on</strong>omic situati<strong>on</strong> in Spain and Europe. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes, however, that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law No. 8/2010 does not refer to any c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s taking place<br />
but points out that “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Negotiating Table <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Administrati<strong>on</strong>s met <strong>on</strong><br />
20 May in order to inform <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> Agreement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 25 September in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms set forth, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures and<br />
criteria which it puts forward in this area”.<br />
356. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> versi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government are<br />
diametrically opposed; while noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government refers to ec<strong>on</strong>omic<br />
circumstances <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extraordinary gravity, which necessitated urgent acti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
regrets <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a genuine c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> process, particularly when taking into<br />
account that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed measures were applied to a significant part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector<br />
and had <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspending ec<strong>on</strong>omic clauses in collective agreements. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws attenti<strong>on</strong> to “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance it attaches to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promoti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dialogue and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> matters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> mutual interest between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public authorities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most<br />
representative occupati<strong>on</strong>al organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sector involved”, as well as “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> value <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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c<strong>on</strong>sulting organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers and workers during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preparati<strong>on</strong> and applicati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> which affects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir interests”. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> highlights <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
holding detailed c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s and making sure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties have sufficient time to<br />
prepare and express <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir points <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> view and discuss <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m in depth. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also<br />
emphasizes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> legislati<strong>on</strong> helps to give laws, programmes<br />
and measures adopted or applied by public authorities a firmer basis and helps ensure<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are well respected and successfully applied; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government should seek general<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sensus as much as possible, given that employers’ and workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s should<br />
be able to share in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> securing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> well-being and prosperity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
community as a whole [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, paras 1067 and 1072 ].<br />
357. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> highlights <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se principles with regard to c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<strong>on</strong> legislati<strong>on</strong> that affects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members.<br />
358. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to turn to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substantive allegati<strong>on</strong> made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>: that is, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r or not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law violates C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87,<br />
98, 151 y 154 ratified by Spain, by suspending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> clauses <strong>on</strong> wages and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
remunerati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Agreement <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Service <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
25 September 2009 (which established a 0.3 per cent wage increase for 2010 and a wage<br />
revisi<strong>on</strong> clause applicable in 2012) as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a 5 per cent cut in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r forms<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> different public administrati<strong>on</strong>s, and in a large part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
sector, including companies, associati<strong>on</strong>s and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r public entities (whose staff work under<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour standards <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> private sector and under agreements or collective agreements<br />
c<strong>on</strong>taining clauses <strong>on</strong> remunerati<strong>on</strong> which, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s, did not provide<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reducti<strong>on</strong>s in this area).<br />
359. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statements made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal texts<br />
and jurisprudence and judgements it refers to, as well as its asserti<strong>on</strong> that Royal Decree-<br />
Law 8/2010 does not violate C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> Nos 87, 98, 151 and 154. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes<br />
that, as transpires from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> given by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal texts<br />
and judgments it refers to (some have also been quoted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant trade uni<strong>on</strong>):<br />
(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Agreement <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public service <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 25 September<br />
2009 was made under ec<strong>on</strong>omically difficult circumstances, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same difficult<br />
circumstances under which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law, criticized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>, was passed; this being because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Agreement<br />
later turned out to be inadequate or insufficient to resp<strong>on</strong>d to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic situati<strong>on</strong>; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Royal Decree-Law sought to ensure compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s commitment to<br />
accelerate in 2010 and 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> foreseen deficit, in resp<strong>on</strong>se to a serious<br />
deteriorati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public finances which had to be corrected as a prerequisite for a stable<br />
and lasting ec<strong>on</strong>omic recovery; (2) it is up to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to assess when a situati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
due to extraordinary and urgent reas<strong>on</strong>s, requires normative acti<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
decree-law (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this law being regulated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and<br />
reproduced in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s reply); (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>gress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputies validated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal<br />
Decree-Law and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> urgent need<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree-Law to be issued; it also stated that by virtue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> normative<br />
hierarchy, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement should be submitted to not <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law but also<br />
generically to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> norms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> higher judicial rank; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Court deemed Royal Decree-<br />
Law No. 8/2010 to be within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> jurisprudence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this judicial body indicates that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspensi<strong>on</strong> or modificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a collective agreement by law is possible in<br />
circumstances <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extraordinary and urgent need, respecting its essential c<strong>on</strong>tent and<br />
resulting in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> least damage to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to collective bargaining; (4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and<br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Agreement for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public service <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 25 September 2009 within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue 2010-2012, is not a c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al collective agreement regulated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Workers’ Statute, but an agreement made within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social bilateral dialogue<br />
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between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s, which does not establish working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
but as a political agreement, sets out a specific line for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expenditure policy <strong>on</strong> pers<strong>on</strong>nel<br />
and many o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r areas (quality and rati<strong>on</strong>alizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public services, productivity,<br />
pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>alizati<strong>on</strong> etc.). With regards to this, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to point out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Agreement establish specific and detailed<br />
commitments <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong>s as emerges from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> text quoted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s (clause 47) and, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Agreement (which before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decree-law was incorporated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General State Budget Law regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> increase in<br />
remunerati<strong>on</strong>) falls within collective bargaining covered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining.<br />
360. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> urgency and need alleged by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to draw up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Royal Decree-Law, and if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> increase in remunerati<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>cluded in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements or c<strong>on</strong>tracts is justifiable, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicable texts provided by or menti<strong>on</strong>ed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government frame <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> governmental measures as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirements for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
stability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> comm<strong>on</strong> currency and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> coordinated resp<strong>on</strong>se which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Member States<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Single Currency decided to give to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> turbulence that affected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Euro ec<strong>on</strong>omies<br />
and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y advised to accelerate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> plans for fiscal c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong>, envisaged by a large<br />
number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> countries in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extraordinary adjustment plan is also part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> firm<br />
commitment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sustainability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public finances, which<br />
was already enshrined in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2010 with a cut in current<br />
expenditure equalling 0.8 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GDP and in which, what is more, headway was made<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> updated Stability and Growth Programme, which was sent to Brussels in January<br />
2012 and which stated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reducing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Spanish public deficit by 3 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
GDP in 2013 (in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> norms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> European Uni<strong>on</strong>).<br />
361. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> particularly takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arguments made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need and urgency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree-Law, set out by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
repercussi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crisis <strong>on</strong> sovereign debt and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sequences for State financing:<br />
… if urgent measures had not been undertaken to radically reduce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public deficit, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
speculative attacks <strong>on</strong> our ec<strong>on</strong>omy would have intensified and over 27 milli<strong>on</strong> euros, which<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interest <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> debt in 2011 would have cost, could have increased geometrically, making<br />
it impossible to use <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> funds, saved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above measures, for productive acti<strong>on</strong> which,<br />
providing incentive to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> real ec<strong>on</strong>omy, would enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very serious unemployment<br />
situati<strong>on</strong> in our country to be improved as quickly as possible, also taking into account that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> length <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time it would have taken to process a law, even by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> emergency<br />
procedure, would have led to a serious deteriorati<strong>on</strong> in our financial system, affected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
credibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> our ec<strong>on</strong>omy and would have probably hindered us from establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
foundati<strong>on</strong>s for sustainable recovery, since we could not be compelled to geometrically<br />
increase <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interest to serve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> debt.<br />
362. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to highlight <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complexity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case, c<strong>on</strong>nected in large part to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commitments stemming from adhesi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Single Currency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> European Uni<strong>on</strong>,<br />
moreover in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an ec<strong>on</strong>omic crisis seriously affecting a certain number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
countries. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government emphasizes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supposed infringement <strong>on</strong> collective negotiati<strong>on</strong> refer to a small nominative<br />
rise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 0.3 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage sum in circumstances <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic difficulty. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> points out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiated increase in questi<strong>on</strong> adopted and improved <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
previous wage and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree which suspended it led to a wage cut greater than 5 per<br />
cent. Collective bargaining being a fundamental right, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that, in<br />
c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic stabilizati<strong>on</strong>, priority should be given to collective bargaining as a<br />
means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> determining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants, ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than adopting<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> to restrain wages in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector [see Digest, op. cit., para. 1040]. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also recalls that, if, as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its stabilizati<strong>on</strong> policy, a government c<strong>on</strong>siders<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
that wage rates cannot be settled freely through collective bargaining, such a restricti<strong>on</strong><br />
should be imposed as an excepti<strong>on</strong>al measure and <strong>on</strong>ly to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent that is necessary,<br />
without exceeding a reas<strong>on</strong>able period, and it should be accompanied by adequate<br />
safeguards to protect workers’ living standards [see Digest, op. cit, para. 1024]. In<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>, in previous cases, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sidered that, if a government wishes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
clauses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a collective agreement to be brought into line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic policy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
country, it should attempt to persuade <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to take account voluntarily <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s, without imposing <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> renegotiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements in<br />
force [see 365th <strong>Report</strong>, Case No. 2820 (Greece), para. 995]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has<br />
highlighted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> maintaining permanent and intensive dialogue with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most<br />
representative workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s and that adequate mechanisms for<br />
dealing with excepti<strong>on</strong>al ec<strong>on</strong>omic situati<strong>on</strong>s can be developed within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
public sector collective bargaining system [see 364th <strong>Report</strong>, Case No. 2821 (Canada),<br />
para. 378].<br />
363. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to, in future, within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social<br />
dialogue, bear in mind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles referred to.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
364. In light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body<br />
to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) While noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government refers to ec<strong>on</strong>omic circumstances <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
extraordinary gravity, which necessitated urgent acti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
regrets <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a genuine c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> process with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<strong>on</strong> Royal Decree-Law No. 8/2010 despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage cuts it<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tained, and stresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
referred to in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future, c<strong>on</strong>sider, within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles set forth in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
regarding collective bargaining in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> event <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic difficulty or crisis.<br />
CASE NO. 2984<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> The former Yugoslav<br />
Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maced<strong>on</strong>ia<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Independent Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Journalists and Media Workers<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maced<strong>on</strong>ia<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant alleges acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer,<br />
including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong> leader<br />
365. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Independent Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Journalists<br />
and Media Workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maced<strong>on</strong>ia dated 2 September 2012.<br />
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366. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 9 October 2012.<br />
367. The former Yugoslav Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maced<strong>on</strong>ia has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
and Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
368. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 2 September 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Independent Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Journalists and<br />
Media Workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maced<strong>on</strong>ia alleges that its President, Ms Tamara<br />
Chausidis, who was employed for an indefinite period by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Broadcasting Company,<br />
ALSAT-M DOO, was dismissed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company, in August 2011, to prevent her from<br />
pursuing her uni<strong>on</strong> activities. In particular, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant alleges that, before her<br />
dismissal, Ms Chausidis had been active in seeking informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer in<br />
relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Bobi Hristov (at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time a uni<strong>on</strong> representative in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
company), allegedly d<strong>on</strong>e through a false resignati<strong>on</strong> agreement, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidered was an act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> (Mr Hristov filed a complaint which is<br />
still pending before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Basic Court No. 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Skopje).<br />
369. The complainant indicates that Ms Chausidis was informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> her<br />
employment <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an agreement that she states she had never seen nor signed. At<br />
her request, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State Labour Inspectorate c<strong>on</strong>ducted an inspecti<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The Inspectorate’s report states that “during this inspecti<strong>on</strong> it was established that <strong>on</strong><br />
1 August 2011 a written agreement was c<strong>on</strong>cluded for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment<br />
agreement”, pursuant to secti<strong>on</strong> 62(4) and 69(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act. The report<br />
fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r states that if Ms Chausidis believed that her signature was forged she should refer<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial instituti<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior, and that, if she believed that her rights<br />
were violated, she can address <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorized Court, pursuant to article 181 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act. The complainant adds that Ms Chausidis subsequently submitted, in August<br />
2011, an applicati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Basic Court No. 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Skopje and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case is still pending<br />
before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court.<br />
370. The complainant requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to recommend that Ms Chausidis be reinstated in<br />
her previous positi<strong>on</strong> and adequately compensated, and that adequate measures be adopted<br />
to avoid <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> repetiti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
371. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 9 October 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tains a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s protecting workers from anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
discriminati<strong>on</strong>, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> representatives by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State<br />
Labour Inspectorate, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility for employees to seek court protecti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
372. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> particular case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ms Tamara Chausidis, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that, after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State Labour Inspectorate, litigati<strong>on</strong> proceedings have been initiated<br />
and are still in progress. Should <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court reach a final decisi<strong>on</strong> finding that her<br />
employment has been unlawfully terminated, she is entitled to return to work, if she so<br />
requests, with full compensati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
373. The Government c<strong>on</strong>firms that Ms Chausidis addressed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State Labour Inspectorate in<br />
order to protect her rights. The very next day, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Inspectorate c<strong>on</strong>ducted c<strong>on</strong>trol<br />
procedures and inspecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer, and found that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment had been<br />
terminated <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a c<strong>on</strong>sent signed by both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employee and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer,<br />
which meant that this was a case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> amicable terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment (pursuant to<br />
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article 69 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act). While noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employee has c<strong>on</strong>tested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
validity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signature <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sent, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> validity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
signature cannot be determined by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State Labour Inspectorate, but <strong>on</strong>ly by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
374. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 2 September 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Independent<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Journalists and Media Workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maced<strong>on</strong>ia alleges that its<br />
President, Ms Tamara Chausidis, who was employed for an indefinite period by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Broadcasting Company, ALSAT-M DOO, was dismissed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company, in August 2011,<br />
to prevent her from pursuing her uni<strong>on</strong> activities. In particular, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant alleges<br />
that, before her dismissal, Ms Chausidis had been active in seeking informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employer in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Bobi Hristov (at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time a uni<strong>on</strong> representative<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company), allegedly d<strong>on</strong>e through a false resignati<strong>on</strong> agreement, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidered was an act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> (Mr Hristov filed a complaint which is<br />
still pending before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Basic Court No. 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Skopje).<br />
375. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant indicates that Ms Chausidis has been<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> her employment <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an agreement that she states<br />
she had never seen nor signed. Both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicate that, at<br />
Ms Chausidis’ request, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State Labour Inspectorate c<strong>on</strong>ducted an inspecti<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s which c<strong>on</strong>cluded that <strong>on</strong> 1 August 2011 a written agreement was signed for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>sensual terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> her employment, pursuant to secti<strong>on</strong> 62(4) and 69(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act. Ms Chausidis subsequently submitted, in August 2011, an<br />
applicati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Basic Court No. 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Skopje and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case is still pending before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
court.<br />
376. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r notes that, in its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 9 October 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> validity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signature <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sensual terminati<strong>on</strong><br />
agreement cannot be determined by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State Labour Inspectorate, and specifies that<br />
should <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court reach a final decisi<strong>on</strong> finding that her employment has been unlawfully<br />
terminated, Ms Chausidis is entitled to return to work, if she so requests, with full<br />
compensati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
377. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with regret that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate did not apparently address<br />
or c<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> raised by Ms Chausidis and<br />
merely limited itself to taking note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an allegedly c<strong>on</strong>sensual agreement. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
recalls in this regard that it has c<strong>on</strong>sidered that governments should take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
measures to enable labour inspectors to enter freely and without previous notice any<br />
workplace liable to inspecti<strong>on</strong>, and to carry out any examinati<strong>on</strong>, test or inquiry which<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y may c<strong>on</strong>sider necessary in order to satisfy <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal provisi<strong>on</strong>s –<br />
including those relating to anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> – are being strictly observed [see<br />
Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth<br />
(revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, para. 834]. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes with c<strong>on</strong>cern that<br />
this is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d alleged case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> false resignati<strong>on</strong> or terminati<strong>on</strong> agreement at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Broadcasting Company, ALSAT-M DOO and that both cases are still pending<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> first instance nearly two years after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employment relati<strong>on</strong>ship. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
measures to ensure that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future, labour inspectors fully inquire into allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> so as to ensure that such matters are examined rapidly and<br />
effectively, and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments in this<br />
regard.<br />
378. Moreover, recalling that, in a case in which proceedings c<strong>on</strong>cerning dismissals had<br />
already taken 14 m<strong>on</strong>ths, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authorities, in order to<br />
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avoid a denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> justice, to pr<strong>on</strong>ounce <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals without delay and emphasized<br />
that any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r undue delay in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings could in itself justify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se pers<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts [see Digest, op. cit., para. 827], <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal proceeding filed by Ms Chausidis is c<strong>on</strong>cluded<br />
without delay and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome. Pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal<br />
proceedings, and taking into account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that Ms Chausidis is a uni<strong>on</strong> leader, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure her immediate reinstatement. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore,<br />
if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> her employment is found to c<strong>on</strong>stitute an act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
discriminati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects her to receive adequate compensati<strong>on</strong> which would<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stitute a sufficiently dissuasive sancti<strong>on</strong> against anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissals.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
379. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to<br />
ensure that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future, labour inspectors fully inquire into allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> so as to ensure that such matters are examined<br />
rapidly and effectively, and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
developments in this regard.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal proceeding,<br />
filed by Ms Chausidis is c<strong>on</strong>cluded without delay and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome. Pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal proceeding, and taking<br />
into account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that Ms Chausidis is a uni<strong>on</strong> leader, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure her immediate reinstatement.<br />
Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> her employment is found to c<strong>on</strong>stitute an<br />
act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects her to receive<br />
adequate compensati<strong>on</strong> which would c<strong>on</strong>stitute a sufficiently dissuasive<br />
sancti<strong>on</strong> against anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissals.<br />
CASE NO. 2914<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Gab<strong>on</strong><br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Gab<strong>on</strong>ese Labour C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>-Force libre (CGT-FL)<br />
and supported by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> World Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s (WFTU)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
reports acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> against<br />
members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise trade uni<strong>on</strong> SYLET,<br />
in particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, and also acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employer<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
380. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 9 January 2012 from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Gab<strong>on</strong>ese<br />
Labour C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>-Force libre (CGT-FL). The World Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
(WFTU) supported <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 9 January 2012.<br />
381. The Government sent informati<strong>on</strong> in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 8 February 2013.<br />
382. Gab<strong>on</strong> has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
1949 (No. 98), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Representatives C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1971 (No. 135).<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
383. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 9 January 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGT-FL reports acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
discriminati<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an affiliated organizati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> TELECEL Employees’<br />
Free Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> (SYLET), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise trade uni<strong>on</strong> at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Atlantique Télécom Gab<strong>on</strong><br />
(MOOV-GABON) enterprise.<br />
384. The complainant describes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text which resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and led to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> submissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
particularly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> notice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike acti<strong>on</strong> given by SYLET <strong>on</strong> 19 August 2009 with a view to<br />
getting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise to negotiate with regard to a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> demands<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning improvements to workers’ living c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. The complainant also denounces<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company’s refusal to implement measures relating to matters which were referred to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour court (records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 24 March and 2 September 2010). The<br />
complainant describes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following sequence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> events:<br />
■ At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer’s request, negotiati<strong>on</strong>s resumed <strong>on</strong> 28 October 2011.<br />
■<br />
■<br />
■<br />
■<br />
■<br />
■<br />
SYLET sent written reminders to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise c<strong>on</strong>cerning implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
agreements resulting from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Notice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike acti<strong>on</strong> was given.<br />
SYLET filed a complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> first instance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Libreville.<br />
SYLET applied to a bailiff for attachment (seizure) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company’s assets at various<br />
banks.<br />
The company suspended <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SYLET executive committee.<br />
The company dismissed seven <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ten SYLET executive committee members.<br />
385. The complainant demands <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven SYLET executive committee<br />
members who it c<strong>on</strong>siders to have been wr<strong>on</strong>gfully dismissed. It also reports anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
acts by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer (surveillance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, threats against trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists,<br />
intimidati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers, use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike-breakers). The complainant also denounces <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
excessive length and ineffectiveness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour directorate’s mediati<strong>on</strong> and arbitrati<strong>on</strong><br />
procedures.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
386. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 8 February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates firstly that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> late<br />
transmissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its observati<strong>on</strong>s is due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal remedies sought by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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dispute and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> changes that have occurred, especially in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrati<strong>on</strong> resp<strong>on</strong>sible<br />
for handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter.<br />
387. The Government explains that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour dispute at MOOV-GABON (hereinafter, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
enterprise) essentially c<strong>on</strong>cerned <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following points:<br />
■<br />
■<br />
■<br />
The applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2010 administrative regulati<strong>on</strong>s, adopted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wake <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strikes,<br />
which provided for a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social benefits (pay rise, regularizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employee<br />
reclassificati<strong>on</strong>s, increase in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> housing allowance, payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company<br />
performance b<strong>on</strong>us, etc.).<br />
The applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> policy for assistance with vehicle purchase, which is based <strong>on</strong><br />
two agreements. The first agreement is c<strong>on</strong>cerned with purchase by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial vehicles which would be transferred to workers <strong>on</strong> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vehicle value after depreciati<strong>on</strong>. The sec<strong>on</strong>d agreement is c<strong>on</strong>cerned with<br />
facilitating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purchase <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> private cars through interest-free loans to workers.<br />
Implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d agreement was postp<strong>on</strong>ed until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following m<strong>on</strong>th<br />
because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unfinished negotiati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppliers.<br />
The applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certain legal and regulatory provisi<strong>on</strong>s, especially with regard to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Standing <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> for Ec<strong>on</strong>omic and Social Cooperati<strong>on</strong><br />
(CPCES).<br />
388. The Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute was brought before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate, in<br />
accordance with secti<strong>on</strong>s 357 ff. <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Code, and was referred to c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Provincial Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workforce and Employment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Estuaire province <strong>on</strong> 2 September 2010. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> agreement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employees undertook to cancel <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> notice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike acti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers agreed to refrain<br />
from any retaliati<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers who had taken part in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protests leading to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
notice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike acti<strong>on</strong>, and both parties pledged to observe <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> timetable for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> commitments laid down in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement.<br />
389. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> procrastinati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer in implementing<br />
its commitments, SYLET requested interventi<strong>on</strong> by a bailiff to enforce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> agreement. The bailiff ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise to pay 407,124,199 CFA francs<br />
(XAF) (US$812,625) to cover company performance b<strong>on</strong>uses, dirty work allowances and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vehicle purchase plan (car plan). Since payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> specified amount was not<br />
received, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bailiff ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attachment (seizure) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise’s financial assets at<br />
several banks in June 2011.<br />
390. The enterprise, c<strong>on</strong>sidering this act unjustified and inappropriate, took legal acti<strong>on</strong> to<br />
challenge <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attachment. The urgent applicati<strong>on</strong>s judge found that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong><br />
agreement approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court made no menti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a jointly agreed amount that would<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stitute an enforceable order under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law and declared <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attachment in progress to be<br />
null and void <strong>on</strong> account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this legal defect (court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> first instance, urgent applicati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
judge, Ordinance No. 149/2010-2011 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 29 July 2011).<br />
391. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise demanded explanati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employees who had instigated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attachment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bank accounts, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
procedure had been harmful to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company. Of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11 SYLET members who were<br />
questi<strong>on</strong>ed, four were ex<strong>on</strong>erated <strong>on</strong> account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>ciliatory attitude. The enterprise<br />
argued that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attachment undertaken at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SYLET had disrupted its operati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
since it had been obliged to defer tax payments and payments to suppliers and employees.<br />
The enterprise c<strong>on</strong>sidered that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SYLET <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials had overstepped <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rights and abused<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir prerogatives as trade uni<strong>on</strong> representatives, undermining industrial relati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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company’s financial interests. The enterprise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore sent a request to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour<br />
inspectorate to authorize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SYLET <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials for serious misc<strong>on</strong>duct, <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a breach <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trust that would prevent any c<strong>on</strong>tinuati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tractual<br />
relati<strong>on</strong>ship.<br />
392. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request for dismissal, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate held adversarial hearings in<br />
c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preliminary investigati<strong>on</strong> and subsequently granted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorizati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal for serious misc<strong>on</strong>duct (Decisi<strong>on</strong> No. 0538/MTEPS/SG/DGTMOE/<br />
DPTMOEE <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 October 2011). C<strong>on</strong>sequently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise notified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerned <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir dismissal <strong>on</strong> 24 November 2011.<br />
393. On <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> day following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> notificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed workers filed a<br />
hierarchical appeal with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workforce and<br />
Employment to seek reversal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate’s decisi<strong>on</strong>. On examining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
appeal, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour found that dismissal was not applicable to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
11 employees c<strong>on</strong>cerned by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measure and stated that this gave <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
differentiated treatment c<strong>on</strong>trary to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-discriminati<strong>on</strong>. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour overturned <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal granted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
labour inspectorate.<br />
394. The decisi<strong>on</strong> to overturn <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal was sent to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise in corresp<strong>on</strong>dence dated 29 December 2011. The Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour called for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven employees, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir wages<br />
and also <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> granting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefits in kind backdated to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> day <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir suspensi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, this decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour received<br />
widespread comment in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al press.<br />
395. The enterprise filed a hierarchical appeal with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Minister seeking reversal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour. However, <strong>on</strong> 16 January 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister<br />
upheld <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Directorate-General’s decisi<strong>on</strong>. In resp<strong>on</strong>se to an appeal filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
enterprise <strong>on</strong> 12 January 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> highest administrative authority ordered that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> file<br />
should be handed over to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legal Officer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Treasury for a reply within 15 days (Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State, Ordinance<br />
No. 038/PP-CE/27 February 2012).<br />
396. The Government holds <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> view that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative and judicial authorities have<br />
discharged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir role in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective labour dispute and c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights violati<strong>on</strong>s in Gab<strong>on</strong> presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant are unfounded.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
397. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case c<strong>on</strong>cerns <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> refusal by an enterprise to<br />
implement agreements resulting from a c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> procedure and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise trade uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
398. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> supplied by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant that, fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to a<br />
labour dispute, SYLET gave notice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike acti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 19 August 2009 with a view to<br />
getting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MOOV-GABON company (hereinafter, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise) to<br />
negotiate with regard to a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> demands c<strong>on</strong>cerning improvements to workers’ living<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. In September 2010, an agreement <strong>on</strong> several points was found by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> procedure. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise refused to implement <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> points <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
agreement despite reminders from SYLET. Negotiati<strong>on</strong>s resumed <strong>on</strong> 28 October 2011 at<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise. Never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, SYLET filed a complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> first instance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Libreville and applied to a bailiff for attachment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
assets <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise at various banks. In retaliati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> by SYLET, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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enterprise suspended <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SYLET executive committee and dismissed seven<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m.<br />
399. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s demand for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven SYLET<br />
executive committee members, who it c<strong>on</strong>siders to have been wr<strong>on</strong>gfully dismissed. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant denounces <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excessive length and<br />
ineffectiveness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mediati<strong>on</strong> and arbitrati<strong>on</strong> procedures <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Directorate-<br />
General.<br />
400. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s explanati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute between<br />
SYLET and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute was brought before<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate and was referred to c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>ducted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Provincial<br />
Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workforce and Employment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Estuaire province <strong>on</strong><br />
2 September 2010. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> agreement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees<br />
undertook to cancel <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> notice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike acti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers undertook to refrain from<br />
any retaliati<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers who had taken part in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protests leading to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> notice<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike acti<strong>on</strong>, and both parties pledged to observe <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> timetable for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implementati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> commitments laid down in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement. However, because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> procrastinati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employer in implementing its commitments, SYLET requested interventi<strong>on</strong> by a bailiff to<br />
enforce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> agreement. The bailiff ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise to pay<br />
407,124,199 CFA francs (US$812,625) to cover company performance b<strong>on</strong>uses, dirty<br />
work allowances and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vehicle purchase plan (car plan). Since payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> specified<br />
amount was not received, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bailiff ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attachment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise’s financial<br />
assets at several banks in June 2011.<br />
401. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise took legal acti<strong>on</strong> to<br />
challenge <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attachment and secured a nullificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attachment by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> urgent<br />
applicati<strong>on</strong>s judge. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise demanded<br />
explanati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees who had instigated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attachment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bank accounts,<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedure had been harmful to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company.<br />
402. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> indicati<strong>on</strong> that, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11 SYLET members who were questi<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise, four were ex<strong>on</strong>erated <strong>on</strong> account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>ciliatory attitude. However,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise argued that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attachment undertaken at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SYLET had<br />
disrupted its operati<strong>on</strong>s since it had been obliged to defer tax payments and payments to<br />
suppliers and employees. Holding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> view that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SYLET <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials had abused <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
prerogatives as trade uni<strong>on</strong> representatives, undermining industrial relati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
financial interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise sent a request to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate<br />
to authorize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SYLET <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials for serious misc<strong>on</strong>duct, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
a breach <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trust that would prevent any c<strong>on</strong>tinuati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tractual relati<strong>on</strong>ship. The<br />
labour inspectorate, having granted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorizati<strong>on</strong> in October 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise<br />
notified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers c<strong>on</strong>cerned <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir dismissal <strong>on</strong> 24 November 2011.<br />
403. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> notificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers c<strong>on</strong>cerned<br />
filed a hierarchical appeal with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workforce and<br />
Employment (Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour) to seek reversal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate’s<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong>. On grounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminatory treatment, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Directorate-General<br />
overturned <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal granted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> to overturn <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal sent to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
enterprise in corresp<strong>on</strong>dence dated 29 December 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
called for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven employees, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir wages and also<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> granting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefits in kind backdated to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> day <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir suspensi<strong>on</strong>. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government, this decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour received widespread<br />
comment in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al press.<br />
102 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
404. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise filed a hierarchical appeal with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour seeking reversal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour. However,<br />
<strong>on</strong> 16 January 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister upheld <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour’s decisi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Moreover, in resp<strong>on</strong>se to an appeal filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise <strong>on</strong> 12 January 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State ordered that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> file should be handed over to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legal Officer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Treasury for a reply within 15 days (Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State,<br />
Ordinance No. 038/PP-CE/27 February 2012).<br />
405. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s view that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative and judicial<br />
authorities have discharged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir role in this matter and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
rights violati<strong>on</strong>s presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant are unfounded.<br />
406. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that, for its part, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> denounces<br />
anti-uni<strong>on</strong> acts by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise (surveillance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, threats against<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists, intimidati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers, use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike-breakers). Noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government has not sent any observati<strong>on</strong>s regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se serious allegati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests it to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps, particularly through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspecti<strong>on</strong><br />
services, to investigate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir veracity and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome and any<br />
follow-up acti<strong>on</strong> taken.<br />
407. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SYLET executive committee and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m for applying to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court for attachment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> assets <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
enterprise to h<strong>on</strong>our <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commitments made in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> agreement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
recalls that <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> is that workers<br />
should enjoy adequate protecti<strong>on</strong> against all acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> in respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir employment, such as dismissal, demoti<strong>on</strong>, transfer or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r prejudicial measures.<br />
This protecti<strong>on</strong> is particularly desirable in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials because, in<br />
order to be able to perform <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> duties in full independence, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y should have<br />
a guarantee that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y will not be prejudiced <strong>on</strong> account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mandate which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y hold<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong>s. One way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ensuring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials is to<br />
provide that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials may not be dismissed, ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice or for<br />
a certain time <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reafter except, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> course, for serious misc<strong>on</strong>duct. In no case should it be<br />
possible to dismiss a trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficer merely for having presented a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute<br />
grievances; this c<strong>on</strong>stitutes an extremely serious act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong> [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
2006, paras 799, 804 and 808].<br />
408. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various legal remedies sought by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties which resulted, in<br />
particular, in a decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 16 January 2012 from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour calling for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven SYLET members, upholding a decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate-<br />
General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative and judicial<br />
authorities in this matter, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> in force, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong><br />
taken. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with regret that, more than a year after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
impositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a ministerial order <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not sent any<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> follow-up acti<strong>on</strong> taken, in particular indicating whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven<br />
SYLET members were actually reinstated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven SYLET executive committee members who were<br />
dismissed have been reinstated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise as required by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour in October 2011 and upheld by a ministerial decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
January 2012. If not, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that all possible steps will be taken to enforce<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative decisi<strong>on</strong> without delay and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers will be reinstated under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
prescribed c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. Should <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re be any compelling and objective reas<strong>on</strong>s why<br />
reinstatement proves impossible, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
necessary steps to ensure that appropriate compensati<strong>on</strong> is paid, such as to c<strong>on</strong>stitute an<br />
adequate deterrent against acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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409. With regard to observance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreements reached, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
importance which it attaches to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligati<strong>on</strong> to negotiate in good faith for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
maintenance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> harm<strong>on</strong>ious development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour relati<strong>on</strong>s. Moreover, agreements<br />
should be binding <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties [see Digest, op. cit., paras 934 and 939]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent to which effect has been given to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
agreements reached in September 2010 between SYLET and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> procedure.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
410. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) Noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not sent any observati<strong>on</strong>s regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
serious allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> acts, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests it to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
necessary steps, particularly through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspecti<strong>on</strong> services, to investigate<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir veracity and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome and any follow-up<br />
acti<strong>on</strong> taken.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven<br />
SYLET executive committee members who were dismissed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
MOOV-GABON company have been reinstated as required by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour in October 2011 and upheld by a<br />
ministerial decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> January 2012. If not, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that all<br />
possible steps will be taken to enforce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative decisi<strong>on</strong> without<br />
delay and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers will be reinstated under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prescribed<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. Should <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re be any compelling and objective reas<strong>on</strong>s why<br />
reinstatement proves impossible, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps to ensure that appropriate compensati<strong>on</strong> is paid,<br />
such as to c<strong>on</strong>stitute an adequate deterrent against acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
discriminati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
(c) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent to which<br />
effect has been given to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreements reached in September 2010 between<br />
SYLET and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> procedure.<br />
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CASE NO. 2445<br />
INTERIM REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala<br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> World C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour (WCL) and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (CGTG)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: Murders, threats and acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
violence against trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
families; anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissals and refusal by<br />
private enterprises or public instituti<strong>on</strong>s to<br />
comply with judicial reinstatement orders;<br />
harassment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists<br />
411. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its June 2012 meeting, when it presented an<br />
interim report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body [see 364th <strong>Report</strong>, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body<br />
at its 314th Sessi<strong>on</strong> (June 2012), paras 519 to 537].<br />
412. The Government sent partial observati<strong>on</strong>s in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 31 October 2012 and<br />
28 February and 5 March 2013.<br />
413. Guatemala has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. Previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
414. At its June 2012 meeting, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see<br />
364th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 537]:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that has elapsed since its last examinati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not sent observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s pending<br />
from its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case at its March 2010 and March 2011 meetings.<br />
Emphasizing that some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged events are extremely serious and occurred in 2004,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> requested in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very<br />
near future.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities to<br />
promote collective bargaining between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Carmen Estate and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not supplied <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> requested in its<br />
previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case. Taking note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
proceedings have stalled, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
steps to resolve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problem and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any measure taken to promote<br />
collective bargaining at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Carmen Estate.<br />
Lastly, with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remaining allegati<strong>on</strong>s, in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> observati<strong>on</strong>s from<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again reiterates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
– As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning death threats against members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Itinerant Vendors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antigua, including its general secretary,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent court was unable to initiate proceedings<br />
owing to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is bound to<br />
observe with regret that this situati<strong>on</strong> results in impunity for those who issued <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
death threats and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take steps to ensure that an<br />
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(d)<br />
independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s is launched without delay and to<br />
keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its results.<br />
– As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ist<br />
Mr Marcos Álvarez Tzoc, noting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling<br />
issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court against Mr Julio Enrique de Jesús Salazar<br />
Pivaral is not yet enforceable, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed with respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enforcement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> penalty imposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Judgment.<br />
– As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Julio Rolando Raquec, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s have not enabled <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators to be identified and urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to c<strong>on</strong>tinue to take steps towards this end and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
any developments in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong> in questi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
– As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to safeguard <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wife and children<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murdered trade uni<strong>on</strong>ist, Mr Julio Rolando Raquec, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to make all efforts to discover <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whereabouts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ms Lidia<br />
Mérida Coy, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> chief eyewitness to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> her partner Mr Julio Rolando<br />
Raquec. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take steps to ensure<br />
her safety and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> her children.<br />
– The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to communicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inquiries carried out by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al police and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Prosecutor-General for<br />
Human Rights into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> selective surveillance and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ft <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
laptop equipment bel<strong>on</strong>ging to Mr José E. Pinzón, Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGTG.<br />
– With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Tesoro Estate<br />
(municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Samayac), for submitting lists <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> claims during negotiati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> a<br />
collective agreement, despite a judicial reinstatement order, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> again<br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists bel<strong>on</strong>g, to request <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
competent legal authority to implement <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement order.<br />
– With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged threats against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Directorate<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil Aviati<strong>on</strong> who participated in a protest in fr<strong>on</strong>t <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> building against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>stant abuse by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrati<strong>on</strong> (according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General<br />
Directorate’s chief maintenance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficer threatened that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would be reported and<br />
subsequently dismissed, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were five minutes late back to work, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n took<br />
photographs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m) and with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> intimidati<strong>on</strong> by security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> room where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s general assembly was to<br />
be held, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and urges it to do so without delay.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> calls <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body’s attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extreme seriousness and<br />
urgent nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
415. In its communicati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 31 October 2012 and 28 February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has sent<br />
c<strong>on</strong>fidential informati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder, <strong>on</strong> 28 November 2004, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mr Julio Rolando Raquec Ishen, General Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Informal Workers. Based <strong>on</strong> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecuti<strong>on</strong> Services, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case has been shelved for lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cooperati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim’s<br />
widow, Ms Mérida Coy, an eyewitness to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder. The Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
victim’s widow had initially identified, from a photograph album, a suspect accused <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
various <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences and c<strong>on</strong>victed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a separate murder. The investigati<strong>on</strong> gave rise to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
hypo<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sis that Mr Julio Rolando Raquec Ishen had been murdered because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
extorti<strong>on</strong> suffered by his wife. It is hoped that ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r eyewitness, who also identified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
suspect, will cooperate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future. The Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial’s widow,<br />
alleging fear <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reprisals, had requested relocati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United States with her family and<br />
payments <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> US$3,000 a m<strong>on</strong>th. When presented with a much lower <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fer, in May 2012,<br />
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she again refused to cooperate with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>, stating that her refusal was final in<br />
view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that her requests had not been met.<br />
416. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 28 February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that a group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigators had been c<strong>on</strong>tracted and, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guidance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant prosecuti<strong>on</strong><br />
services, were working to speed up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violent deaths <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>ists and identify possible comm<strong>on</strong> patterns that might enable to pinpoint any state or<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r policy behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se crimes.<br />
417. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecuti<strong>on</strong><br />
Services have decided to institute a high-level round table with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s main trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> associati<strong>on</strong>s to analyse cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence against trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists. This body will meet<br />
<strong>on</strong>ce a m<strong>on</strong>th from 7 March 2013. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reiterates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecuti<strong>on</strong> Services’ request to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO for technical assistance to tackle anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
violence more effectively.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
418. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that has elapsed since its last examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not sent observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s pending from its<br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case at its March 2010, March 2011 and June 2012 meetings.<br />
Emphasizing that some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged events are extremely serious and occurred in 2004,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> requested without delay.<br />
419. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial Mr Julio Rolando Raquec, which<br />
indicates that a possible motive for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime could be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extorti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>ey suffered by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim’s widow. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s having identified<br />
a suspect, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y have not led to those resp<strong>on</strong>sible being prosecuted or punished. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgments against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guilty parties creates, in<br />
practice, a situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> impunity, which reinforces <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> climate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence and insecurity,<br />
and which is extremely damaging to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
2006, para. 52]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> underlines <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that it is essential to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fight against<br />
impunity for those who planned and carried out this murder and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> motives for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime<br />
to be identified and for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators to be prosecuted and punished by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take all necessary steps in this regard and to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any developments.<br />
420. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
Ms Mérida Coy, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wife <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Julio Raquec, indicating that, in May 2012, due to fear <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reprisals and because she had received a much lower <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> support than she had hoped<br />
for to relocate to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United States, she definitively refused to cooperate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong> into her husband’s murder. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that, regardless <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ms Mérida Coy’s participati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
appropriate steps to guarantee her safety and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> her children.<br />
421. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that it has not received new observati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning death threats against members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Itinerant<br />
Vendors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antigua, including its General Secretary. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> had noted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
court had been unable to initiate proceedings owing to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again regrets that this situati<strong>on</strong> results in impunity for<br />
those who issued <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats. In line with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commitments assumed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding signed <strong>on</strong> 26 March<br />
2013 with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> independent and expeditious judicial inquiries and<br />
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protecting trade uni<strong>on</strong> members and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials from violence and threats, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take immediate steps to establish a protecti<strong>on</strong> mechanism for<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>s who receive threats and to launch an independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s without delay. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se acti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
422. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that it has not received new observati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government with<br />
regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ist Mr Marcos<br />
Álvarez Tzoc. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed with<br />
respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enforcement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> penalty imposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Judgment and,<br />
recalling <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commitments made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government when it signed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Understanding <strong>on</strong> 26 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take immediate<br />
steps to establish a mechanism to protect Mr Marcos Álvarez Tzoc. As to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remaining<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s observati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> yet again<br />
reiterates its previous recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, as reproduced above under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> title <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case.<br />
423. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with interest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecuti<strong>on</strong> Services have decided to institute a high-level round table with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s<br />
main trade uni<strong>on</strong> associati<strong>on</strong>s to analyse cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence against trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also notes with interest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signing, <strong>on</strong> 26 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Understanding between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
Governing Body, in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government undertook, am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r things, to: institute,<br />
through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent bodies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State, independent and expeditious judicial inquiries<br />
as so<strong>on</strong> as possible to determine resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities and punish those who planned and<br />
carried out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists; and guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers through<br />
effective measures to protect trade uni<strong>on</strong> members and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials from violence and threats<br />
so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y can pursue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir uni<strong>on</strong> activities. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> firmly expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
commitments will be translated into acti<strong>on</strong>s and tangible results with respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s still pending in this case and urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to inform it <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se acti<strong>on</strong>s as so<strong>on</strong> as possible.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
424. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing interim c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that has elapsed since its last<br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not sent observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> all<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s pending from its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case at its March 2010,<br />
March 2011 and June 2012 meetings. Emphasizing that some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged<br />
events are extremely serious and occurred in 2004, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to send all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> requested without delay.<br />
(b) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial<br />
Mr Julio Raquec, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take all necessary<br />
steps to identify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instigators and perpetrators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this murder and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
motives for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime and to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guilty parties are prosecuted and<br />
punished by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any developments.<br />
(c) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Julio Raquec’s widow, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate steps to guarantee her<br />
safety and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> her children.<br />
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(d) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats against members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Itinerant Vendors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antigua, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to take immediate steps to establish a protecti<strong>on</strong> mechanism for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s who receive <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se threats and to institute an independent and<br />
expeditious judicial inquiry into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s without delay. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se acti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
(e) As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>ist Mr Marcos Álvarez Tzoc, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to keep it informed with respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enforcement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
penalty imposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Judgment and urges<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take immediate steps to establish a mechanism to protect<br />
Mr Marcos Álvarez Tzoc.<br />
(f) As to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remaining allegati<strong>on</strong>s, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
observati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> yet again reiterates its recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, which<br />
are reproduced below:<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to communicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inquiries carried out by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al police and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Prosecutor General for Human Rights into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> selective surveillance and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ft <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laptop equipment bel<strong>on</strong>ging to<br />
Mr José E. Pinzón, Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGTG;<br />
– with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Tesoro Estate<br />
(municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Samayac) for submitting lists <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> claims during<br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> a collective agreement, despite a judicial reinstatement<br />
order, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists bel<strong>on</strong>g, to request <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent legal authority to<br />
implement <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement order; and<br />
– with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged threats against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General<br />
Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil Aviati<strong>on</strong> who participated in a protest in fr<strong>on</strong>t <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
building against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>stant abuse by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrati<strong>on</strong> (according to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Directorate’s chief maintenance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficer<br />
threatened that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would be reported and subsequently dismissed, if<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were five minutes late back to work, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n took photographs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m) and with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> intimidati<strong>on</strong> by security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers against<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> room where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s general assembly was<br />
to be held, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not sent its<br />
observati<strong>on</strong>s and urges it to do so without delay.<br />
(g) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> firmly expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commitments assumed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding signed <strong>on</strong> 26 March<br />
2013 between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ILO Governing Body will be translated into acti<strong>on</strong>s and tangible results with<br />
respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s still pending in this case. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to inform it <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se acti<strong>on</strong>s as so<strong>on</strong> as possible.<br />
(h) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body’s attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extreme<br />
seriousness and urgent nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case.<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 109
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
CASE NO. 2609<br />
INTERIM REPORT<br />
Complaints against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala<br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Movement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong>s, Indigenous and Peasants<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (MSICG)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (CUSG) and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (UNSITRAGUA)<br />
supported by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> (ITUC)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainants allege numerous<br />
murders and acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence against trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> members and acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
discriminati<strong>on</strong>, as well as obstacles to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights and social<br />
dialogue, denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal status to several uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and system failures leading to impunity with<br />
regard to criminal and labour matters<br />
425. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its March 2012 meeting, when it presented an<br />
interim report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong> approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body<br />
at its 313th Sessi<strong>on</strong> (March 2012), paras 574–619].<br />
426. The Movement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong>s, Indigenous and Peasants <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (MSICG) sent additi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> and new allegati<strong>on</strong>s in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 26 September 2012 and 15, 17,<br />
18, 20 and 22 February 2013. The Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (CUSG) also<br />
sent new allegati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 11 April 2012.<br />
427. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 21 and 27 March; 24, 25,<br />
26, 27 and 30 April; 7, 16 and 22 May; 6 June; 8, 9, 21 and 27 August; 12, 27 and<br />
28 September; 15 and 30 October; 29 November; 6, 10 and 27 December 2012; 11 and<br />
15 January; 11, 14 and 25 February; 5 and 15 March; 19 April and 6 May 2013.<br />
428. Guatemala has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. Previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
429. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s at its March 2012 meeting [see<br />
363rd <strong>Report</strong>, para. 619]:<br />
(a)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expresses its deep c<strong>on</strong>cern at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> gravity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case, given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
numerous murders, attempted murders, assaults and death threats, kidnappings,<br />
harassment and intimidati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and members, and also <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> blacklisting and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> climate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> total impunity. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply<br />
regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong>ly provides a partial reply in respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
made.<br />
Previously examined allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence<br />
110 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
(d)<br />
(e)<br />
(f)<br />
(g)<br />
(h)<br />
(i)<br />
(j)<br />
(k)<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Mario Caal and Mr Jaime Nery G<strong>on</strong>zález, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant to indicate, in additi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date <strong>on</strong> which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
events occurred, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> locati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> events and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authority with which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complaint was filed.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial Mr Israel Romero Istacuy and uni<strong>on</strong><br />
members Mr Diego Gustavo Chite Pu and Mr Sergio Alejandro Ramírez Huezo, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong>ce again to send informati<strong>on</strong> without delay <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se murders.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> members Ms Olga Marina Ramírez Sansé and<br />
Mr Pedro Ant<strong>on</strong>io García. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong>ce again to c<strong>on</strong>duct<br />
independent judicial investigati<strong>on</strong>s without delay into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Víctor<br />
Alejandro Soyos Suret and Mr Luis Arnaldo Ávila, and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
outcome and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subsequent criminal proceedings.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Julián Capriel Marroquín, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong> in<br />
progress.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged death threats against SITRABI, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government <strong>on</strong>ce again to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter without delay.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial Mr Marco Tulio Ramírez Portela, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong> in progress.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disappearance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minor Ms María Ant<strong>on</strong>ia Dolores López, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r any investigati<strong>on</strong>s have been<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducted into this matter.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats against Ms Lesvia Morales and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mr Leocadio Juracán, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> to indicate<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> place where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint was filed so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government can take follow-up<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not replied, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir seriousness and regrets <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take steps to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s opened are c<strong>on</strong>cluded without delay so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators are duly<br />
punished and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide detailed informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> refers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following investigati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> injured workers from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Small Traders<br />
and Allied Workers;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong>ist following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
excessive force and c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted extrajudicial killings,<br />
death threats and injuries to uni<strong>on</strong> members;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats received by members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Health Uni<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal proceedings brought against <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zacapa; and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> observati<strong>on</strong>s in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> harassment and intimidati<strong>on</strong><br />
submitted by SITRAPETEN, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CCDA and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply deplores <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence described in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint and<br />
expresses its deep c<strong>on</strong>cern at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> large number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and members who<br />
have been murdered and draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
rights can <strong>on</strong>ly be exercised in a climate that is free <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence, pressure or threats <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
any kind against trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists, and it is for governments to ensure that this principle is<br />
respected. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again observes with deep c<strong>on</strong>cern that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
does not report <strong>on</strong> any murder suspects being detained. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to take measures as a matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> urgency to combat <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total impunity<br />
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(l)<br />
observed in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s and urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take steps to<br />
ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s opened are c<strong>on</strong>cluded without delay so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators<br />
are duly punished and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide detailed informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal proceedings instituted in this regard.<br />
Regretting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not supplied any informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following<br />
aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> several o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its previous recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, namely:<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning alleged blacklisting;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Las Américas SA and Crown Plaza Guatemala hotels;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> and recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s; and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authorities regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reinstatement orders and dismissals affecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chimaltenango, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requested informati<strong>on</strong> relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
New allegati<strong>on</strong>s relating to acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence<br />
(m) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> underlines <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extreme seriousness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
deeply deplores <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and 13 uni<strong>on</strong> members (between 2007<br />
and 2010), apart from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> numerous cases already referred to in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
present case, and reiterates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles referred to above. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to c<strong>on</strong>duct independent inquiries without delay into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and members: Julio Cesar Ixcoy García, Pedro Zamora,<br />
Rosalio Lorenzo, Armando Sánchez, Maura Ant<strong>on</strong>ieta Hernández, Pedro Ramírez de la<br />
Cruz, Julio Pop Choc, Gilmer Orlando Borror Zet, Evelinda Ramírez Reyes, Samuel<br />
Ramírez Paredes, Juan Fidel Pacheco Coc, Bruno Ernesto Figueroa, Liginio Aguirre,<br />
Salvador del Cid, Licinio Trujillo, Aníbal Ixcaquic, Norma Sente Ixcaquic, Matías<br />
Mejía, Juana Xoloja, Willy Morales, Víctor Gálvez, Jorge Humberto Andrade, Adolfo<br />
Ich, Luis Felipe Cho and Héctor García. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subsequent criminal<br />
proceedings.<br />
(n)<br />
(o)<br />
As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Miguel Angel Felipe Sagastume, founder and former<br />
Seceretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Finca El Real Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter without delay.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attack against Ms Maria de los Angeles Ruano Almeda and Ms Ingrid<br />
Migdalia Ruano <strong>on</strong> 7 November 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
provide its observati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<strong>on</strong> without delay.<br />
O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
(p)<br />
(q)<br />
(r)<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> payments by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Malacatán, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r developments.<br />
With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> climate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> impunity which is menti<strong>on</strong>ed repeatedly <strong>on</strong> account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
undue delays amounting to a denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> justice, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s in this regard without delay.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> special attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> serious and<br />
urgent nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case.<br />
B. Additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> and new allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants<br />
Additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong><br />
430. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 26 September 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG states that from 2007 to<br />
25 September 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were 73 murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> members and uni<strong>on</strong> rights’<br />
defenders. In 97 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>s were involved<br />
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in disputes over labour grievances or over issues relating to indigenous people’s rights.<br />
The MSICG indicates that most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases were duly reported to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were 269 violent incidents against<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> members and uni<strong>on</strong> rights’ defenders over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same period, including, inter<br />
alia, attempted extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, torture, rape, injuries and threats.<br />
431. The complainant indicates that it is pointless to try to end <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very serious situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> antiuni<strong>on</strong><br />
violence with social dialogue initiatives while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal investigati<strong>on</strong> bodies are<br />
still completely ineffective. The weakness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor in pursuing crimes<br />
against trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists is evident as it has <strong>on</strong>ly dealt with some cases, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se exclusively<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerned trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders. The Public Prosecutor’s Office is made up <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ly five<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials who are all in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> capital, and this unit is not capable <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> seriously investigating<br />
cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> violence. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government provided <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal procedures in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> violence is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten inc<strong>on</strong>sistent and very<br />
superficial. The complainant firmly rejects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> policy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
systematically dismissing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime was motivated by anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
sentiment even when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators and masterminds behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se murders have not<br />
been c<strong>on</strong>victed or when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been no investigati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
432. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Jaime Nery G<strong>on</strong>zález, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG indicates that it<br />
reported this murder to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2008, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case is before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Public Prosecutor’s Office in Jalapa (agency No. 1) and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guilty party has still not<br />
been identified despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that has passed. The MSICG states that it<br />
reported <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Mario Caal to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2008, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
case is being handled by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unit for crimes against trade uni<strong>on</strong> members, that criminal<br />
proceedings have not been c<strong>on</strong>ducted and that no guilty party has been identified. The<br />
complainant c<strong>on</strong>siders that in denying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala<br />
shows its anti-uni<strong>on</strong> policy.<br />
433. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Víctor Alejandro Soyos Suret, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG indicates that he<br />
was a Public Prosecutor’s Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial and a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Criminal Investigati<strong>on</strong> Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor (SITRADICMP),<br />
who was murdered in 2007; that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case is before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences against life, under file No. MP 001/2009/59368; and that those resp<strong>on</strong>sible for<br />
this crime are still unknown. The complainant provides a communicati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning this<br />
case addressed to SITRADICMP from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor dated<br />
13 September 2012, which states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office intends to claim that Mr Víctor Alejandro<br />
Soyos Suret was not a trade uni<strong>on</strong> member in order to avoid investigating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case.<br />
434. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats against Ms Lesvia Morales and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mr Leocadio Juracán, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG indicates that both cases were reported to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> district<br />
Public Prosecutor and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Human Rights Ombudsman based in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> capital. The MSICG<br />
adds that temporary protective measures have been coordinated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ombudsman until<br />
Mr Leocadio Juracán left <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country with his family.<br />
435. In communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 15 and 17 February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSCIG provides additi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> climate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour impunity resulting from a significant backlog<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour-related cases and from not reinstating workers who were victims <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
dismissals. The complainant claims that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour and social welfare courts’ practice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
suspending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed trade uni<strong>on</strong> members if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer challenges<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court order for reinstatement violates labour legislati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> jurisprudence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court, according to which reinstatement should not just be arranged within<br />
24 hours but must actually be carried out within that same period. The complainant notes<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> many workers at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tax Authority and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan League against Heart<br />
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Diseases, who were dismissed for setting up trade uni<strong>on</strong>s and who have still not been<br />
reinstated. The complainant also alleges that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Finca la Soledad Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Patulul (SITRASOLEDAD), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employer has repeatedly refused to comply with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement orders with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complicity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authorities and without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court agreeing to apply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
law against judges who delay <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> justice.<br />
436. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 20 February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSCIG provides additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning alleged obstacles standing in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s gaining recogniti<strong>on</strong> and being<br />
registered. The complainant provides a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 21 trade uni<strong>on</strong>s which have been refused<br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> in 2012 and 2013, and ten instances where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> to register trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s has led to an employer filing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir oppositi<strong>on</strong> which is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n reviewed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State<br />
for denying registrati<strong>on</strong>. The complainant adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempts to form <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
with Principles and Values <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tax Authority (SITRAPVSAT), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Dignity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tax Authority Workers (SIPROSAT) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan League against<br />
Heart Diseases Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> (SIDETRALICO) reflect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State’s anti-uni<strong>on</strong> policy<br />
which, in turn, explains <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> steady decline in uni<strong>on</strong> membership at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al and sectoral<br />
levels.<br />
New allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence<br />
437. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 11 April 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CUSG alleges that Mr Roberto Oswaldo<br />
Ramos Gómez, Secretary for Labour and Disputes at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepque and member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> advisory council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CUSG, was shot<br />
dead <strong>on</strong> 2 April 2012 while working in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> booth at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipal car park. The CUSG<br />
states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder remains unsolved. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CUSG indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque are being threatened, intimidated and dismissed in<br />
violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing collective agreement, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social<br />
Welfare has not reacted.<br />
438. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 26 September 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG alleges that Mr Manuel de Jesús<br />
Ramírez, Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Technical and Administrative Support Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Criminal Defence Institute, was murdered <strong>on</strong> 1 June 2012. He had been<br />
previously reinstated after a l<strong>on</strong>g trial following his anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissal, and was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal proceedings brought by his employer.<br />
O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
439. In communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 18 and 22 February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan Social Security Institute, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Guatemalan Social Security Institute, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Organized Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Attorney-General’s Office and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Comptroller<br />
General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Accounts for Development were harassed and criminally prosecuted.<br />
C. The Government’s reply<br />
Murders<br />
440. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 28 February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that it c<strong>on</strong>tracted a<br />
group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigators who, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> directi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant public prosecutors, worked<br />
to speed up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists and to identify any<br />
comm<strong>on</strong> patterns that would have made it possible to identify a state policy or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r type<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> policy behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se crimes. In this c<strong>on</strong>text, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government provides an analytical study<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 51 cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> deaths presented to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 51 cases analysed, 15 are assigned to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office for crimes against life, eight to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> specially created Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office for hearing cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes against trade uni<strong>on</strong> members, four to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipal Public Prosecutor’s Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque-Quetzaltenango, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest are<br />
distributed am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Public Prosecutor’s Offices across <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country. The Government<br />
maintains that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> limited number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases assigned to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office for<br />
crimes against trade uni<strong>on</strong> members is justified because, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
motive <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder is not related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims’ uni<strong>on</strong> activities. Based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
documentati<strong>on</strong> available or based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claims <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims’ families, 12 victims were<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> leaders, ten were uni<strong>on</strong> members, while in 19 cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no evidence<br />
documenting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> affiliati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims. In additi<strong>on</strong>, five people bel<strong>on</strong>ged to<br />
community organizati<strong>on</strong>s and ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r five people died during a c<strong>on</strong>flict between informal<br />
traders and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> town hall <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque about an issue related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipal market.<br />
441. As for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main hypo<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ses for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> motives behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> killings, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates<br />
that in 33 cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> motive for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deaths was related to comm<strong>on</strong> crime, three cases were<br />
clearly related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims’ uni<strong>on</strong> activity, four cases were related to social<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s, six cases were related to a c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>tati<strong>on</strong> between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque<br />
municipal authorities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> market traders from that community, a politically motivated<br />
case, a case which occurred in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State security forces, <strong>on</strong>e for inter-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
differences and in two cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> motive remains unknown.<br />
442. Additi<strong>on</strong>ally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government maintains that a sentence was handed down in six <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
cases, an arrest warrant was issued or is forthcoming in eight <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases, a hearing is<br />
pending for <strong>on</strong>e case, three cases are expected to be resolved so<strong>on</strong>, an indictment was<br />
issued in <strong>on</strong>e case, 11 cases are still under investigati<strong>on</strong> and in 18 cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong><br />
has stalled and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases are temporarily closed.<br />
443. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 28 February 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government provides up-to-date<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress made in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal proceedings for a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders about which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> had requested informati<strong>on</strong> in its March 2012 recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Mario Caal, who was identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as leader <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> for Agricultural Worker Unity: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim<br />
could not have been a uni<strong>on</strong> member and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case is yet to be solved. The victim<br />
died as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> injuries he sustained during police interventi<strong>on</strong> (tear-gas canister)<br />
in a social dispute in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police were attempting to rescue hostages. The pers<strong>on</strong><br />
who caused his death has yet to be indentified;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Jaime Nery G<strong>on</strong>zález, who was identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as<br />
Deputy Secretary-General and grassroots member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commercial<br />
Traders from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jutiapa: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim could<br />
not have been a trade uni<strong>on</strong> member. The results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s indicate that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
death was probably <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an armed robbery. The investigati<strong>on</strong> has stalled<br />
pending new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Romero Istacuy, registered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor as José<br />
Romero Israel Estacuy, who was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipal<br />
Utility Company <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Retalhuleu: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong> suggests<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an anti-uni<strong>on</strong> nature. The victim had published a flyer <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
increase in electricity prices put in place by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mayor. The pers<strong>on</strong> resp<strong>on</strong>sible for<br />
perpetrating his murder is dead, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preliminary hearing for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong> who<br />
orchestrated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime is pending;<br />
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– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Diego Gustavo Chite Pu and Mr Sergio Alejandro Ramírez Huezo,<br />
who were identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commercial Workers<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that both people were traders at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Coatepeque market and that, according to testim<strong>on</strong>y from o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r market workers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
did not bel<strong>on</strong>g to a uni<strong>on</strong>. They died as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> excessive force after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipal police opened fire <strong>on</strong> informal traders who refused to be removed. On<br />
27 May 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Court resp<strong>on</strong>sible for Narcotics Offences and Crimes<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque sentenced <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> head <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipal police to 52 years and six m<strong>on</strong>ths in pris<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ms Olga Marina Ramírez Sansé, registered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s<br />
Office as Olga Ramírez Saneé, member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chiguimula Market Uni<strong>on</strong>: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government states that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s, her death was due to pers<strong>on</strong>al<br />
differences. The perpetrator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> her murder has already died. The investigati<strong>on</strong> has<br />
stalled pending new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Pedro Ant<strong>on</strong>io García, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leader <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipal Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Malacatán, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Disputes Secretary for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipal<br />
Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> San Marcos, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong> indicates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime. A certain armed<br />
group is suspected. This case is under investigati<strong>on</strong>. Statements have been taken from<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim’s colleagues who say that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y have never been threatened because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> work;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Víctor Alejandro Soyos Suret, an advisory council member for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Investigati<strong>on</strong> Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Public Prosecutor: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> member died during a<br />
carjacking, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case is under investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Luis Arnaldo Ávila, registered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office as<br />
Luis Haroldo García Ávila and identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Commercial Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim<br />
could not have been a trade uni<strong>on</strong> member, but ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r that he informally helped<br />
Coatepeque market traders in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir dispute with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> town hall and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police. The<br />
Government says that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> motive for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder could be because Coatepeque market<br />
was relocated or because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a romantic relati<strong>on</strong>ship between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim and a married<br />
woman. The case is under investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Julián Capriel Marroquín, Deputy Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Traders’<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Square <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jocotán, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant; a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Traders and Allied Workers’ Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jocotán, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government:<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that he died as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>al differences with his s<strong>on</strong>s-inlaw.<br />
The investigati<strong>on</strong> has stalled pending new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Marco Tulio Ramírez Portela, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Finca<br />
Yuma sub-branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Izabal Banana Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> (SITRABI): <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim was murdered <strong>on</strong> a political electi<strong>on</strong> day. The investigati<strong>on</strong><br />
suggests that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deceased had had a dispute with a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a political party.<br />
Although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> masterminds behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime have been identified, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong><br />
has stalled because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> witness does not wish to testify for fear <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reprisals;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Julio César Ixcoy García, member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Miguel Pochuta: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates<br />
that a violent gang from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regi<strong>on</strong> where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder took place attacked <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bus in<br />
which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim was travelling. The investigati<strong>on</strong> has stalled pending new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
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– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Pedro Zamora, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Quetzal Port: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that, according to investigati<strong>on</strong>s, he was killed<br />
for pers<strong>on</strong>al reas<strong>on</strong>s. Although a suspect was identified and brought to trial, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Criminal Court resp<strong>on</strong>sible for Narcotics Offences and Crimes against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>ment acquitted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspect for lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> evidence. Subsequent appeals were<br />
denied;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Rosalio Lorenzo, identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> head <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Motorcycle Taxi Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that he could not have been<br />
a uni<strong>on</strong> member. The crime was a pers<strong>on</strong>al vendetta. The investigati<strong>on</strong> has stalled<br />
pending new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ms Maura Ant<strong>on</strong>ieta Hernández, identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as a<br />
member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> (being formed) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong><br />
service: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that she could not have been a uni<strong>on</strong> member because<br />
she worked in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong> service where trade uni<strong>on</strong>s are not permitted by law. Her<br />
death was due to a gang-related retaliati<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong> service. The case is in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> being resolved as arrest warrants have been issued for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leaders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
gang involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Pedro Ramírez de la Cruz, identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as a<br />
member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Indigenous, Rural Workers and People’s Council: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government states that, based <strong>on</strong> testim<strong>on</strong>y from family members, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim was not<br />
a trade uni<strong>on</strong> member. The deceased had reported mismanagement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> various<br />
financial aids. Those accused were acquitted <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wr<strong>on</strong>gdoing. An appeal was raised,<br />
but was denied;<br />
– Mr Julio Pop Choc, identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> head <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Health Uni<strong>on</strong>, while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government said he was a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that uni<strong>on</strong>:<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that he was killed during a robbery and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong> has<br />
been closed;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Gilmer Orlando Borror Zet, community leader <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> San Juan<br />
Sacatepéque, registered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office as Inmer Orlando Borror<br />
Set: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that his death is c<strong>on</strong>nected with social dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
that he was killed during a protest. An investigati<strong>on</strong> cannot be carried out because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
witnesses will not cooperate and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y cannot access <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim’s home. The<br />
investigati<strong>on</strong> has stalled pending new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ms Evelinda Ramírez Reyes and Mr Víctor Gálvez, leaders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fr<strong>on</strong>t<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Resistance and Fight for Natural Resources and People’s Rights (FRENA): <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes are related to social dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s organized by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electricity supply by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company Deocsa Deorsa. A<br />
criminal network in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Malacatán has been identified as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
perpetrator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se crimes. The investigati<strong>on</strong> is <strong>on</strong>going in Ms Evelinda Ramírez<br />
Reyes’ case. Several suspects have already been identified in Mr Víctor Gálvez’s<br />
case. Two <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se suspects are awaiting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beginning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> court proceedings and an<br />
arrest warrant is expected to be issued for ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r suspect;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Samuel Ramírez Paredes, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Banana<br />
Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panchoy: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime was a pers<strong>on</strong>al<br />
vendetta. The investigati<strong>on</strong> has stalled pending new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Juan Fidel Pacheco Coc, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> for<br />
Migrati<strong>on</strong> Employees: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s point to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
hypo<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sis that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an inter-uni<strong>on</strong> dispute between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three<br />
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organizati<strong>on</strong>s which form <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate General for Migrati<strong>on</strong>. The case is under<br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Bruno Ernesto Figueroa, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Financial Secretary for a subsidiary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Health Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong>: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
indicate that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attack in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> member died was not directed at him,<br />
but was instead directed at a group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bus drivers who were at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scene <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime.<br />
The case is under investigati<strong>on</strong>. A single witness was cited, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y refused to testify;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Salvador del Cid, identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Acasaguastlán: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim was not a trade uni<strong>on</strong> member. His death was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a pers<strong>on</strong>al<br />
vendetta. An arrest warrant has been issued for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspect who has yet to stand trial;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Licinio Trujillo, member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Health Uni<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
subsidiary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Puerto Barrios: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s indicate<br />
that he died as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>al differences with colleagues who did not agree with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim’s promoti<strong>on</strong>. The investigati<strong>on</strong> has stalled pending new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Aníbal Ixcaquic, identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan Traders’ Fr<strong>on</strong>t: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim could<br />
not have been a uni<strong>on</strong> member. The crime was committed by a gang who was<br />
attempting to extort <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deceased. The investigati<strong>on</strong> has stalled pending new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ms Norma Sente Ixcaquic, registered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office<br />
as Norma Jeannette Zente Ordoñez, identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan Traders’ Fr<strong>on</strong>t: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim could<br />
not have been a uni<strong>on</strong> member. The Government says that she was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sister-in-law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mr Aníbal Ixcaquic and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were murdered toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> motives for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime were <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same. The investigati<strong>on</strong> has stalled pending new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Matías Mejía, identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Fr<strong>on</strong>t for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Services and Natural Resources: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government states that this name is not <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> database <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fatalities at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ms Juana Xoloja, registered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office as María<br />
Juana Chojlán Pelicó, identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> for Rural Worker Development: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim<br />
could not have been a uni<strong>on</strong> member. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim was<br />
killed in a dispute with two neighbours who had threatened to kill her. One witness is<br />
expected to be interviewed as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs did not wish to testify for fear <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reprisals;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Willy Morales, identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Fr<strong>on</strong>t for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Services and Natural Resources and<br />
registered as Wils<strong>on</strong> Odair Morales Cordón: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim<br />
could not have been a uni<strong>on</strong> member. His relatives said that he was a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
committee that fought against malpractice by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipal authorities. The<br />
Government said that he died in a traffic accident, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> driver could not be<br />
identified. The investigati<strong>on</strong> has stalled pending new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Jorge Humberto Andrade identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as a<br />
member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Fr<strong>on</strong>t for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Services and Natural<br />
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Resources: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that he was a community leader and that he died as<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>al disputes. An arrest warrant has yet to be issued against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
perpetrator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his murder;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Adolfo Ich identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Fr<strong>on</strong>t for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Services and Natural Resources: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim was a community leader. The victim was allegedly<br />
killed by security agents from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan Nickel Corporati<strong>on</strong> during a road<br />
blockade. An arrest warrant was issued for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspects;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Luis Felipe Cho, a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Santa Cruz: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that investigati<strong>on</strong>s indicate that he could have<br />
been killed as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a pers<strong>on</strong>al dispute with a worker. A suspect was identified<br />
and has yet to be arrested and appear before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Héctor García, a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al Worker’s Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Hotel Las Américas LLC: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that investigati<strong>on</strong>s show that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
victim was killed as his motorcycle was being stolen. The investigati<strong>on</strong> has stalled<br />
pending new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Miguel Ángel Felipe Sagastume who was identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> founder and former Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> El Real Finca: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that, according to statements taken from his<br />
colleagues, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim was a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Banana Workers (SITRAGSA).<br />
The investigati<strong>on</strong>s indicate a pers<strong>on</strong>al motive for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime. The identified perpetrator<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim were allegedly seeing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same woman. An arrest warrant<br />
has been issued and has yet to be executed;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Roberto Oswaldo Ramos Gómez, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary for Labour and<br />
Disputes at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque and a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> advisory council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CUSG: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that investigati<strong>on</strong>s indicate<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime was committed because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim had c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>ted a criminal while<br />
carrying out his community resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities. After this criminal reportedly died,<br />
several members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> led by Mr Roberto Oswaldo Ramos Gómez decided to<br />
testify about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> numerous threats <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y had received from this pers<strong>on</strong>. The case is<br />
under investigati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Idar Joel Hernández Godoy, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Financial Secretary for SITRABI:<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that he was murdered while driving a vehicle owned by<br />
SITRABI. The motive for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime could be pers<strong>on</strong>al. A colleague <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim is<br />
still to be interviewed to fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Manuel de Jesús Ramírez, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Technical<br />
and Administrative Support Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Criminal<br />
Defence: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s indicate that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong> leader c<strong>on</strong>stitutes an act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> repressi<strong>on</strong>. The case is under<br />
investigati<strong>on</strong> although no suspects have yet been identified.<br />
444. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 5 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala had decided to instituti<strong>on</strong>alize a high-level working<br />
group in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spirit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> central uni<strong>on</strong> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country to analyse cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
violence against trade uni<strong>on</strong> members, which will be held every m<strong>on</strong>th from 7 March. In<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office reiterates its request for ILO technical assistance to<br />
effectively combat anti-uni<strong>on</strong> violence.<br />
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445. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 19 April 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first acti<strong>on</strong>s it has<br />
taken to apply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding signed <strong>on</strong> 26 March 2013 by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chairman <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO. A meeting was held <strong>on</strong> 17 April 2013 which was attended by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Guatemalan Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior (resp<strong>on</strong>sible for internal security), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Minister<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main uni<strong>on</strong> leaders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y agreed to adopt <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following<br />
mechanisms:<br />
– creating a permanent policy committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State ministers and uni<strong>on</strong> leaders to be held<br />
every m<strong>on</strong>th;<br />
– setting up a technical committee made up <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> represented<br />
federati<strong>on</strong>s and c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s and authorities from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior, to find<br />
out about and address specific acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence;<br />
– establishing specific meetings between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior and specific<br />
federati<strong>on</strong>s and c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s to address <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> particular security problems <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
leaders;<br />
– establishing a hotline to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior for immediately reporting threats and<br />
crimes in order to prevent and combat <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se issues.<br />
O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence and threats<br />
against trade uni<strong>on</strong> members<br />
446. The Government provides <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following informati<strong>on</strong>, in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 21 and<br />
27 August and 30 October 2012, in relati<strong>on</strong> to n<strong>on</strong>-fatal acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence and anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
threats about which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> had requested urgent informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s and criminal prosecuti<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
– in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats against uni<strong>on</strong> member Ms Lesvia Morales, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> full name <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong> who received <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
alleged threats was not given, makes it impossible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office<br />
to search for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant files;<br />
– in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats made against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> member Mr Leocadio Juracán,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no<br />
report <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds raised in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint and, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, no investigati<strong>on</strong> can take<br />
place;<br />
– in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> injured workers from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Small Traders and Allied<br />
Workers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ninth Lower Criminal Court resp<strong>on</strong>sible for<br />
Narcotics Offences and Crimes against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment <strong>on</strong> 27 June 2011 at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office ordered that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers be dismissed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that street vending is not allowed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
footpaths, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore can remove any pers<strong>on</strong> who violates this;<br />
– c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> threats made against uni<strong>on</strong> members from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Health Uni<strong>on</strong>,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s are coming to a close regarding three<br />
victims because Mr Henry Giovanny Hernández Castro and Ms María Ant<strong>on</strong>ieta<br />
Gaitán M<strong>on</strong>zón withdrew <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir reports <strong>on</strong> 27 August 2012 and because Ms Olga<br />
Marina Santos García agreed to take her case to a c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> board which should<br />
take place 5 October. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> threats allegedly made against Mr César Orlando<br />
Jiménez, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subsidiary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hermano Pedro de Betancurt<br />
Hospital, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office has reported that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case has been dismissed.<br />
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Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> gun shots fired at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> home <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> district<br />
hospital <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> San Benito, Mr Edgar Neftaly Aldana Valencia, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats<br />
made against him, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> report was submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office. The<br />
San Benito Lower Criminal Court resp<strong>on</strong>sible for Narcotics Offences and Crimes<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment authorized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> report <strong>on</strong> 27 June 2011<br />
because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims had withdrawn <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir complaint;<br />
– in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commercial Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Coatepeque received death threats and were injured in a police operati<strong>on</strong> to force<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir jobs, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government again refers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgment from 27 May<br />
2011 where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Court resp<strong>on</strong>sible for Narcotics Offences and Crimes<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque c<strong>on</strong>victed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> head <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipal police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> various crimes against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> physical integrity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque<br />
market lessees committed <strong>on</strong> 6 April 2009. The Government adds that, according to<br />
General Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> many people affected by police violence, <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
three were members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commercial Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque;<br />
– in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attack <strong>on</strong> Ms María de los Ángeles Ruano Almeda and Ms Ingrid<br />
Migdalia Ruano, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> heads <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates in its<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 27 August 2012 that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11th Lower Criminal Court resp<strong>on</strong>sible<br />
for Narcotics Offences and Crimes against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment dismissed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <strong>on</strong><br />
25 May 2010;<br />
– in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged kidnapping, torture and rape <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ms María Vásquez, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Deputy Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company Winners, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government indicates that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are<br />
many c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> account given by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged victim and her emoti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
reacti<strong>on</strong> is inc<strong>on</strong>sistent, so it was suggested that fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r investigati<strong>on</strong> take place. The<br />
victim left <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country in March 2010 without providing informati<strong>on</strong>. As <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r source <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged events, it has been requested that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
report be dismissed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Lower Criminal Court resp<strong>on</strong>sible for Narcotics Offences<br />
and Crimes against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala;<br />
– regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats against Ms Selfa Sandoval Carranza, a<br />
SITRABI leader, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s<br />
Office, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no report with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se names, and thus no investigati<strong>on</strong> can be carried<br />
out <strong>on</strong> this issue;<br />
– in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> illegal removal with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> excessive force against<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Petén Distributi<strong>on</strong> Company<br />
(SITRAPETEN), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that a criminal magistrate’s court judge,<br />
who was presented with a writ <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> habeas corpus for several members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
SITRAPETEN, went to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> city where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members were. The judge<br />
ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Civil Police, as an interim order, to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
necessary steps to protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> life and physical integrity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those affected as well as to<br />
protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al rights. On 14 December 2009, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Eighth Lower Criminal<br />
Court resp<strong>on</strong>sible for Narcotics Offences and Crimes against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment<br />
ordered habeas corpus in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SITRAPETEN. In its final<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> dated 18 December 2009, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same Court overturned <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> habeas corpus in so<br />
far as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Civil Police established<br />
that security had already been provided to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members and which, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, did not<br />
have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remit which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law provides for habeas corpus. As for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> illegal arrest and<br />
intimidati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SITRAPETEN in various hotels across <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states in its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 30 October 2012 that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Case Management Computer System<br />
Department (SICOMP) did not register any such complaints.<br />
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447. In regard to this list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged violence and threats, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government requests that:<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant broaden <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> helping identify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> report that is menti<strong>on</strong>ed in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint so that an investigati<strong>on</strong> corresp<strong>on</strong>ding to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases may be carried out, and<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case be definitively closed when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office requests its<br />
dismissal.<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> recogniti<strong>on</strong> and registrati<strong>on</strong><br />
448. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 14 February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Regulati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pris<strong>on</strong> Service, all pers<strong>on</strong>nel working in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
General Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pris<strong>on</strong> Service are c<strong>on</strong>sidered security pers<strong>on</strong>nel, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore<br />
not allowed to participate in trade uni<strong>on</strong>s. Thus, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has decided to reject <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
applicati<strong>on</strong> for recogniti<strong>on</strong> because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to organize within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong> service is<br />
expressly forbidden.<br />
449. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged refusal to register <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Río<br />
Bravo, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government requires <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant to provide more informati<strong>on</strong> to locate this<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> database <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Directorate for Labour <strong>on</strong>ly c<strong>on</strong>tains <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipal Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Río Bravo from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Suchitepequez (SITRAMURB), which was registered 30 March 2005 and is<br />
currently inactive due to a lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal representati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
450. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment and Natural<br />
Resources (SITRAMARN), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that this uni<strong>on</strong> was registered in<br />
2006 and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s legal status was registered <strong>on</strong> 25 November 2010. The<br />
Government also states in its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 6 December 2012 that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme<br />
Court and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court declared <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> petiti<strong>on</strong> filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Attorney-General’s Office against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social<br />
Welfare to register SITRAMARN inadmissible.<br />
Climate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour impunity<br />
451. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 27 December 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
regarding allegati<strong>on</strong>s in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unjustifiable delays in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan labour justice<br />
system and its acti<strong>on</strong>s in terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> which would lead to a denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
justice and to a climate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour impunity. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following:<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Centre for Labour Justice was set up in September 2011 to harm<strong>on</strong>ize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lower labour and social welfare courts, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> corresp<strong>on</strong>ding appeals court<br />
chambers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Centre for Mediati<strong>on</strong> and C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
Ombudsman <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Welfare. By implementing shorter<br />
ordinary labour trials, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial backlog was notably reduced in less than <strong>on</strong>e year,<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> average procedure time dropping from three years to eight m<strong>on</strong>ths;<br />
– a zero tolerance plan for corrupti<strong>on</strong> is being implemented;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s reports and complaints should specify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> particular cases which<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y refer to and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se should be discussed with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al instituti<strong>on</strong>s. The<br />
Government believes that developing generic complaints affects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> changes and weakens public instituti<strong>on</strong>s;<br />
– <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claim that, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Code, labour judges should order <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers (dismissed for anti-uni<strong>on</strong> reas<strong>on</strong>s) within 24 hours, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Government states that under article 209 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Code and article 12 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to due process, reinstatement cannot be made final straight<br />
away if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer c<strong>on</strong>tests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court’s ruling;<br />
– according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> report by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Secretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Presidency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Judiciary<br />
for 2012, judges presiding in lower labour courts ordered 742 reinstatements over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
year.<br />
452. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 13 workers from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Blind and<br />
Deaf in 2003, who had not been reinstated as per a court ruling, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates<br />
in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 14 March 2013, that in a ruling <strong>on</strong> 20 November 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court declared that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer was unfounded and<br />
that, to date, eight <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 13 workers have been effectively reinstated while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r five<br />
preferred to receive compensati<strong>on</strong> ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than be reinstated.<br />
Exercising freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
maquila (export processing z<strong>on</strong>es) sector<br />
453. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 15 January 2013, in resp<strong>on</strong>se to allegati<strong>on</strong>s examined by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> in previous reports c<strong>on</strong>cerning this case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government sent informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> maquila sector and <strong>on</strong> labour inspecti<strong>on</strong>s in this sector.<br />
In regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first issue, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that it does not have exact informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> maquila sector, but that it can give <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> names <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> four active trade uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
for companies in this sector, namely: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> for Textiles Modernos LLC<br />
(STETMSA), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> for Winners LLC (SITRAWINSA), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
for Koas Modas LLC (SITRASEOKHWASA) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> for Serigrafía Seok<br />
Hwa LLC (SITRASEOKHWASA). As for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d issue, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that<br />
699 visits were made to companies in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> maquila sector in 2012, 76 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which were made<br />
ex <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficio.<br />
Detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Heavy Goods Transport Drivers<br />
454. By a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 6 May 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government sends its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> illegal detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 49 members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Heavy Goods Transport<br />
Drivers and criminal proceedings against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir participati<strong>on</strong> in a peaceful<br />
protest in May 2008. The Government indicates that in order to avoid <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
stoppage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> heavy goods transport <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> health, food and transport services, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President<br />
declared, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> preventi<strong>on</strong> throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
country, which limits certain fundamental rights but aims to protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lives and safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
people.<br />
455. The Government states that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> data <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Civil Police, <strong>on</strong> 8 May<br />
2008, 35 people who blocked <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> road to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pacific were arrested. Of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se 35 people, two<br />
have been prosecuted for blocking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> road. They were released <strong>on</strong> bail <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same day <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
were arrested and subsequently received c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>al suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal prosecuti<strong>on</strong> for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activities against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internal security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>, which expired <strong>on</strong><br />
11 November 2011. The Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Heavy Goods Transport<br />
Drivers does not appear in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ly registered<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> is called <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Heavy Transport, inactive since 1972. Because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is not able to c<strong>on</strong>firm whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people who<br />
were prosecuted for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir participati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> event were members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a uni<strong>on</strong> or were trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> leaders. It <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore requests that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG shares <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Heavy Goods Transport Drivers.<br />
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456. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government points out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> third pers<strong>on</strong>, Rolando Eliveo Hernández<br />
Aguilar, is remanded in custody since July 2012 for <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extorti<strong>on</strong> carried out by a<br />
criminal gang since 2011 against carriers. The fourth pers<strong>on</strong>, Marcelo Martínez Gómez,<br />
was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>victi<strong>on</strong> for illegal possessi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> firearms, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence<br />
committed in 2007, that is to say, before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> event.<br />
D. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
457. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants allege numerous<br />
murders and acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence against trade uni<strong>on</strong> members and acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
discriminati<strong>on</strong>, as well as obstacles to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights and social<br />
dialogue, denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal status to several uni<strong>on</strong>s and system failures leading to impunity<br />
with regard to criminal and labour matters.<br />
458. For <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fifth time, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply deplores <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> numerous acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence denounced<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint and expresses its deep and growing c<strong>on</strong>cern for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> high number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
murdered uni<strong>on</strong> leaders and members. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that uni<strong>on</strong> rights can <strong>on</strong>ly be exercised in a climate free from violence,<br />
intimidati<strong>on</strong> and threats <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any kind against trade uni<strong>on</strong> members, and that it is for<br />
governments to ensure that this principle is respected [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006,<br />
para. 44].<br />
459. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that since this case was last examined, a complaint regarding<br />
Guatemala’s breach <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to<br />
Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), has been filed by several Workers’ delegates at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
101st Sessi<strong>on</strong> (2012) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour C<strong>on</strong>ference under article 26 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that at its March 2013 sessi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
Governing Body decided, in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding<br />
between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO Governing<br />
Body <strong>on</strong> 26 March 2013, to defer its decisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appointment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Commissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Inquiry to its October 2013 sessi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
460. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with interest that in this Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala pledges, inter alia: to institute, through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent bodies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state, independent and expeditious inquiries at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earliest date to determine<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities and punish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> intellectual and material authors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>ists; and to guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers, and through effective protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
measures, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and leaders as well as uni<strong>on</strong> property, against<br />
violence and threats so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y can carry out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
firmly hopes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commitments made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Understanding will translate into c<strong>on</strong>crete acti<strong>on</strong>s and results. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with interest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>s it has taken to apply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding signed <strong>on</strong> 26 March<br />
2013, and in particular: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a permanent policy committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State ministers<br />
and uni<strong>on</strong> leaders to be held every m<strong>on</strong>th; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> setting up <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a technical committee made up<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> represented federati<strong>on</strong>s and c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s and authorities<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior, to find out about and address specific acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> specific meetings between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior and specific federati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s to address <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> particular security problems <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir leaders; and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a hotline to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior for immediately reporting threats and<br />
crime in order to prevent and combat <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se issues. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
to keep it informed at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earliest opportunity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> full range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s taken to apply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results achieved.<br />
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Allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence which have<br />
already been examined<br />
461. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statements made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complete<br />
inefficiency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal investigati<strong>on</strong> agencies, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> weakness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Public<br />
Prosecutor for Offences against Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Members and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> practice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime was motivated by antiuni<strong>on</strong><br />
sentiment from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outset.<br />
462. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala has decided to instituti<strong>on</strong>alize a high-level working<br />
group with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s main trade uni<strong>on</strong> federati<strong>on</strong>s to analyse cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence against<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> members, which will meet every m<strong>on</strong>th after March 7 and that, in additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Public Prosecutor’s Office reiterates its request for ILO technical assistance to more<br />
effectively tackle anti-uni<strong>on</strong> violence.<br />
463. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s and criminal prosecuti<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning 51 murders examined by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>, most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Public Prosecutor for Offences against Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Members deals with a minority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders identified, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s<br />
Office c<strong>on</strong>siders that a substantial number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims do not have trade uni<strong>on</strong> links, and<br />
that most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders are cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ordinary crime. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also observes that<br />
judicial sentences have been handed down in six cases, <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which was a pris<strong>on</strong><br />
sentence, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s had stalled in 18 cases and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s or next<br />
steps <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal proceedings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r murders will c<strong>on</strong>tinue.<br />
464. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Diego Gustavo Chite Pu and Mr Sergio Alejandro Ramírez<br />
Huezo, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government stating that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
died as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> excessive force by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipal police who fired up<strong>on</strong><br />
informal traders who had refused to be removed <strong>on</strong> 27 May 2011, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal<br />
Court for Narcotics Offences and Crimes against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Coatepeque sentenced <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> chief <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipal police to a pris<strong>on</strong> term <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 52 years and six<br />
m<strong>on</strong>ths.<br />
465. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Pedro Zamora and Mr Pedro Ramírez de la Cruz, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes criminal courts’ acquittals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possible perpetrators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se murders.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply regrets <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> impunity that results from this situati<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgments against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guilty parties creates, in<br />
practice, a situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> impunity, which reinforces <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> climate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence and insecurity,<br />
and which is extremely damaging to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights [see Digest, op. cit.,<br />
para. 52]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to reopen <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s so that all<br />
those who took part in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se murders (perpetrators and instigators) as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> motives<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes are identified, and that those resp<strong>on</strong>sible are prosecuted and held to account<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any<br />
developments in this regard.<br />
466. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initiati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal proceedings in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Romero Estacuy, Mr Víctor<br />
Gálvez, Mr Jorge Humberto Andrade and Mr Adolfo Ich and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>going investigati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Mario Caal, Mr Pedro Ant<strong>on</strong>io García, Mr Manuel de Jesús<br />
Ramírez, Ms Víctor Alejandro Soyos Suret, Mr Juan Fidel Pacheco Curec, Ms Evelinda<br />
Ramírez Reyes, Mr Salvador del Cid, Ms María Juana Chojlán Pelicó, Mr Miguel Ángel<br />
Felipe Sagastume and Mr Idar Joel Hernández Godoy. Recalling <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need, in a case in<br />
which judicial inquiries c<strong>on</strong>nected with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists seemed to be taking a<br />
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l<strong>on</strong>g time to c<strong>on</strong>clude, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings being brought to a speedy c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> [see Digest,<br />
op. cit., para. 53], <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
progress and results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se proceedings and investigati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
467. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>going investigati<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Idar Joel Hernández<br />
Godoy, a SITRABI leader, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office is<br />
not c<strong>on</strong>sidering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime was motivated by anti-uni<strong>on</strong> sentiment even<br />
though ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r leader from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same uni<strong>on</strong> was murdered in recent years (Mr Marco<br />
Tulio Ramírez Portela), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> reported receiving death threats against its leaders and<br />
members, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim was travelling in a uni<strong>on</strong>-owned vehicle. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore<br />
urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to explain at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earliest opportunity <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s why <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office disregarded <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possible anti-uni<strong>on</strong> motive behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder and that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps be taken to identify and bring to justice those resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
murder.<br />
468. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Marco Tulio Ramírez Portela, Jaime Nery G<strong>on</strong>zález, Julián<br />
Capriel Marroquín, Lisinio Aguirre Trujillo, Julio César Ixcoy García, Rosalio<br />
Mald<strong>on</strong>ado Lorenzo, Norma Jeannette Zente Ordoñez, Julio Pop Choc, Inmer Orlando<br />
Borror Set, Samuel Ramírez Paredes, Héctor García, Walter Aníbal Ixcaquic Mendoza,<br />
Norma Jeannette Zente Ordoñez, Wils<strong>on</strong> Morales and Olga Marina Ramírez Saneé, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> utmost c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s informati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s have stalled. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes with particular c<strong>on</strong>cern that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office does not supply substantial amounts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
informati<strong>on</strong> about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> steps taken to identify possible links between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims’ uni<strong>on</strong><br />
activities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir murder.<br />
469. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ms Maura Ant<strong>on</strong>ieta Hernández, named by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
as a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong> service uni<strong>on</strong> executive committee (being formed), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim could not have been a trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>ist because she worked in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong> service where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are no uni<strong>on</strong>s by law. While<br />
also noting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a retaliati<strong>on</strong><br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Salvatrucha gang against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong> service, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less wishes to<br />
recall <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle whereby pris<strong>on</strong> staff should enjoy <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to organize [see Digest,<br />
op. cit., para. 232]. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that, within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this<br />
case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants have indicated that requests for pris<strong>on</strong> service uni<strong>on</strong>s to be<br />
registered were made and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se requests were turned<br />
down due to current legislati<strong>on</strong> prohibiting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to organize for workers at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Directorate General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pris<strong>on</strong> Service. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possible anti-uni<strong>on</strong> motive<br />
behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime is fully taken into c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inquiry and criminal<br />
proceedings associated with this case. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any developments in this regard.<br />
470. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Matías Mejía, named by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Resistance Fr<strong>on</strong>t, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that no<br />
<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that name appears in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office’s database <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fatalities. In<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>, with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats against SITRABI board member<br />
Ms Selfa Sandoval Carranza <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e hand and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> illegal detenti<strong>on</strong><br />
and intimidati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SITRAPETEN members in several hotels across <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that no incidents were reported<br />
under those names for ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r case. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants to<br />
indicate, in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se three cases, as precisely as possible, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> names <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> places where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incidents took place, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities to whom <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incidents were<br />
reported, as well as any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r informati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y may have.<br />
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471. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Armando Sánchez, advisor to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque<br />
Traders and Mr Liginio Aguirre, member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan Health Workers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not supplied any informati<strong>on</strong><br />
pertaining to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases. Therefore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
provide informati<strong>on</strong> about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se murder investigati<strong>on</strong>s without delay.<br />
472. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government communicated some informati<strong>on</strong> pertaining to<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-fatal acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence and anti-uni<strong>on</strong> threats in resp<strong>on</strong>se to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s urgent<br />
request for an update <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s and criminal trials. With regard<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats made against trade uni<strong>on</strong> member Ms Lesvia Morales, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
notes both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG’s reasserti<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incident was reported to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> district Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s observati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> written<br />
c<strong>on</strong>firmati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged death threat victim’s full name makes it impossible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Public Prosecutor’s Office to look for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> corresp<strong>on</strong>ding documents. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> identifying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint registered about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats made<br />
against Ms Lesvia Morales has remained unresolved for a l<strong>on</strong>g time. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant to work toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r in good faith to<br />
identify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> corresp<strong>on</strong>ding document.<br />
473. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted murder and death threats against Mr Leocadio<br />
Juracán, leader <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Comité Campesino del Altiplano (CCDA) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government disagree over whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r a<br />
complaint was registered with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also notes<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s asserti<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case was also reported to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Human Rights<br />
Ombudsman, which coordinated temporary protective measures for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leader<br />
before he left <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to c<strong>on</strong>tact <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Human Rights Ombudsman without delay to identify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case in questi<strong>on</strong> so as to be able<br />
to give full informati<strong>on</strong> about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State has taken regarding this complaint.<br />
474. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted extrajudicial killings, death threats and<br />
injuries sustained by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> members from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commercial Workers Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Coatepeque, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Court<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible for Narcotics Offences and Crimes against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque c<strong>on</strong>victed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> chief <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipal police <strong>on</strong> 27 May 2011 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
various <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> physical integrity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque market lessees committed <strong>on</strong><br />
6 April 2009. The Government specifies that, according to informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General<br />
Directorate for Labour, out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> many people affected by police violence, <strong>on</strong>ly three were<br />
listed as members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commercial Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque. While noting this<br />
informati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Comercial<br />
Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque do not just pertain to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> removal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque<br />
market lessees <strong>on</strong> 6 April 2009 but also to attempted extrajudicial killing and repeated<br />
death threats. Therefore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to launch an<br />
independent judicial inquiry into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted extrajudicial killing and<br />
death threats. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> details<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se investigati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resulting criminal proceedings.<br />
475. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> injured workers from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Small Traders and Allied Workers,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s complaint was dismissed<br />
because setting up a street vending point <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> footpath is banned and it is within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
remit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police to remove any infringing vendors. In additi<strong>on</strong>, with regard to<br />
SITRAPETEN members’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> illegal removal with use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> excessive force, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> writ <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> habeas corpus produced was<br />
overruled by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate authority. Up<strong>on</strong> observing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are several instances <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police using excessive force against dem<strong>on</strong>strators or crowds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers in this case,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities should resort to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> force<br />
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<strong>on</strong>ly in situati<strong>on</strong>s where law and order is seriously threatened. The interventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
forces <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> order should be in due proporti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> danger to law and order that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authorities are attempting to c<strong>on</strong>trol and governments should take measures to ensure that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent authorities receive adequate instructi<strong>on</strong>s so as to eliminate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> danger<br />
entailed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> excessive violence when c<strong>on</strong>trolling dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s which might<br />
result in a disturbance to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> peace [see Digest, op. cit., para. 140]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures, such as issuing instructi<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
drawing up a code <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>duct or holding training and awareness courses, so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
forces <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> order are able to fully apply this principle. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any developments in this regard.<br />
476. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats against workers from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Health<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
pertaining to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> withdrawal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaints by Mr Henry Giovanny Hernández Castro,<br />
Ms María Ant<strong>on</strong>ieta Gaitán M<strong>on</strong>zón and Mr Edgar Neftaly Aldana Valencia.<br />
477. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaints <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> kidnapping, torture and rape registered by Ms María<br />
Vásquez, Deputy Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Worker’s Uni<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company Winners and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaints <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> assault registered by MSICG leaders Ms María de los Ángeles Ruano<br />
Almeda and Ms Ingrid Migdalia Ruano, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir cases were dismissed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent courts.<br />
478. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disappearance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minor Ms María Ant<strong>on</strong>ia Dolores López, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s linked to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal acti<strong>on</strong> launched against leaders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zacapa, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government has not supplied any informati<strong>on</strong> about this matter. Therefore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s launched in<br />
c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases without delay.<br />
New allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence<br />
479. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> utmost c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CUSG’s allegati<strong>on</strong> that Mr Oswaldo<br />
Ramos Gómez, Secretary for Labour and Disputes at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque and member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CUSG advisory council, was shot dead <strong>on</strong><br />
2 April 2012. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply deplores this new murder and reiterates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles<br />
menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> paragraphs above. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong><br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s show that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime was committed because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim had<br />
c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>ted a criminal while carrying out his community resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observes, however, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government also indicates that many members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
victim bel<strong>on</strong>ged to received multiple threats from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to explain at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earliest opportunity <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reas<strong>on</strong>s why <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office disregarded <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possible anti-uni<strong>on</strong> motive <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder and to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to identify and bring to justice those<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible.<br />
480. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> utmost c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG’s allegati<strong>on</strong> that Mr Manuel de<br />
Jesús Ramírez, General Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Technical and Administrative Support<br />
Workers at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Criminal Defence Institute, was murdered <strong>on</strong> 1 June 2012. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply deplores this new murder and reiterates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles c<strong>on</strong>tained in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
paragraphs above. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s show that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leader was an act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> repressi<strong>on</strong><br />
and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s are still under way, although, as yet, no suspects have been<br />
identified. Recalling <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed principles relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fight against impunity<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need for fast investigati<strong>on</strong>s and judicial trials in cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
violence, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take all necessary measures to identify<br />
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and bring to justice those resp<strong>on</strong>sible at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earliest opportunity and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
any developments in this regard.<br />
481. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> different points raised in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> paragraphs about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence that<br />
have already been examined and also <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observes with great c<strong>on</strong>cern that, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 51 murders <strong>on</strong> which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has supplied<br />
informati<strong>on</strong>, and despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that many <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes date back to 2007, <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>on</strong>e guilty<br />
judgment has been pr<strong>on</strong>ounced to date. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also observes with c<strong>on</strong>cern that in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> several alleged acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-fatal anti-uni<strong>on</strong> violence, such as attempted<br />
murders, rapes, injuries, kidnappings and death threats, no potential perpetrator has been<br />
identified in any case and in most cases, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extreme severity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reported<br />
incidents, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities have not launched any substantial investigati<strong>on</strong>s. In this regard,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also observes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> high number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> instances where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged victim has<br />
withdrawn <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint or where witnesses refuse to testify for fear <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reprisals.<br />
482. Sec<strong>on</strong>dly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office for crimes against<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> members <strong>on</strong>ly deals with a small number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases and that its investigati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
have not yet led to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sentencing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any guilty party by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal courts. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observes, in particular, that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three murder cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siders to be acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> repressi<strong>on</strong> (Mr Romero Istacuy, Mr Pedro Ant<strong>on</strong>io<br />
García and Mr Manuel de Jesús Ramírez), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office have not led to any tangible results to date.<br />
483. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are numerous discrepancies between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s reached by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder victims to a uni<strong>on</strong>. On this point, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
victims has been disregarded, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an informati<strong>on</strong> request having been<br />
made to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Directorate for Labour nor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office having<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tacted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> affected uni<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also observes that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
murders examined as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> sent by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government does not<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tain a c<strong>on</strong>siderable number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> details regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> steps taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office to identify possible links between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir murder even in cases where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re seem to be major indicati<strong>on</strong>s pointing to that<br />
possibility.<br />
484. Underlining <strong>on</strong>ce again that freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> can <strong>on</strong>ly be exercised in c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s in<br />
which fundamental rights, and in particular those relating to human life and pers<strong>on</strong>al<br />
safety, are fully respected and guaranteed and also that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgments against<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guilty parties creates, in practice, a situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> impunity, which reinforces <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> climate<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence and insecurity, and which is extremely damaging to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
rights [see Digest, op. cit., paras 43 and 52] and recalling <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commitments made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Guatemalan Government in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding signed <strong>on</strong> 26 March 2013,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take immediate and decisive measures to fight <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
impunity that surrounds allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> violence and to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> are taken into full c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> in all acti<strong>on</strong>s taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Public Prosecutor’s Office and criminal courts. On this point, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> especially<br />
urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to:<br />
– take steps to initiate systematic independent judicial investigati<strong>on</strong>s when reports <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
anti-uni<strong>on</strong> incidents are received;<br />
– develop and apply effective protective measures for people who agree to collaborate<br />
in criminal investigati<strong>on</strong>s into acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> violence;<br />
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– guarantee that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office will systematically request informati<strong>on</strong><br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s involved to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims’ membership to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
movement and to identify possible anti-uni<strong>on</strong> motives behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences under<br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure, in<br />
particular, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office works with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s involved to<br />
re-examine all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder cases that have not yet led to a c<strong>on</strong>victi<strong>on</strong>, including<br />
cases in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong> is c<strong>on</strong>sidered to have stalled;<br />
– significantly reinforce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office’s training and resources for<br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, in particular those available to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office<br />
regarding crimes against trade uni<strong>on</strong> members. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes<br />
note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s request for technical assistance.<br />
O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
485. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> refusal to register pris<strong>on</strong> service uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Pris<strong>on</strong> Service, any pers<strong>on</strong> who works in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pris<strong>on</strong> Service is<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidered to be a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> security staff, so <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law expressly denies <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to<br />
organize within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong> service. On this point, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle,<br />
based <strong>on</strong> Articles 2 and 9 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87, which states that pris<strong>on</strong> staff should enjoy<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to organize [see Digest, op. cit., para. 232]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> thus requests that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government takes without delay <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to register <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong> service<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s and to align its legislati<strong>on</strong> with C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87 and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> by extending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to organize to pris<strong>on</strong> staff. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
legislative aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this issue to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s (CEACR).<br />
486. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged refusal to register <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Río Bravo, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s observati<strong>on</strong>s and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant to submit fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r informati<strong>on</strong> so that this organizati<strong>on</strong> can be located in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
database <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Directorate for Labour.<br />
487. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment and Natural<br />
Resources (SITRAMARN), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
was registered in 2006, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> was registered <strong>on</strong> 25 November<br />
2010 and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Court ruled <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> writ <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al Public Prosecutor’s Office against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and<br />
Social Welfare’s decisi<strong>on</strong> to register SITRAMARN to be inadmissible. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trusts that SITRAMARN is now fully registered and able to c<strong>on</strong>duct its uni<strong>on</strong> activities<br />
completely as normal.<br />
488. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unjustified delays in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan labour justice<br />
system and in its dealings with matters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> which could give rise<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> justice and a climate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour impunity, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that:<br />
– by creating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Centre for Labour Justice and implementing shorter ordinary labour<br />
trials, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial backlog was notably reduced in less than <strong>on</strong>e year, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
average procedure time dropping from three years to eight m<strong>on</strong>ths;<br />
– under article 209 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Code and article 12 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Political C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to due process, reinstatement cannot be made final straight away if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employer c<strong>on</strong>tests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court’s decisi<strong>on</strong>;<br />
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– judges presiding in lower labour courts ordered 742 reinstatements in 2012.<br />
489. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Blind and Deaf who had been dismissed<br />
in 2003.<br />
490. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
arrest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> heavy vehicle workers in a protest in May 2008, which, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government, resulted in roadblocks that have endangered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> health and safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
populati<strong>on</strong> and which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore justified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> limitati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certain fundamental rights and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> declarati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> preventi<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government’s observati<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that 35 people were arrested <strong>on</strong> 8 May 2008 for<br />
blocking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> road to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pacific, two <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom were prosecuted for activities against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
internal security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong> but were immediately released <strong>on</strong> bail and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n benefited<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>al suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal proceedings. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arrest and detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists, even for reas<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> internal<br />
security, may c<strong>on</strong>stitute a serious interference with trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights unless attended by<br />
appropriate judicial safeguards [see Digest, op. cit., para. 75].<br />
491. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Heavy Goods<br />
Transport Drivers does not appear in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, which<br />
prevents it from determining whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r people who have been prosecuted for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
involvement in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protests were uni<strong>on</strong>ized or were uni<strong>on</strong> leaders. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant to provide more informati<strong>on</strong> to locate this uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
492. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not supplied any informati<strong>on</strong><br />
in regard to its o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r previous recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
– criminal acti<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leaders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Zacapa;<br />
– investigati<strong>on</strong>s into blacklisting;<br />
– alleged violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Las Américas LLC and Crown<br />
Plaza Guatemala hotels;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law courts associated with reinstatement orders and dismissals in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chimaltenango.<br />
493. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to communicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> pertaining to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again recalls that all<br />
practices involving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> blacklisting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials or members c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a<br />
serious threat to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> free exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights and, in general, governments<br />
should take stringent measures to combat such practices [see Digest, op. cit., para. 803].<br />
494. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> supplied by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> four<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s operating in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> maquila sector as well as <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspecti<strong>on</strong>’s acti<strong>on</strong>s in that<br />
sector.<br />
495. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> and new allegati<strong>on</strong>s sent by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
MSICG in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 15, 17, 18, 20 and 22 February 2013 about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> climate<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour impunity, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obstacles to uni<strong>on</strong>s’ recogniti<strong>on</strong> and registrati<strong>on</strong>, and incidents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
harassment and criminal persecuti<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan<br />
Social Security Institute, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemalan Social<br />
Security Institute, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Organized Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Attorney-General’s<br />
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Office and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Comptroller General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Accounts<br />
United for Development. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se matters at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earliest opportunity.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
496. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing interim c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expresses <strong>on</strong>ce again its deep and growing c<strong>on</strong>cern over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
seriousness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> many instances <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder, attempted<br />
murder, assault, death threats, kidnapping, persecuti<strong>on</strong> and intimidati<strong>on</strong><br />
perpetrated against uni<strong>on</strong> leaders and members as well as over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> drawing up blacklists and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> climate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> total impunity.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> firmly hopes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commitments made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding signed <strong>on</strong> 26 March 2013 regarding<br />
sancti<strong>on</strong>s against those who planned and executed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
members and protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> members and leaders from violence and<br />
threats will translate into c<strong>on</strong>crete acti<strong>on</strong>s and results. Noting with interest<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first acti<strong>on</strong>s taken to<br />
apply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> full range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s taken in this<br />
regard as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results obtained.<br />
(c) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Pedro Zamora and Mr Pedro Ramírez de<br />
la Cruz, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to reopen <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s in<br />
order to identify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators and instigators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se murders, to<br />
discover <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> motives behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes and to bring those resp<strong>on</strong>sible to<br />
justice in a court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all developments relating to this matter.<br />
(d) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Romero Estacuy, Mr Víctor Galvez,<br />
Mr Jorge Humberto Andrade, Mr Adolfo Ich, Mr Mario Caal, Mr Pedro<br />
Ant<strong>on</strong>io García, Mr Manuel de Jesús Ramírez, Mr Víctor Alejandro Soyos<br />
Suret, Mr Juan Fidel Pacheco Curec, Mr Salvador del Cid, Mr Miguel<br />
Ángel Felipe Sagastume, Ms Evelinda Ramírez Reyes and Ms María Juana<br />
Chojlán Pelicó, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress made as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial trials and <strong>on</strong>going<br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earliest opportunity.<br />
(e) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Idar Joel Hernández Godoy, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to explain at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earliest opportunity <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s why<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office disregarded <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possible anti-uni<strong>on</strong> motive<br />
behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder and to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to identify and bring<br />
to justice those resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder.<br />
(f) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ms Maura Ant<strong>on</strong>ieta Hernández, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to<br />
ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possible anti-uni<strong>on</strong> motive behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime is c<strong>on</strong>sidered<br />
fully in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s and criminal proceedings relating to<br />
this case to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any developments in this regard.<br />
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(g) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Matías Mejía, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> death<br />
threats against SITRABI board member Ms Selfa Sandoval Carranza and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> illegal detenti<strong>on</strong> and intimidati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SITRAPETEN<br />
members in several hotels across <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainants to indicate, in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se three cases, as precisely as<br />
possible, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> full names <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> places where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incidents took<br />
place, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities to whom <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incidents were reported, as well as any<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r informati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y may have.<br />
(h) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Armando Sánchez, advisor to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque Traders and Mr Liginio Aguirre, member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Guatemalan Health Workers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to provide informati<strong>on</strong> about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
murders without delay.<br />
(i) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats made against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> members<br />
Ms Lesvia Morales, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant to work toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r in good faith so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> corresp<strong>on</strong>ding file<br />
can finally be identified.<br />
(j) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted murder and death threats against<br />
Mr Leocadio Juracán, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to c<strong>on</strong>tact<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Human Rights Ombudsman without delay to identify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case in<br />
questi<strong>on</strong> and thus be in a positi<strong>on</strong> to give full informati<strong>on</strong> about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State has taken regarding this complaint.<br />
(k) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted extrajudicial killings, death<br />
threats and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> injuries sustained by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commercial<br />
Workers Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coatepeque, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to launch an independent judicial inquiry into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> attempted extrajudicial killings and death threats against uni<strong>on</strong> members.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
details <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se investigati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resulting criminal proceedings.<br />
(l) Recalling that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities should resort to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> force <strong>on</strong>ly in<br />
situati<strong>on</strong>s where law and order is seriously threatened, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> forces <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> order should be in due proporti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> danger<br />
to law and order that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities are attempting to c<strong>on</strong>trol and that<br />
governments should take measures to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent authorities<br />
receive adequate instructi<strong>on</strong>s so as to eliminate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> danger entailed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> excessive violence when c<strong>on</strong>trolling dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s which might<br />
result in a disturbance to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> peace [see Digest, op. cit., para. 140], <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures, such<br />
as issuing instructi<strong>on</strong>s, drawing up a code <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>duct or holding training<br />
and awareness courses so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police can fully apply this principle. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any developments<br />
in this regard.<br />
(m) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disappearance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minor Ms María Ant<strong>on</strong>ia Dolores<br />
López, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s linked to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal acti<strong>on</strong> launched against<br />
leaders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zacapa, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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<strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide informati<strong>on</strong> regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>s launched in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases without delay.<br />
(n) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Roberto Oswaldo Ramos Gómez, Secretary<br />
for Labour and Disputes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Coatepeque, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to explain at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earliest<br />
opportunity <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s why <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office disregarded <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
possible anti-uni<strong>on</strong> motive behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder and to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
measures to identify and bring to justice those resp<strong>on</strong>sible.<br />
(o) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Manuel de Jesús Ramírez, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take all necessary meausres to identify those<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible for this crime and bring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m to justice at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earliest<br />
opportunity and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all developments in this regard.<br />
(p) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take immediate and decisive<br />
measures to fight <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impunity surrounding allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
violence and to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> are fully<br />
taken into c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dealings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office<br />
and criminal authorities. In particular, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to:<br />
– take steps to initiate systematic investigati<strong>on</strong>s when reports <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> antiuni<strong>on</strong><br />
incidents are received;<br />
– develop and apply effective protective measures for people who agree to<br />
collaborate in criminal investigati<strong>on</strong>s into acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> violence;<br />
– guarantee that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office will systematically request<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s involved to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims’<br />
membership to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> movement and to identify possible anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
motives behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences under investigati<strong>on</strong>. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure, in particular, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Public Prosecutor’s Office works with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s involved to<br />
re-examine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> murder cases that have not yet led to c<strong>on</strong>victi<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
including cases c<strong>on</strong>sidered as having no new leads;<br />
– significantly reinforce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office’s resources and<br />
training for freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, in particular those available to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding crimes against trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
members. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
request for technical assistance.<br />
(q) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take without delay <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
measures to register <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong> service uni<strong>on</strong> and to align its legislati<strong>on</strong> with<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87 and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> by extending<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to organize to pris<strong>on</strong> staff. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative<br />
aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this issue to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CEACR.<br />
(r) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged refusal to register <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Río Bravo, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant to<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
submit fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r informati<strong>on</strong> so that this organizati<strong>on</strong> can be located in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
database <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Directorate for Labour.<br />
(s) As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Heavy Goods<br />
Transport Drivers after a protest in May 2008, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant to provide more informati<strong>on</strong> to locate this uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
(t) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal acti<strong>on</strong> launched against leaders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zacapa, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> drawing up<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> blacklists, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> violati<strong>on</strong>s in Las<br />
Américas LLC and Crown Plaza Guatemala hotels, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law courts associated<br />
with reinstatement orders and dismissals in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chimaltenango, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to communicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested informati<strong>on</strong> regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
(u) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> and new allegati<strong>on</strong>s laid out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> MSICG’s<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 15, 17, 18, 20 and 22 February 2013 at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earliest<br />
opportunity.<br />
(v) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again calls <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body’s special attenti<strong>on</strong> to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extreme seriousness and urgency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues in this case.<br />
CASE NO. 2959<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (UNSITRAGUA)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
alleges anti-uni<strong>on</strong> practices, violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a collective agreement and dangers<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two trade uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Property Registry<br />
497. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Guatemala (UNSITRAGUA) dated 1 June 2012.<br />
498. The Government sent observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 27 November 2012.<br />
499. Guatemala has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
500. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 1 June 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Property Registry<br />
Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> (STRGP) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Property Registry Administrative Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
(STARP) have been subjected by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Registrar, who was appointed in January 2012,<br />
to various anti-uni<strong>on</strong> practices, including transfers, recruitment and dismissals in violati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current collective agreement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> loss <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> membership by a worker, Ms Ana<br />
María Hernández, in return for a managerial post involving a pay rise, statements in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
media by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar likely to endanger registry workers in general and trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials in particular, and obstructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al police acti<strong>on</strong> relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> security measures requested by both trade uni<strong>on</strong>s. The complainant<br />
indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRGP filed complaints between 20 April and 4 May 2012 with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office and that it instituted legal<br />
proceedings to seek nullificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appointments made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
501. In its reply dated 27 November 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that since July 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has<br />
been direct c<strong>on</strong>ciliatory dialogue between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Property Registry<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRGP and STARP which has enabled <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues under dispute to be resolved. A<br />
forum for dialogue, set up under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> auspices <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate, completed its<br />
work <strong>on</strong> 9 August 2012, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspectorate established a protocol which was signed by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties. This c<strong>on</strong>tained a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreements which had been c<strong>on</strong>cluded, particularly<br />
those relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> free exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Property Registry and to<br />
observance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement relating to employment stability, transfers,<br />
appointments and creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> posts. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protocol drawn up by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspectorate, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers indicated that relati<strong>on</strong>s are now harm<strong>on</strong>ious between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties<br />
and that any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r issues arising between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management will be resolved<br />
directly through dialogue between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties.<br />
502. The Government also sends a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 26 October 2012 whereby<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRGP informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Welfare Court that, because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement<br />
reached with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>dent, it was dropping its legal acti<strong>on</strong> calling for nullificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
appointments made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRGP<br />
decided to withdraw its complaints relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged dangers caused to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
its members, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> notice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> withdrawal was about to be submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> respective court<br />
and a copy would be forwarded <strong>on</strong>ce it had been submitted.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
503. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case refers to allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> practices,<br />
violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement and dangers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong>s at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Property Registry.<br />
504. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s observati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resoluti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
issues under dispute between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Property Registry and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRGP and<br />
STARP trade uni<strong>on</strong>s through a forum for dialogue facilitated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protocol established by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate <strong>on</strong> 9 August 2012<br />
and signed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties c<strong>on</strong>taining a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cluded agreements and indicating that<br />
relati<strong>on</strong>s are now harm<strong>on</strong>ious between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties and that any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r issues arising<br />
between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management will be resolved directly through dialogue<br />
between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRGP dropped its legal acti<strong>on</strong><br />
for nullificati<strong>on</strong> instituted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Welfare Court.<br />
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505. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statements to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRGP also<br />
decided to withdraw its complaints relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged dangers caused to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
its members. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and<br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s can <strong>on</strong>ly be exercised in a climate that is free from violence,<br />
pressure or threats <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any kind against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leaders and members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se organizati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
and it is for governments to ensure that this principle is respected [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006,<br />
para. 44]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note with interest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formal commitment made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government, through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding signed <strong>on</strong> 26 March 2013 by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO Governing Body, to<br />
guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers, and through effective protecti<strong>on</strong> measures, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and leaders against violence and threats so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y can carry out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant to<br />
keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any follow-up acti<strong>on</strong> taken with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaints initially filed<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRGP c<strong>on</strong>cerning alleged dangers caused to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its members.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
506. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant to keep it<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any follow-up acti<strong>on</strong> taken with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaints<br />
initially filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRGP c<strong>on</strong>cerning alleged dangers caused to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its members.<br />
CASE NO. 2978<br />
INTERIM REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (CUSG)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
alleges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mass dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers, in<br />
violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a collective<br />
agreement in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa, as well<br />
as anti-uni<strong>on</strong> persecuti<strong>on</strong>, dismissals, death<br />
threats and an attempted murder against<br />
members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pajapita<br />
507. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in two communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 1 August 2012 presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala (CUSG). The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> sent<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 22 May 2013.<br />
508. The Government sent partial observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 6 February 2013.<br />
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509. Guatemala has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
510. In an initial communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 1 August 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant alleges that <strong>on</strong> 30 April<br />
2012, 216 workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa were dismissed, violating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreement <strong>on</strong> working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s signed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa and by that municipality, in particular article 49 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning “employment stability and immunity from dismissal”. The trade uni<strong>on</strong> initiated<br />
legal proceedings as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which, <strong>on</strong> 24 May 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, Social Welfare and<br />
Family Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Instance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed workers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r alleges that, <strong>on</strong><br />
15 June 2012, members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality abusively interrupted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> missi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Instance in charge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> directing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employee voting<br />
process regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike acti<strong>on</strong> planned in protest against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
dismissals. It adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mayor publicly declared that he would not reinstate any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour judge was not impartial and that he would file criminal<br />
proceedings against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders and previous mayors for signing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreement, which he declared illegal.<br />
511. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 22 May 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> states that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Labour Inspectorate, a c<strong>on</strong>sensual agreement between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa was<br />
signed <strong>on</strong> 3 December 2012, providing for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all dismissed employees<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 December 2012. The complainant adds that while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissed workers have been reinstated, back wages have not been paid, in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
agreement signed <strong>on</strong> 3 December 2012 and, for this reas<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>flict is not yet resolved.<br />
512. In a sec<strong>on</strong>d communicati<strong>on</strong>, dated 1 August 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CUSG alleges that Ms Tania<br />
Vanessa Castillo Rodríguez, Records and Agreements Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pajapita, and Mr Walter Manfedo López Valdez, candidate<br />
to a uni<strong>on</strong> leadership positi<strong>on</strong>, were dismissed <strong>on</strong> 27 April and 10 July 2012, respectively,<br />
in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement <strong>on</strong> working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s in force between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pajapita, especially with regard to its clauses <strong>on</strong><br />
employment stability and trade uni<strong>on</strong> acti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
513. The complainant adds that, from March 2012, Ms Guadalupe Floridalma de León and<br />
Ms Marili Blanca Stzep Ramírez, respectively Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Secretary-General and Finance<br />
Secretary, received death threats via teleph<strong>on</strong>e, indicating that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would be killed if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
did not give up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities. Both leaders resigned <strong>on</strong> 5 July 2012. On<br />
13 June 2012, Ms Guadalupe Floridalma de León and Ms Marili Blanca Stzep Ramírez<br />
filed a complaint before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regi<strong>on</strong>al Deputy to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Human Rights Advocate,<br />
placing <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> record that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y believed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> threats came from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mayor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipality, his s<strong>on</strong> and <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his collaborators. However, both leaders withdrew <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
complaints <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following day. The CUSG referred <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecuti<strong>on</strong><br />
Service <strong>on</strong> 14 June. The organizati<strong>on</strong> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r alleges that an attempt was made <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> life<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Orlando Joaquin Vazquez Miranda, Uni<strong>on</strong> Labour and Disputes Secretary, <strong>on</strong> 5 June<br />
2012, and that no complaint was filed for fear <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> future reprisals.<br />
514. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CUSG alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mayor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pajapita is pressuring uni<strong>on</strong> members to sign<br />
pre-drafted letters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resignati<strong>on</strong>, and is subjecting staff to various threats and blackmail to<br />
make <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m leave <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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B. The Government’s reply<br />
515. In its reply dated 6 February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala indicates that, as regards<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa, an out-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>-court agreement<br />
by mutual c<strong>on</strong>sent was signed <strong>on</strong> 3 December 2012 between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General<br />
Labour Inspector, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputy Minister for Labour and delegates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Prosecutor for Human Rights. Dated 1 December 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement provides for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all dismissed employees, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment by instalments <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage arrears, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
withdrawal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal proceedings filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby ending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
labour dispute between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
516. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that this case c<strong>on</strong>cerns, firstly, allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mass dismissal<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipal workers, in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement in force in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipality<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa, and sec<strong>on</strong>dly, allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> death threats, attempted murder, pressure <strong>on</strong><br />
uni<strong>on</strong>ists to leave <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, and anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissals against members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pajapita.<br />
517. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s observati<strong>on</strong>s regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipal workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes with satisfacti<strong>on</strong> that, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
auspices <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Labour Inspector and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputy Minister for Labour, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa<br />
signed an agreement by mutual c<strong>on</strong>sent ending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour dispute between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties and<br />
providing for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed workers as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment by<br />
instalments <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wage arrears. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also observes that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> in its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 22 May<br />
2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sensual agreement, as c<strong>on</strong>cerns <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> back wages, has not yet been<br />
implemented. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed<br />
promptly about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> back wages to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa<br />
following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir reinstatement.<br />
518. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes with c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very serious nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged anti-uni<strong>on</strong><br />
acts, death threats and attempted murder against members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pajapita. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply regrets that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seriousness<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that has elapsed since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presentati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government has not yet sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in this regard.<br />
519. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s can <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
be exercised in a climate that is free from violence, pressure or threats <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any kind against<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leaders and members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se organizati<strong>on</strong>s, and it is for governments to ensure that<br />
this principle is respected [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, para. 44]. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this<br />
principle and taking note with interest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formal commitment made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Understanding, signed <strong>on</strong> 26 March 2013 between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Guatemala and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO, to guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers through effective measures to protect uni<strong>on</strong> members and leaders against<br />
violence and threats to enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m to carry out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to hold an independent judicial inquiry without delay into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
alleged events and to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s<br />
threatened and to re-establish a climate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trust that enables <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pajapita to engage freely in uni<strong>on</strong> activities. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to inform it without delay <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures taken in<br />
this regard and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inquiry.<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
520. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing interim c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed promptly about<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> back wages to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jalapa<br />
following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir reinstatement.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to hold an independent judicial<br />
inquiry without delay into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged anti-uni<strong>on</strong> acts, death threats and<br />
attempted murder against members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pajapita, and to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to guarantee<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s threatened and to re-establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> climate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trust so<br />
as to enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed uni<strong>on</strong> to engage in uni<strong>on</strong><br />
activities.<br />
(c) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to inform it without delay <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
measures taken in this regard and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inquiry.<br />
(d) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> special attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
extreme seriousness and urgent nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters dealt with in this case.<br />
CASE NO. 2990<br />
INTERIM REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>duras<br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Au<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ntic Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>duras (FASH)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Casa Comercial Mattews Cemcol<br />
Comercial y Similares (SITRACCMACCOS) and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>duras Institute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Children<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Family (SITRAIHNFA)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: Violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreement, impediments to collective<br />
bargaining, dismissals and anti-uni<strong>on</strong> practices<br />
in a company and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>duras Institute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Children and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Family<br />
521. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in two communicati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Au<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ntic Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>duras (FASH), dated 29 August 2012. The first communicati<strong>on</strong> was also<br />
signed by Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Casa Comercial Mattews Cemcol Comercial y Similares<br />
(SITRACCMACCOS), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>duras Institute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Children and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Family (SITRAIHNFA).<br />
522. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 11 December 2012.<br />
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523. H<strong>on</strong>duras has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
524. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 29 August 2012, FASH and SITRACCMACCOS allege that in<br />
2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company Casa Comercial Mattews Cemcol Comercial y Similares, claiming a<br />
full restructuring <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company – but in reality seeking to dissolve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> –<br />
succeeded in getting many <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists to leave its employ and later dismissed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
many o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r trade uni<strong>on</strong> members precisely when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> changed its statutes with a<br />
view to change from a company uni<strong>on</strong> to an industry-level uni<strong>on</strong>. The complainant<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s point out that at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven board members were <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>on</strong>ly <strong>on</strong>es that had not been dismissed; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment relati<strong>on</strong>ship <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remaining<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists had been terminated. The complainants have requested that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreement be h<strong>on</strong>oured, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
social benefits <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those who were dismissed.<br />
525. In ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 29 August 2012, FASH and SITRAIHNFA allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
H<strong>on</strong>duras Institute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Children and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Family claims that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> should be<br />
dissolved so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute can do business with n<strong>on</strong>-governmental organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
(NGOs). The authorities are debating whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to dismantle <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute and establish a<br />
Children’s Ombudsman Office with new staff.<br />
526. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed organizati<strong>on</strong>s allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute failed to comply with<br />
various terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009 collective agreement (this agreement c<strong>on</strong>tinues to be in force,<br />
since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute’s authorities have blocked <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new agreement). They also allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute does not recognize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r affiliates or not. O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r terms that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Institute has failed to comply with include, for example, those relating to overtime hours <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
work, staff transportati<strong>on</strong>, provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> equipment, regulatory procedures and job stability.<br />
Therefore, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute has dismissed employees orally and<br />
in writing. The trade uni<strong>on</strong>s have sent many attachments.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
527. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11 December 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that it respects uni<strong>on</strong><br />
rights and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities recognize SITRAIHNFA, as evidenced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> six agreements<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cluded in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute. SITRAIHNFA terminated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last collective agreement and<br />
apparently negotiated in a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> meetings with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> former executive director <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement without accepting those relating to wage increases<br />
and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs having ec<strong>on</strong>omic and financial implicati<strong>on</strong>s. The Government explains that<br />
during this time <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute has been engulfed by a budgetary and financial crisis, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
extent that <strong>on</strong> 21 September 2011, under Executive Order No. 066-2011, a state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
emergency was declared at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute, and an intervening commissi<strong>on</strong> was set up. The<br />
commissi<strong>on</strong> was operati<strong>on</strong>al until January 2012, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current executive director was<br />
named. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general provisi<strong>on</strong>s relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers c<strong>on</strong>tained in<br />
Executive Orders Nos PCM-063-2011 and PCM-027-2012, his powers in dealing with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
budget and financial resources have been restricted, owing to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> domestic and<br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al financial crisis affecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent that all wage increases are<br />
prohibited by law, a point that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants seek to overlook. In o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r words, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government reiterates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seventh collective agreement has not been<br />
possible in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s financial situati<strong>on</strong>, in particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute’s available<br />
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budgetary resources, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal impediments duly shown by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive orders that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government attached to its communicati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
528. The Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> that dismissals at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute are made orally<br />
and in writing, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> is not recognized or its existence denied is not true.<br />
This allegati<strong>on</strong> can easily be refuted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> many specific records and grievance records<br />
that are properly drawn up in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute’s Department<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Human Resources. A uni<strong>on</strong> representative is thus present and signs <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> documents. The<br />
representative is granted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to speak in defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ interests, in<br />
accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rules <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedure and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement, which al<strong>on</strong>e defeats<br />
this allegati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
529. The Government adds that when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Children’s<br />
Ombudsman Office was brought before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>duran Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>gress, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SITRAIHNFA Central Board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directors were invited by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State to attend so that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y too could present <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir initiatives and observati<strong>on</strong>s. The proposals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both parties are<br />
now awaiting debate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative branch. In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preceding statement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
wording <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint stating that “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s intenti<strong>on</strong> is to do business with<br />
NGOs” not <strong>on</strong>ly lacks respect, but is totally inappropriate and does not merit any<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> whatsoever because such defamatory accusati<strong>on</strong>s should not be made<br />
capriciously and without substantiati<strong>on</strong> to internati<strong>on</strong>al bodies.<br />
530. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>siders inappropriate and capricious <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
executive branch intends to dissolve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute, and thus <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>. The plan to set<br />
up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Children’s Ombudsman Office to replace <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute is not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive branch al<strong>on</strong>e, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant bill was drafted by a team composed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bodies engaged in internati<strong>on</strong>al cooperati<strong>on</strong> dealing with youth<br />
programmes, such as: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United States Agency for Internati<strong>on</strong>al Development (USAID)<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Children’s Fund (UNICEF); civil society, representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Inter-instituti<strong>on</strong>al Coordinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Private Organizati<strong>on</strong>s for Children and Children’s<br />
Rights (COIPRODEN), an organizati<strong>on</strong> representing more than 30 organizati<strong>on</strong>s devoted<br />
to youth programmes; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor for Victimized Children, an<br />
integral part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State; and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive branch,<br />
represented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice and Human Rights Secretariat and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> senior management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Institute, based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competencies granted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
governing its instituti<strong>on</strong>al life. By creating a new instituti<strong>on</strong>, this bill aims to extend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute, which is oriented solely towards children at social risk or criminal<br />
law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders. It also will also cover <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> human rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 3.8 milli<strong>on</strong> children <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
H<strong>on</strong>duras. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, this bill falls within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> frame <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Country Visi<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Plan, which in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute, requires it to decentralize its functi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipalities, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> compulsory expansi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present 36 municipalities<br />
in which it operates, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 298 municipalities throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country.<br />
531. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>’s recogniti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that apparently <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainants do not recall <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> clause 4 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement in force that<br />
states as follows: “If for whatever reas<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>duras Institute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Children and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Family should change its name or its representatives, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new authority shall c<strong>on</strong>tinue<br />
being <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “employer” in matters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment. The relati<strong>on</strong> will be governed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rules<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedure in force, in additi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present collective agreement, and<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Code, as a legal framework. In all cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> will be recognized<br />
automatically as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legitimate representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al and general interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its<br />
respective members with whatever name is adopted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new instituti<strong>on</strong>.”<br />
532. C<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged impediments to collective bargaining, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government denies<br />
impediments by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute and refers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> grievance hearings granted <strong>on</strong><br />
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behalf <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers and to specific records referring to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> produced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
mediati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour aimed at bringing a halt to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> countless illegal<br />
walkouts by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> that cause prejudice to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> children and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute. In all<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se documents <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> appears precisely as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ representative.<br />
533. With respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged violati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute’s authorities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment<br />
agreement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms range from<br />
those relating to payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> overtime hours <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> work to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al guarantees, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligati<strong>on</strong> to provide staff transportati<strong>on</strong> under certain<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> furniture and equipment, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulatory<br />
procedures to staff, job stability and so forth. The Government points out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is little<br />
substance in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s and if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were true, this would require interventi<strong>on</strong> or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
permanent closing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute.<br />
534. The Government also states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant has not exhausted all administrative<br />
remedies c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s. C<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> clause 98 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
collective agreement that was challenged by a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> temporary workers claiming such<br />
clause as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis for recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir status as fixed-term workers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice ruled in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute, dismissing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
case against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute.<br />
535. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged n<strong>on</strong>-compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> clause <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sixth collective<br />
agreement guaranteeing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative and managerial freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute with<br />
respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary resources for achieving its ends, without fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r obligati<strong>on</strong>s or<br />
c<strong>on</strong>straints than those set out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>duras, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
regulati<strong>on</strong>s and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present collective agreement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that despite<br />
giving timely notificati<strong>on</strong> to some temporary workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>tracts,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute lawfully and repeatedly advised <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> former workers to<br />
claim amounts to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y could be found legally entitled in terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acquired rights. As<br />
ordered and instructed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> leaders, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers refused to do so, causing<br />
significant prejudice to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own interests, since articles 864 and 867 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Code<br />
exclude <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> making any legal claims to employment rights two m<strong>on</strong>ths after<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir agreements have been terminated.<br />
536. The Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> eventually acknowledged that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute’s<br />
senior management had <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e hand dismissed staff and, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r hand, recruited<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs. However, what <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signatories <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement do not indicate is that many people<br />
lacking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proper qualificati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts were under c<strong>on</strong>tract at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute. As a<br />
result, it was necessary to replace part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m with qualified staff, social workers,<br />
psychologists and physicians to carry out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> difficult work <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute, that is to say,<br />
to provide care for children at social risk or for juvenile <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal law.<br />
537. The Government stresses that SITRAIHNFA has been resp<strong>on</strong>sible for c<strong>on</strong>stant abuse,<br />
causing prejudice not <strong>on</strong>ly to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> children. The uni<strong>on</strong> carried out 17 illegal<br />
work stoppages (amounting to 120 working days), which in some cases lasted 15 or<br />
17 days, bring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute’s work to a halt.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
538. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute and observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
refer to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dissoluti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute and its replacement by a Children’s Ombudsman<br />
Office with new staff. It also takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute’s failure to comply<br />
with various clauses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009 collective agreement, impediments by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a new collective agreement, oral and written dismissals and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> failure<br />
to recognize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers.<br />
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539. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
new agreement was faced with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impossibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fering any wage increases in virtue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive orders issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> domestic and<br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al financial crisis limiting budgetary resources; (2) a bill has been introduced<br />
to establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Children’s Ombudsman Office, and SITRAIHNFA’s Central<br />
Board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directors has been given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> opportunity to present its initiatives, observati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and proposals, which are pending discussi<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative branch; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainants’ accusati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “doing business with NGOs” is defamatory. The replacement<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Children’s Ombudsman Office is not a decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
executive branch al<strong>on</strong>e, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill was drafted by a group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s engaged in internati<strong>on</strong>al cooperati<strong>on</strong>, such as UNICEF, and numerous<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s dealing with children’s issues, such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Juvenile Prosecutor; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> replacing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Children’s Ombudsman Office is to<br />
extend human rights coverage to 3.8 milli<strong>on</strong> children and to decentralize functi<strong>on</strong>s through<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> municipalities (currently <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute is oriented solely towards children at social risk<br />
or criminal law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders and <strong>on</strong>ly covers 36 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 298 municipalities in H<strong>on</strong>duras);<br />
(4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement expressly guarantees that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future employer will recognize<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> as a legitimate representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its members in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new instituti<strong>on</strong>; (5) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employment issues covered in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint have resulted in mediati<strong>on</strong> between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretariat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> has made 17 work stoppages that have<br />
paralysed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute for 120 working days; (6) in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues c<strong>on</strong>tained in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complaint, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant has failed to exhaust all administrative remedies; (7) as<br />
regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement by staff dismissals, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial<br />
authority has in a certain number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases ruled against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
also claimed that temporary workers, who have received timely notificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
terminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>tracts, should be recognized as fixed-term staff; lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute<br />
had to replace a certain number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> people lacking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary qualificati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
posts c<strong>on</strong>cerned to fill <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m with skilled pers<strong>on</strong>nel (social workers, physicians,<br />
psychologists and so forth) in order to meet <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aims <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute (provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> services<br />
for children at social risk and juvenile criminal law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders); and (8) in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrative procedures for dismissal, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> was granted a hearing by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Institute’s Human Resources Department.<br />
540. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute is<br />
related mainly to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> likely replacement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute by ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r instituti<strong>on</strong> (according to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants, with new staff) <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e hand, and to collective bargaining issues <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r (impossibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pay raises because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> financial crisis, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government, and failure to observe certain clauses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement in force,<br />
according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants; and dismissals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> short- or fixed-term workers).<br />
541. In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tradictory versi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that it is not<br />
in a positi<strong>on</strong> to determine whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r or not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement in force have been<br />
breached. Taking into account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strikes carried out, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take measures so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute, in agreement with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant,<br />
set up an independent mechanism for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> settlement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> disputes <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hope that this mechanism<br />
can be included in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next collective agreement. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that this<br />
mechanism should be able to deal with issues <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interpretati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement,<br />
including in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> dismissal. C<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impossibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
negotiating wage increases because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> domestic and internati<strong>on</strong>al financial crisis, as<br />
argued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to highlight <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle whereby if, as<br />
part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its stabilizati<strong>on</strong> policy, a government c<strong>on</strong>siders that wage rates cannot be settled<br />
freely through collective bargaining, such a restricti<strong>on</strong> should be imposed as an<br />
excepti<strong>on</strong>al measure and <strong>on</strong>ly to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent that is necessary, without exceeding a<br />
reas<strong>on</strong>able period, and it should be accompanied by adequate safeguards to protect<br />
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workers’ living standards [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, para. 1024]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure respect for this principle and expresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hope that collective<br />
bargaining <strong>on</strong> wage issues can be taken up again in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very near future.<br />
542. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> likely replacement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Children’s<br />
Ombudsman Office for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s and aims menti<strong>on</strong>ed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observes that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant bill was submitted for<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerned <strong>on</strong>ce it had been introduced to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislature<br />
and that in this c<strong>on</strong>text, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s have presented <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir observati<strong>on</strong>s and proposals.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets n<strong>on</strong>e<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less that in drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill such trade uni<strong>on</strong>s were not<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sulted, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill deals with an issue that has a direct impact <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
members. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hope that, as announced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
legislative branch will duly c<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s’ viewpoint and proposals and will<br />
give <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m a voice in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative process.<br />
543. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets to observe that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not resp<strong>on</strong>ded to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company Casa Comercial Mattews Cemcol Comercial y<br />
Similares and requests it to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s without delay.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
544. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing interim c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take measures so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute, in agreement<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, set up an independent mechanism for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> settlement<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> disputes <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement and<br />
expresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hope that this mechanism can be included in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next<br />
collective agreement. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that this mechanism should<br />
also be able to deal with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interpretati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement,<br />
including in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> dismissal.<br />
(b) C<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impossibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiating wage increases due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
financial crisis, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
principle c<strong>on</strong>tained in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic stabilizati<strong>on</strong><br />
measures in times <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> financial crisis and requests it to ensure respect for<br />
such principle; at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same time <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hope that<br />
collective bargaining <strong>on</strong> wage issues can be taken up in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very near future.<br />
(c) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hope that, as announced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative branch will duly c<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> point <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> view and proposals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s and will give <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m a voice in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bill<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Children’s Ombudsman Office.<br />
(d) Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets to observe that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>ded to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company Casa Comercial<br />
Mattews Cemcol Comercial y Similares and requests it to send its<br />
observati<strong>on</strong>s without delay.<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 145
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
CASE NO. 2991<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> India<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Garment and Allied Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> (GAWU)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
alleges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inacti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities with<br />
regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
545. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Garment and Allied Workers’<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> (GAWU) dated 11 October 2012.<br />
546. The Government forwarded its resp<strong>on</strong>se to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated<br />
9 January 2013.<br />
547. India has nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to<br />
Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), nor <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
548. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 11 October 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> GAWU alleges<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inacti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
549. The complainant states that GAWU is a trade uni<strong>on</strong> as per <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> definiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> term<br />
provided under secti<strong>on</strong> 2(h) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1926, and has, as members, workers<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> garment and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r allied industries in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Gurga<strong>on</strong> district <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Haryana State in<br />
India. The objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU is to improve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages and working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> garment and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r allied industries in Gurga<strong>on</strong>, and this objective has been clearly<br />
outlined in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>, GAWU<br />
has elected representatives and a membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> over 300 workers from various companies<br />
engaged in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> producti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> garment and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r allied activities in Gurga<strong>on</strong>, who pay a<br />
membership fee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 rupees (INR) per m<strong>on</strong>th to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s fund. The complainant<br />
encloses for reference <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, details <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU membership, as well<br />
as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> names and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r details <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> elected GAWU representatives.<br />
550. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> indicates that, as per secti<strong>on</strong> 4 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act 1926,<br />
GAWU applied for its registrati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s in Chandigarh <strong>on</strong><br />
21 December 2011. As per secti<strong>on</strong> 5 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act, GAWU furnished all documents necessary<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong>, as well as all additi<strong>on</strong>al documents required by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar.<br />
551. According to informati<strong>on</strong> received by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar’s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> file was submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deputy Labour Commissi<strong>on</strong>er (DLC) in Gurga<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
2 January 2012. Not hearing from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DLC <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> file, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong>s sent, <strong>on</strong> 24 January 2012, a letter to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DLC, copied to GAWU, directing her to<br />
transmit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact-finding report immediately to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar, so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter could be<br />
finalized as so<strong>on</strong> as possible. The complainant encloses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed letter for<br />
reference. Thereafter, GAWU sent a reminder to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar <strong>on</strong> 31 January 2012 and also<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Officer, who was supposed to carry out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspecti<strong>on</strong> based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> file <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU. The Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s in Chandigarh sent three more<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
letters dated 9 April, 22 May and 12 June 2012 to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DLC, copying GAWU, urging her to<br />
submit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspecti<strong>on</strong> report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar’s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice as so<strong>on</strong> as possible. The complainant<br />
again encloses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se letters for reference. Records obtained by GAWU, through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
2005 Right to Informati<strong>on</strong> Act (RTI), dated 17 and 29 May 2012, showed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was no<br />
record <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspecti<strong>on</strong> based <strong>on</strong> which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DLC was required to submit her report. The<br />
complainant states that, <strong>on</strong> 9 July 2012, GAWU sent a representati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Haryana State urging him to inform <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its<br />
registrati<strong>on</strong>; but that, so far, it has not heard anything from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Secretary in this<br />
regard.<br />
552. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>’s view, this inacti<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Haryana, with<br />
regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU, is a deliberate unlawful attempt to deny garment<br />
workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right to organize, in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act 1926. By denying<br />
GAWU <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is infringing GAWU members’ right to organize<br />
and bargain collectively for better pay and working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
553. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, India, as a founding member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO, is violating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
fundamental principle that “freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> expressi<strong>on</strong> is essential to<br />
sustained progress”. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first step in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Preamble <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> declares to be a means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> improving c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour and establishing<br />
peace. The complainant believes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inacti<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Haryana is in violati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Article 8(2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87, which stipulates that “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> land shall not be<br />
such as to impair, nor shall it be so applied as to impair, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guarantees” provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948<br />
(No. 87). Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> India is morally bound by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1998 ILO<br />
Declarati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, which, in paragraph 2, states<br />
that “… all Members, even if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y have not ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s in questi<strong>on</strong>, have an<br />
obligati<strong>on</strong> arising from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very fact <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Organizati<strong>on</strong> to respect, to<br />
promote and to realize, in good faith and in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
principles c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental rights which are <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
namely: (a) freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effective recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to collective<br />
bargaining; ...”.<br />
554. The complainant stresses that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegedly deliberate delay in registering GAWU by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Haryana facilitates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ratified C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s, such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hours <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Work (Industry) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1919 (No. 1), ratified by India <strong>on</strong> 14 July 1921; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Weekly<br />
Rest (Industry) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1921 (No. 14), ratified by India <strong>on</strong> 11 May 1923; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Workmen’s Compensati<strong>on</strong> (Occupati<strong>on</strong>al Diseases) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1925 (No. 18), ratified by<br />
India <strong>on</strong> 13 January 1964; and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Equal Remunerati<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1951 (No. 100),<br />
ratified by India <strong>on</strong> 25 September 1958.<br />
555. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
to direct <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> India, in particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Employment, to<br />
enquire into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Haryana. It also expresses its willingness to furnish any additi<strong>on</strong>al documents and<br />
evidence as may be required.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
556. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> received <strong>on</strong> 9 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that, as per <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
informati<strong>on</strong> received from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Haryana, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU for<br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926, was c<strong>on</strong>sidered but rejected due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following reas<strong>on</strong>s: (i) keeping in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>tained in secti<strong>on</strong> 4(2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request for registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> is not maintainable when half <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s who made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> have ceased to be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed uni<strong>on</strong>; and (ii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strength <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> does not<br />
even fulfil <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> at least 100 workers, as c<strong>on</strong>tained in<br />
secti<strong>on</strong> 4(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act.<br />
557. The Government encloses a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 1 January 2013, sent by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject “Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Garment and Allied Workers Uni<strong>on</strong>, Gurga<strong>on</strong>,<br />
for its registrati<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926”, making reference to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s<br />
applicati<strong>on</strong> for registrati<strong>on</strong> dated 23 December 2011. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
matter has been c<strong>on</strong>sidered and examined al<strong>on</strong>g with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> report received from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> field<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fices. It has been observed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, via its resoluti<strong>on</strong> dated<br />
30 October 2011, had authorized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following eight applicants to submit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong><br />
for registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> in questi<strong>on</strong>: Anannya Bhattacharjeee, President; Nagender<br />
Singh, General Secretary; Ashok Singh, Organizing Secretary; Ram Karan, Publicity<br />
Secretary; Mantun Giri, Joint Secretary; Parmod Kumar, Joint Secretary; Khushboo, Joint<br />
Secretary; and Ritu Singh, Treasurer. From a perusal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> submitted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong>, it has been found that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> does not c<strong>on</strong>tain <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ritu Singh,<br />
Treasurer. However, <strong>on</strong>e Anwar Ansari, Executive Member, has signed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
without authorizati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Body. It has fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r been noted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
remaining seven applicants who have signed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> is as follows: (i) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicant<br />
appearing at Signature No. 1 is a social activist and not a workman; (ii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> services <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nagender Singh and Khushboo whose names are appearing at Signatures Nos 2 and 7<br />
already stand dispensed with, <strong>on</strong> account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> closure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant industrial establishment<br />
with effect from 16 April 2012; and (iii) Ram Karan, whose name appears at Signature<br />
No. 4, has already resigned from service. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong>, it has,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, been c<strong>on</strong>cluded that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s request for registrati<strong>on</strong> is not maintainable,<br />
keeping in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>tained in secti<strong>on</strong> 4(2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926,<br />
which so provides when half <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s who made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> have<br />
ceased to be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed uni<strong>on</strong>. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case, out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven<br />
applicants, <strong>on</strong>ly three applicants remain. Moreover, during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inquiry, it has been found<br />
that some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial establishments with whom some members were working<br />
already stand closed; that some workers are not interested in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>;<br />
that various workers are not in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rolls <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company; and, thus, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strength <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
total membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> does not even fulfil <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> at least<br />
100 workers, as c<strong>on</strong>tained in secti<strong>on</strong> 4(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926. In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reas<strong>on</strong>s given above, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s has, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, c<strong>on</strong>cluded that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> is not maintainable and is hence rejected.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
558. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> alleges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
inacti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s registrati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
559. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant indicates that: (i) GAWU has elected its<br />
representatives and has a membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> over 300 workers from various companies<br />
engaged in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> producti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> garments and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r allied activities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Gurga<strong>on</strong> district <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Haryana State in India, who pay a membership fee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> INR5 per m<strong>on</strong>th to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s fund;<br />
(ii) as per secti<strong>on</strong>s 4 and 5 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926, GAWU applied for its<br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s in Chandigarh <strong>on</strong> 21 December 2011 and<br />
furnished all necessary documents, as well as all additi<strong>on</strong>al documents required; (iii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> file was submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DLC in Gurga<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 2 January 2012; (iv) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Registrar sent, <strong>on</strong> 24 January 2012, a letter to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DLC urging her to transmit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
inspecti<strong>on</strong> report as so<strong>on</strong> as possible; (v) GAWU, sent <strong>on</strong> 31 January 2012, a reminder to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Officer in charge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> carrying out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspecti<strong>on</strong> based <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU registrati<strong>on</strong> file; (vi) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar subsequently sent to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DLC three more<br />
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reminders (9 April, 22 May and 12 June 2012); (vii) records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> May 2012 obtained<br />
through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> RTI Act showed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inspecti<strong>on</strong> based <strong>on</strong> which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DLC was required to<br />
submit her report had not yet taken place; (viii) <strong>on</strong> 9 July 2012, GAWU sent a<br />
representati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Haryana State urging him to inform <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its registrati<strong>on</strong> but has not received a reply so far; and (ix) in its view,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inacti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Haryana with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU is a<br />
deliberate unlawful attempt to deny garment workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right to organize, in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> documents enclosed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, details <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU membership, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
names and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r details <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> elected GAWU representatives, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> letters sent to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
DLC by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar.<br />
560. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU for<br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926, was c<strong>on</strong>sidered but rejected. It notes, from<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s observati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enclosed communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 1 January 2013<br />
sent by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> invoked reas<strong>on</strong>s are as follows:<br />
(i)<br />
The General Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, via its resoluti<strong>on</strong> dated 30 October 2011, had<br />
authorized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following eight applicants to submit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> for registrati<strong>on</strong>:<br />
Anannya Bhattacharjeee, President; Nagender Singh, General Secretary; Ashok<br />
Singh, Organizing Secretary; Ram Karan, Publicity Secretary; Mantun Giri, Joint<br />
Secretary; Parmod Kumar, Joint Secretary; Khushboo, Joint Secretary; and Ritu<br />
Singh, Treasurer. The applicati<strong>on</strong> does not c<strong>on</strong>tain <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ritu Singh,<br />
Treasurer, but ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Anwar Ansari, Executive Member, a pers<strong>on</strong> who was not<br />
authorized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Body. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remaining seven<br />
applicants who have signed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicant No. 1 (Anannya<br />
Bhattacharjeee) is a social activist and not a worker; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> services <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicants No. 2<br />
(Nagender Singh) and No. 7 (Khushboo) stand dispensed with <strong>on</strong> account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> closure<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial establishment, with effect from 16 April 2012; and applicant No. 4<br />
(Ram Karan) has resigned from service. The uni<strong>on</strong>’s request for registrati<strong>on</strong> is,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, not maintainable, keeping in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>tained in secti<strong>on</strong> 4(2)<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926, which so provides when half <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
pers<strong>on</strong>s who made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong>, have ceased to be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>; in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case, <strong>on</strong>ly three out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> seven applicants remain.<br />
(ii) Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enquiry it was found that some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant industrial<br />
establishments had been closed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meantime, that some workers were no l<strong>on</strong>ger<br />
interested in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, and that various workers were not in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rolls<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company. Thus, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strength <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU did not fulfil <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong> membership requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> at least 100 workers as c<strong>on</strong>tained in secti<strong>on</strong> 4(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926, as amended in 2001.<br />
561. Firstly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that, while GAWU’s applicati<strong>on</strong> for registrati<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926, was submitted <strong>on</strong> 23 December 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial decisi<strong>on</strong> in this<br />
respect was transmitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>on</strong>e year later (by letter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 January 2013),<br />
despite several reminders sent by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> and by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant authorities<br />
in Gurga<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> cannot but regret <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances and c<strong>on</strong>siders that a<br />
<strong>on</strong>e-year period for treating a uni<strong>on</strong>’s applicati<strong>on</strong> for registrati<strong>on</strong> is excessive and not<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducive to harm<strong>on</strong>ious industrial relati<strong>on</strong>s. It recalls that a l<strong>on</strong>g registrati<strong>on</strong> procedure<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a serious obstacle to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>s and amounts to a<br />
denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers to establish organizati<strong>on</strong>s without previous authorizati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
and that a period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e m<strong>on</strong>th envisaged by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> to register an organizati<strong>on</strong> is<br />
reas<strong>on</strong>able [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, paras 307 and 308].<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 149
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
562. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to reject <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s request for registrati<strong>on</strong> pursuant to<br />
secti<strong>on</strong> 4(2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926, because half <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s who<br />
made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> have ceased to be members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
wishes to emphasize from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outset that, in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, it generally c<strong>on</strong>siders that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> procedure in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case did not respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> due process<br />
owing to its excessive length, and that, c<strong>on</strong>sequently, changes that have occurred within<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e-year period with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicant uni<strong>on</strong> members may indeed<br />
have had a detrimental impact <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
563. As to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cretely invoked changes in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
observing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government refers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that two applicants had been dismissed<br />
and <strong>on</strong>e applicant had resigned in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meantime, wishes to recall that, given that workers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s are entitled to elect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir representatives in full freedom, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> leader, or simply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that a trade uni<strong>on</strong> leader leaves <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work that he or<br />
she was carrying out in a given undertaking, should not affect his or her trade uni<strong>on</strong> status<br />
or functi<strong>on</strong>s unless stipulated o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rwise by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> in questi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
In fact, in such cases, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laying <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a worker who is a trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial can, as well<br />
as making him forfeit his positi<strong>on</strong> as a trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial, affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong> and its right to elect its representatives in full freedom, and even<br />
encourage acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference by employers [see Digest, op. cit., paras 408 and 411]. With<br />
respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that <strong>on</strong>e applicant was ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r a social activist than<br />
a worker, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> highlights that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an occupati<strong>on</strong><br />
or establishment as a c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> eligibility for uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice are not c<strong>on</strong>sistent with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers to elect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir representatives in full freedom. For <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bringing<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> which restricts uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice to pers<strong>on</strong>s actually employed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupati<strong>on</strong> or<br />
establishment c<strong>on</strong>cerned into c<strong>on</strong>formity with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> free electi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
representatives, it is necessary to, at least, make <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se provisi<strong>on</strong>s more flexible by<br />
admitting as candidates pers<strong>on</strong>s who have previously been employed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupati<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerned and by exempting from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupati<strong>on</strong>al requirement a reas<strong>on</strong>able proporti<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an organizati<strong>on</strong> [see Digest, op. cit., paras 407 and 409]. In this c<strong>on</strong>text,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that secti<strong>on</strong> 22 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926, as amended in 2001,<br />
provides for a certain proporti<strong>on</strong> or number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice bearers to be exempt from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> being actually employed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industry c<strong>on</strong>cerned. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, cannot ascertain why <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> changes in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicants, as invoked by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, triggered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> loss <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir status as uni<strong>on</strong> members or <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and gave<br />
rise to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s registrati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
564. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to reject <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s request for registrati<strong>on</strong> because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strength<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU did not fulfil <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> membership requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> at<br />
least 100 workers c<strong>on</strong>tained in secti<strong>on</strong> 4(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926, as amended in<br />
2001, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes due note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> divergent views <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
size <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>. It fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r observes that, pursuant<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant legal provisi<strong>on</strong>, no trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workmen shall be registered unless at<br />
least 10 per cent or 100 workmen, whichever is less, engaged or employed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
establishment or industry with which it is c<strong>on</strong>nected, are members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such a trade uni<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> making <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> for registrati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that it has<br />
always c<strong>on</strong>sidered that a minimum requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 100 workers to establish uni<strong>on</strong>s by<br />
branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity, occupati<strong>on</strong> or for various occupati<strong>on</strong>s must be reduced in c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong><br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s; and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal requirement for a<br />
minimum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 30 workers to establish a trade uni<strong>on</strong> at enterprise level should be reduced in<br />
order not to hinder <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s at enterprises, especially taking into<br />
account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very significant proporti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> small enterprises in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country [see Digest,<br />
op. cit., paras 283 and 286]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, believes that secti<strong>on</strong> 4(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926, as amended in 2001, imposes an excessively high minimum<br />
number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s, at both enterprise level and industry level.<br />
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Bearing in mind that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> failure to meet <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum membership requirement can <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
give rise to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> refusal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a uni<strong>on</strong>’s registrati<strong>on</strong>, if such a requirement is itself in<br />
c<strong>on</strong>formity with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
refusal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GAWU’s registrati<strong>on</strong> cannot be justified <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purported ground <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
membership having fallen below 100 workers (which is being disputed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant).<br />
565. In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its above c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to register<br />
GAWU without delay. It also requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to<br />
modify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum uni<strong>on</strong> membership requirement in secti<strong>on</strong> 4(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Act, 1926, as amended in 2001, so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>s is not unduly<br />
hindered. Lastly, recalling that a l<strong>on</strong>g registrati<strong>on</strong> procedure c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a serious obstacle<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>s and amounts to a denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers to<br />
establish organizati<strong>on</strong>s without previous authorizati<strong>on</strong> [see Digest, op. cit., para. 307], <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take steps to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period necessary for<br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s is not excessively l<strong>on</strong>g.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
566. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to register GAWU without delay.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to<br />
modify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum uni<strong>on</strong> membership requirement in secti<strong>on</strong> 4(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Act, 1926, as amended in 2001, so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s is not unduly hindered.<br />
(c) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take steps to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
period necessary for registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s is not excessively<br />
l<strong>on</strong>g.<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 151
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
CASE NO. 2508<br />
INTERIM REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iran<br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> (ITUC) and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Transport Workers’ Federati<strong>on</strong> (ITF)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainants allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authorities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer committed several<br />
and c<strong>on</strong>tinued acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> repressi<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
local trade uni<strong>on</strong> at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bus company, including:<br />
harassment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists and activists;<br />
violent attacks <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s founding meeting;<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violent disbanding, <strong>on</strong> two occasi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong> general assembly; arrest and detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
large numbers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> members and<br />
leaders under false pretences (disturbing public<br />
order, illegal trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities)<br />
567. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has already examined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case <strong>on</strong> six occasi<strong>on</strong>s, most<br />
recently at its June 2012 meeting, when it presented an interim report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body [364th <strong>Report</strong>, paras 575–593, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body at its 315th Sessi<strong>on</strong><br />
(June 2012)].<br />
568. The Internati<strong>on</strong>al Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> (ITUC) submitted additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> in<br />
a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 20 April 2012.<br />
569. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 30 May 2012.<br />
570. The Islamic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iran has not ratified ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
and Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. Previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
571. At its June 2012 meeting, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see<br />
364th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 593]:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
With respect to Mr Mansour Osanloo, President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SVATH, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
welcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that he was unc<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>ally released in June<br />
2011 and that at present, he is completely free and no limitati<strong>on</strong>, whatsoever, ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
legally or socially has been imposed <strong>on</strong> him. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> however deeply regrets that<br />
Mr Osanloo spent more than five years in pris<strong>on</strong>, despite its regular call for his release.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> welcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> that Mr Madadi was released from pris<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
19 April 2012. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> however deeply deplores <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that he will have served<br />
much more than <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> two year pris<strong>on</strong> term for which he was initially sentenced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Revoluti<strong>on</strong>ary Court in October 2007, this in spite <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s systematic<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong> for his release. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that Mr Madadi will have his<br />
rights restored and that he will be compensated for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> damage suffered. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has <strong>on</strong>ce again failed to provide any<br />
indicati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ill-treatment to which Mr Madadi had been<br />
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(c)<br />
(d)<br />
(e)<br />
(f)<br />
(g)<br />
subjected while in detenti<strong>on</strong>, and <strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to institute without<br />
delay an independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into this serious matter and to keep it informed in this<br />
regard.<br />
Noting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that, toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with its social partners, it has<br />
collectively negotiated amendments <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Law and that it str<strong>on</strong>gly hopes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
newly drafted Labour Law that is expected to be approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Parliament also<br />
addresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> core c<strong>on</strong>cerns <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to specify which social partners were c<strong>on</strong>sulted <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft amendments and to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> newly drafted Labour Bill. It <strong>on</strong>ce<br />
again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate any progress made in adopting amendments to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Law so as to allow for trade uni<strong>on</strong> pluralism and expects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
give this matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> highest priority and to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> de facto recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SVATH<br />
without fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r delay pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> introducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative reforms.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Code <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Practice <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s and Assemblies.<br />
While noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has <strong>on</strong>ce again failed to provide specific informati<strong>on</strong><br />
with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r recalls <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, as<br />
summarized below, and urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide full informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
implementati<strong>on</strong>:<br />
– The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to transmit a detailed report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
findings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SGIO and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Headquarters for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Human Rights into<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workplace harassment during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s founding,<br />
from March to June 2005, as so<strong>on</strong> as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are produced. It <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> revealed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se investigati<strong>on</strong>s, to<br />
take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to ensure that all employees at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company are<br />
effectively protected against any form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong> related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
membership or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities.<br />
– The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to immediately institute a full<br />
and independent judicial inquiry into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attacks <strong>on</strong> uni<strong>on</strong> meetings in May and<br />
June 2005, in order to clarify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts, determine resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities, prosecute and<br />
punish those resp<strong>on</strong>sible and thus prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> repetiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such acts. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments in this<br />
regard, as well as to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court’s judgment in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> initiated<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se attacks <strong>on</strong>ce it is handed down.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again takes due note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its requests<br />
for technical assistance and training and expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will not place any<br />
restricti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> missi<strong>on</strong>s aimed at improving respect for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y will be able to meet with all parties c<strong>on</strong>cerned in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cases against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iran, including with those who<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinue to be detained c<strong>on</strong>trary to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s repeated recommendati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, noting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir entirety including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right to organize and collective bargaining<br />
remains an uncompromising priority, but never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less observing that five years have<br />
elapsed since its first examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case, and noting fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seriousness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters c<strong>on</strong>tained <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rein – in particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> yet unresolved grave violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil<br />
liberties against numerous trade uni<strong>on</strong>s leaders and members – <strong>on</strong>ce again calls <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body’s special attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extremely grave situati<strong>on</strong> relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> climate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iran.<br />
B. Additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants<br />
572. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 20 April 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ITUC indicates that, <strong>on</strong> 14 April 2012,<br />
Mr Reza Shahabi, Treasurer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Syndicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tehran and Suburbs Bus<br />
Company, was sentenced to six years impris<strong>on</strong>ment for allegedly committing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
“propaganda against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regime” and “c<strong>on</strong>spiracy against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al security”; he has<br />
also been banned from engaging in trade uni<strong>on</strong> activity for five years and was assessed a<br />
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70 milli<strong>on</strong> Iranian rials (IRR) fine; he remains in pris<strong>on</strong> pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to<br />
appeal <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sentence. The ITUC c<strong>on</strong>siders that this case is yet ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r example where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
legal system has been perverted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government in order to harass and incarcerate<br />
independent trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists who have fought to defend human and trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Islamic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iran. The ITUC also expresses its deep c<strong>on</strong>cern about Mr Shahabi’s<br />
health, who allegedly sustained a harsh beating at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities following his<br />
arrest in June 2010. The ITUC indicates that he has been denied needed medical care.<br />
C. The Government’s reply<br />
573. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 30 May 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>firms Mr Ebrahim Madadi’s<br />
release from pris<strong>on</strong>. The Government indicates that it would do whatever is possible to<br />
ensure that he would be compensated for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> damages, if he is found legally and<br />
legitimately liable to collect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m. The Government adds that Mr Madadi would also be<br />
entitled to seek a variety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing legal and judicial means and channels to sue any<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ill-treatment supposedly inflicted up<strong>on</strong> him during interrogati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
detenti<strong>on</strong>s, but that no such file has yet been registered with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law.<br />
574. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Shahabi, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that it genuinely<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinues its c<strong>on</strong>structive attempts to seek his parole and pard<strong>on</strong> through legal channels.<br />
The Government recalls that, when meeting with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour<br />
Standards Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO, <strong>on</strong> 17 April 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cooperatives, Labour<br />
and Social Welfare had reaffirmed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s inclinati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> immediate<br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Shahabi; he had instructed his Deputy for Internati<strong>on</strong>al Affairs to closely<br />
follow this case. In relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> accusati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> maltreatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Shahabi, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government states that any alleged mistreatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspects and arrested people,<br />
irrespective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> charges against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, shall be subject to appropriate legal prosecuting<br />
and that perpetrators <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> would be sued and duly punished if found guilty <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
attributed maltreatments and neglects charges; in this respect, Mr Shahabi has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> power to<br />
exercise his c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al and legal rights toward reclamati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his rights, if he so<br />
decides.<br />
575. In regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> negligence and carelessness in addressing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> immediate<br />
medical needs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Reza Shahabi during his pris<strong>on</strong> term, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pris<strong>on</strong>s, Correcti<strong>on</strong>al and Rehabilitati<strong>on</strong> Services is resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
safety, security and health <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong>ers, and that different articles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Executive Standing<br />
Order <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> said department legally requires it to c<strong>on</strong>stantly supervise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public and<br />
individual situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong> inmates and address <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir needs immediately. Paragraph 1<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Article 44 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Standing Order requires <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong> ombudspers<strong>on</strong> to closely m<strong>on</strong>itor<br />
any infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legitimate rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pris<strong>on</strong>ers. The Government states that,<br />
realizing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> providing a detailed account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Shahabi’s medical<br />
treatment, it will undertake to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> with a detailed report <strong>on</strong> his medical<br />
treatment. The Government indicates that he has already been in hospital for b<strong>on</strong>e spurs’<br />
treatment.<br />
576. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister had reiterated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
commitment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promoti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> multiplicity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s in light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> newly amended labour law bilaterally formulated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners.<br />
D. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
577. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that this case, initially filed in July 2006, c<strong>on</strong>cerns acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
repressi<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> local trade uni<strong>on</strong> at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bus company, including: harassment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists and activists; violent attacks <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s founding meeting; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violent<br />
disbanding, <strong>on</strong> two occasi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> general assembly; arrest and detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> large<br />
numbers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> members and leaders under false pretences (disturbing public<br />
order, illegal trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities).<br />
578. With respect to Mr Ebrahim Madadi, Vice-President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SVATH, who served much more<br />
than <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> two-year pris<strong>on</strong> term for which he was initially sentenced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Revoluti<strong>on</strong>ary<br />
Court in October 2007, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government indicating that it would do whatever is possible to ensure that he would be<br />
compensated for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> damages if he is found legally and legitimately liable to collect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m.<br />
As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ill-treatment to which he has been subjected while in<br />
detenti<strong>on</strong>, while taking note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicating that<br />
Mr Madadi would be entitled to seek a variety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing legal and judicial means and<br />
channels to sue any such allegati<strong>on</strong>s, but that no such file has yet been registered with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
public court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to institute, without<br />
delay, an independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se serious allegati<strong>on</strong>s and, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are found to<br />
be true, to compensate him accordingly.<br />
579. With respect to Mr Reza Shahabi, Treasurer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Syndicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tehran and<br />
Suburbs Bus Company, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, in its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 20 April<br />
2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ITUC indicates that, <strong>on</strong> 14 April 2012, he was sentenced to six years<br />
impris<strong>on</strong>ment for allegedly committing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “propaganda against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regime”<br />
and “c<strong>on</strong>spiracy against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al security”; he has also been banned from engaging in<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> activity for five years and was assessed a IRR70 milli<strong>on</strong> fine. The ITUC<br />
expresses its deep c<strong>on</strong>cern about Mr Shahabi’s health, who allegedly sustained a harsh<br />
beating at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities following his arrest in June 2010, and indicates that<br />
he has been denied needed medical care. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
indicates that it genuinely c<strong>on</strong>tinues its c<strong>on</strong>structive attempts to seek Mr Shahabi’s parole<br />
and pard<strong>on</strong> through legal channels. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
statement that Mr Shahabi has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> power to exercise his c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al and legal rights<br />
toward reclamati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his rights, if he so decides, in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged mistreatment to<br />
which he has been subjected while in detenti<strong>on</strong>. In regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> negligence<br />
and carelessness in addressing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> immediate medical needs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Reza Shahabi during<br />
his pris<strong>on</strong> term, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that it will undertake to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
with a detailed report <strong>on</strong> his medical treatment, while stating that he has already been in<br />
hospital for b<strong>on</strong>e spurs’ treatment. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> understands that Mr Shahabi, who was<br />
temporarily released from pris<strong>on</strong> in January 2013 to receive medical treatment, is<br />
currently back in pris<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> calls <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to secure his parole,<br />
pard<strong>on</strong> and immediate release from pris<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dropping <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any remaining charges.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> firmly expects that Mr Shahabi will have his rights restored and that he<br />
will be compensated for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> damage suffered. It requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to carry out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
necessary independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> serious allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ill-treatment to which<br />
he has been subjected while in detenti<strong>on</strong>, and, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are found to be true, to compensate<br />
Mr Shahabi accordingly. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in<br />
this regard.<br />
580. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s previous request related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> newly drafted Labour Bill,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister had reiterated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
determinati<strong>on</strong> and commitment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promoti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> multiplicity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s in light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> newly amended labour law bilaterally formulated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social<br />
partners. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to specify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social<br />
partners which took part in this process and to clarify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> actual status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour law.<br />
It urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this text.<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
581. Noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government does not provide any indicati<strong>on</strong> in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> de facto<br />
recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SVATH, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges it to ensure such recogniti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative reforms, and to transmit a detailed report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SGIO and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Headquarters for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Human Rights into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workplace harassment during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s founding, from<br />
March to June 2005. It <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong><br />
revealed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se investigati<strong>on</strong>s, to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to ensure that all<br />
employees at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company are effectively protected against any form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong><br />
related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> membership or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard, as well as to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court’s judgment in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> initiated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attacks <strong>on</strong> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
meetings in May and June 2005 <strong>on</strong>ce it is handed down.<br />
582. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Code <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Practice <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s and Assemblies.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
583. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing interim c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ill-treatment to which Mr Ebrahim Madadi,<br />
Vice-President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SVATH, has been subjected while in detenti<strong>on</strong>, while<br />
taking note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicating that<br />
Mr Madadi would be entitled to seek a variety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing legal and judicial<br />
means and channels to sue any such allegati<strong>on</strong>s, but that no such file has<br />
yet been registered with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again<br />
urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to institute without delay an independent<br />
investigati<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se serious allegati<strong>on</strong>s and, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are found to be true,<br />
to compensate him accordingly.<br />
(b) With respect to Mr Reza Shahabi, Treasurer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Syndicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> understands that he was<br />
temporarily released from pris<strong>on</strong> in January 2013 to receive medical<br />
treatment, but he is currently back in pris<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> calls <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to secure his parole, pard<strong>on</strong> and immediate release from pris<strong>on</strong><br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dropping <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any remaining charges. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> firmly expects<br />
that Mr Shahabi will have his rights restored and that he will be<br />
compensated for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> damage suffered. It requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to carry<br />
out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary independent investigati<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> serious allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ill-treatment to which he has been subjected while in detenti<strong>on</strong>, and, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
are found to be true, to compensate Mr Shahabi accordingly. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard.<br />
(c) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour law reform, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to specify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners which took part in this process<br />
and to clarify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> actual status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour law. It urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this text.<br />
(d) Noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government does not provide any indicati<strong>on</strong> in relati<strong>on</strong> to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> de facto recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SVATH, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges it to<br />
ensure such recogniti<strong>on</strong>, pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative<br />
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reforms, and to transmit a detailed report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SGIO and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Headquarters for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Human Rights into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workplace harassment during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s founding, from<br />
March to June 2005. It <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, in light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
informati<strong>on</strong> revealed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se investigati<strong>on</strong>s, to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures<br />
to ensure that all employees at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company are effectively protected against<br />
any form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong> related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> membership or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed in this regard, as well as to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court’s judgment<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> initiated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attacks <strong>on</strong> uni<strong>on</strong><br />
meetings in May and June 2005, <strong>on</strong>ce it is handed down.<br />
(e) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide a copy<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Code <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Practice <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and Assemblies.<br />
(f) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> calls <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body’s special attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extremely<br />
serious and urgent nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case.<br />
CASE NO. 2740<br />
DEFINITIVE REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iraq<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iraqi Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industries<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
alleges acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government,<br />
including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seizure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>al funds,<br />
preventing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> board members,<br />
appointing pers<strong>on</strong>s to manage <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> storming <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>’s<br />
headquarters in 2009<br />
584. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has already examined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case <strong>on</strong> two occasi<strong>on</strong>s, most<br />
recently at its March 2012 meeting, when it presented an interim report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body [363rd <strong>Report</strong>, paras 695–705, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body at its 313th Sessi<strong>on</strong><br />
(March 2012)].<br />
585. Since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been no reply from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has been obliged to<br />
postp<strong>on</strong>e its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case. At its March 2013 meeting [see 367th <strong>Report</strong>,<br />
para. 5], <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> launched an urgent appeal and drew <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedural rules set out in<br />
paragraph 17 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its 127th <strong>Report</strong>, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body, it may present a report<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case even if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> observati<strong>on</strong>s or informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
have not been received in due time. To date, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not sent any informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
586. The Iraqi Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industries submitted additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> in a communicati<strong>on</strong><br />
dated 8 January 2013.<br />
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587. Iraq has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949<br />
(No. 98), but not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87).<br />
Background<br />
A. Previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
588. At its March 2012 meeting, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see<br />
363rd <strong>Report</strong>, para. 705]:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
(d)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to annul <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
appointment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> preparatory committees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> federati<strong>on</strong>s, trade uni<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
associati<strong>on</strong>s and occupati<strong>on</strong>al organizati<strong>on</strong>s and to ensure in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iraqi<br />
Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industries can c<strong>on</strong>duct electi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its leaders in accordance with its<br />
statutes, without interventi<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> steps taken to annul Decree<br />
No. 8750 and str<strong>on</strong>gly urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to return without delay all funds to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Iraqi Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industries as well as to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r organizati<strong>on</strong>s affected by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Decree.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> storming and occupati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> premises <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iraqi<br />
Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industries by members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preparatory committee for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> holding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
electi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> local police.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant to provide<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> any court decisi<strong>on</strong> following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint brought by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iraqi<br />
Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industries.<br />
B. Additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants<br />
589. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 8 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iraqi Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Industries, Mr Hussein Ali Ahmed Zenka, indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong>’s electi<strong>on</strong>s were<br />
held in December 2012 under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supervisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> five judges nominated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme<br />
Judiciary Council. It adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministerial <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, which supervises <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presidency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Affairs, validated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legitimacy<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong>s and lifted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong> order <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> funds and property <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iraqi<br />
Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industries (Decree No. 8750). It indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legitimacy<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong>s was circulated to all ministries, Government instituti<strong>on</strong>s, governorates and<br />
councils, as well as to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic. It c<strong>on</strong>cludes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Federati<strong>on</strong> has resumed its independence.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
590. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that has elapsed since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case and given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seriousness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged acts (acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seizure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>al funds, preventing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
board members, appointing pers<strong>on</strong>s to manage <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> storming <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>’s headquarters in 2009), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not provided <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong><br />
requested, despite being invited to do so, including by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an urgent appeal. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to be more cooperative in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future.<br />
591. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances and in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicable rules <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedure [see<br />
127th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 17, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body], <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> finds itself<br />
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obliged to present a report <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
informati<strong>on</strong> which it had hoped to receive from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government.<br />
592. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whole procedure established by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour Organizati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> is to promote respect for this freedom in law and in fact. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains c<strong>on</strong>fident that, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedure protects governments from<br />
unreas<strong>on</strong>able accusati<strong>on</strong>s, governments <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir side will recognize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
formulating, for objective examinati<strong>on</strong>, detailed replies c<strong>on</strong>cerning allegati<strong>on</strong>s made<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m.<br />
593. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 8 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Iraqi Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industries, Mr Hussein Ali Ahmed Zenka, indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Federati<strong>on</strong>’s electi<strong>on</strong>s were held in December 2012 under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supervisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> five judges<br />
nominated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Judiciary Council. It adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministerial <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
which supervises <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong>s under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presidency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social<br />
Affairs, validated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legitimacy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong>s and lifted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong> order <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
funds and property <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Iraqi Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industries (Decree No. 8750). Noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Federati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cludes that it has resumed its independence, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that<br />
this case does not call for fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r examinati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
594. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to decide that this case does not call for fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r examinati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
CASE NO. 2945<br />
INTERIM REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Leban<strong>on</strong><br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Lebanese Workers (CGTL) and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Lebanese Industrialists’ Associati<strong>on</strong> (ALI)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
denounce n<strong>on</strong>-compliance by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
with its obligati<strong>on</strong>s regarding tripartite<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining, as well<br />
as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obstructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al tripartite<br />
instituti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
595. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in communicati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Lebanese Workers (CGTL) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Lebanese Industrialists (ALI), dated<br />
20 and 22 February 2012, respectively.<br />
596. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a reply from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> was obliged to adjourn its<br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case. At its meeting in March 2013 [see 367th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 5], <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made an urgent appeal to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicating that, in accordance with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedural rules set out in paragraph 17 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its 127th <strong>Report</strong>, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body, it could present a report <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case at its next meeting,<br />
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even if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested informati<strong>on</strong> or observati<strong>on</strong>s had not been received in time. To date,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not sent any informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
597. Leban<strong>on</strong> has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949<br />
(No. 98). It has not ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to<br />
Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87).<br />
A. The complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
598. In communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 20 and 22 February 2012, respectively, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGTL and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ALI<br />
allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, and in particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, has violated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
principles and standards related to tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>, social dialogue and collective<br />
bargaining, namely by failing to engage in tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning matters<br />
related to labour, employment, unemployment and social security. In particular, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainants indicate that, without having engaged in prior c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social<br />
partners, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour submitted a bill to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Act <strong>on</strong> social security, and that he made various declarati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> media to announce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a bill <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “regulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cost <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour”. In additi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government refuses to recognize tripartite<br />
instituti<strong>on</strong>s such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic and Social Council, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which has been<br />
pending for a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> years, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Employment Agency, a tripartite body<br />
under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour which is still without an executive board. They fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r allege<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has brought <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial courts (tripartite labour courts) to a<br />
standstill by blocking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enactment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree required for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> because<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour wishes to appoint four pers<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his choosing as workers’<br />
delegates, although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are not included <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir general<br />
c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>. As a result, thousands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s brought before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour courts have not<br />
been examined. They add that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is seriously failing to meet its obligati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
by refusing to pay <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sums owed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Social Security Fund (in<br />
total, more than 1,300 billi<strong>on</strong> Lebanese pounds (LBP)) and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter’s executive board<br />
was not received by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minister resp<strong>on</strong>sible (Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour), who shows no interest<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fund. The complainants also refer to a report by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Price Index <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, which was submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers<br />
and which indicates that “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mechanism <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bargaining is not provided for by law”.<br />
According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is itself c<strong>on</strong>sidered to be a<br />
tripartite body and its activities are <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State’s collective bargaining mechanisms.<br />
599. More specifically, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants refer to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
benefits which was carried out from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2011. They indicate that, under Lebanese<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> (Act No. 36/67), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government may set <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial minimum wage via decree<br />
issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers, based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Price Index<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> (tripartite body created under Decree No. 4206 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1981). Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, a<br />
tripartite agreement in 1995 specified that employers should grant transport and educati<strong>on</strong><br />
allowances to workers as an excepti<strong>on</strong>al and provisi<strong>on</strong>al measure until public transport and<br />
educati<strong>on</strong> improved. The amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allowances is established by a decree issued by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers and renewed every year <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excepti<strong>on</strong>al and<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>al nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se measures.<br />
600. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s, following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-renewal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree<br />
establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allowances, <strong>on</strong> 21 December 2011 representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic<br />
bodies and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers signed a landmark agreement <strong>on</strong> both<br />
wage adjustments and setting a minimum wage, and <strong>on</strong> educati<strong>on</strong> and transport allowance<br />
rates. They add that subsequently, and despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outspoken oppositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers adopted this agreement at its meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 18 January 2012,<br />
requesting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour to draw up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft decrees required to that end. The<br />
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Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour drew up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft decree establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial minimum wage for<br />
employees and workers subject to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Code and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cost <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> living index, al<strong>on</strong>g with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> modalities for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir implementati<strong>on</strong>, which was promulgated <strong>on</strong> 26 January 2012<br />
(Decree No. 7426). However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour refused to draw up a draft decree<br />
providing for transport and educati<strong>on</strong> allowances. The complainants allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Minister c<strong>on</strong>sidered that those allowances were illegal and had menti<strong>on</strong>ed that a bill was<br />
being prepared to regulate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “remunerati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cost <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour”.<br />
601. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGTL indicates that, due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deliberately delayed adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree<br />
No. 7426, which came into force <strong>on</strong> 1 February 2012 n<strong>on</strong>-retroactively, workers were<br />
deprived <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a wage increase over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> four m<strong>on</strong>ths that followed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers to grant that increase <strong>on</strong> 12 October 2011.<br />
B. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
602. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that has elapsed since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presentati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complaint, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not replied to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s, even though it<br />
has been requested several times, including through an urgent appeal, to present its<br />
comments and observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> this case. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to be more<br />
cooperative in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future.<br />
603. Hence, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicable procedural rules [see 127th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 17,<br />
approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body at its 184th Sessi<strong>on</strong> (1971)], <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is obliged to<br />
present a report <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case without being able to take account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
informati<strong>on</strong> which it had hoped to receive from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government.<br />
604. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reminds <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whole procedure<br />
established by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour Organizati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> is to ensure respect for employers’ and workers’ rights<br />
to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> in law and in practice. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is c<strong>on</strong>fident that, while<br />
this procedure protects governments against unreas<strong>on</strong>able accusati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y must<br />
recognize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> formulating, for objective examinati<strong>on</strong>, detailed replies<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning allegati<strong>on</strong>s brought against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m [see First <strong>Report</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
para. 31].<br />
605. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that this case c<strong>on</strong>cerns allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-compliance by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government with its obligati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining, as<br />
well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obstructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al tripartite instituti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
606. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 20 and 22 February 2012,<br />
respectively, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGTL and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ALI allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, and in particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, violated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles and standards related to tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
social dialogue and collective bargaining by failing to engage in tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
issues related to labour, employment, unemployment and social security, and by refusing<br />
to recognize tripartite instituti<strong>on</strong>s such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic and Social Council, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which has been pending for a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> years, or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Employment<br />
Agency, a tripartite body under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, which is still without an executive<br />
board. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> should take place<br />
before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government submits a draft to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Assembly or establishes labour,<br />
social or ec<strong>on</strong>omic policy [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, para. 1070]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure respect for this principle. It also requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effective functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al tripartite<br />
instituti<strong>on</strong>s, especially <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic and Social Council and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Employment<br />
Agency, and to keep it informed in this respect.<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
607. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has brought<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial courts (tripartite labour courts) to a standstill by blocking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promulgati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree required for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir creati<strong>on</strong> because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour wishes to appoint<br />
four pers<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his choosing as workers’ delegates, although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are not included in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
list provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir general c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>. Noting with c<strong>on</strong>cern that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s, thousands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s brought before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour courts have not been<br />
examined, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures without<br />
delay to enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial courts to operate, if that is not yet <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any acti<strong>on</strong>s filed. It requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
progress made in this regard.<br />
608. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is seriously failing<br />
to meet its obligati<strong>on</strong>s by refusing to pay <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sums owed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Social<br />
Security Fund (in total, more than LBP1,300 billi<strong>on</strong>) and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter’s executive board<br />
was not received by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minister resp<strong>on</strong>sible (Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour), who shows no interest<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fund. In so far as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fund is governed by a tripartite agreement,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to h<strong>on</strong>our <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rein and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to keep it informed in this regard.<br />
609. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages<br />
and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r benefits, which was carried out from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that:<br />
(1) under Lebanese legislati<strong>on</strong> (Act No. 36/67), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government can establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial<br />
minimum wage by a decree issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Price Index <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> (tripartite body created under Decree<br />
No. 4206 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1981); (2) a tripartite agreement in 1995 specified that employers should<br />
grant transport and educati<strong>on</strong> allowances to workers as an excepti<strong>on</strong>al and provisi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
measure until public transport and educati<strong>on</strong> improved; and (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
allowances is set by a decree issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are renewed<br />
every year by reas<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excepti<strong>on</strong>al and provisi<strong>on</strong>al nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se measures. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also notes that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants, following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-renewal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree providing for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allowances, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic bodies and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers signed a bilateral agreement <strong>on</strong> 21 December 2011<br />
<strong>on</strong> both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adjustment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages and setting a minimum wage, and <strong>on</strong> educati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
transport allowance rates. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subsequent promulgati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
two decrees ratifying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se agreements: (1) Decree No. 7426, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 26 January 2012,<br />
establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial minimum wage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees and workers subject to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
Code and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cost <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> living index, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> modalities for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir implementati<strong>on</strong>; in this<br />
respect, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CGTL indicates that, due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deliberately delayed adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this decree,<br />
which came into force <strong>on</strong> 1 February 2012 n<strong>on</strong>-retroactively, workers were deprived <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
wage increase over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> four m<strong>on</strong>ths following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers to<br />
grant that increase <strong>on</strong> 12 October 2011; and (2) Decree No. 7573, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 February 2012,<br />
temporarily establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong> and transport allowance rates [see Case No. 2952,<br />
367th <strong>Report</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, para. 878]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore understands that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decrees required for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 21 December 2011 have<br />
finally been adopted. It requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to examine with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> retroactive payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> salary increase for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period October 2011 to<br />
February 2012.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
610. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing interim c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that has elapsed since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
presentati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not replied to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s, even though it has been requested several times,<br />
including through an urgent appeal, to present its comments and<br />
observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> this case. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to be more<br />
cooperative in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this principle<br />
whereby tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> should take place before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
submits a draft to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Assembly or establishes a labour, social or<br />
ec<strong>on</strong>omic policy. Moreover, it requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
measures to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effective functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al tripartite<br />
instituti<strong>on</strong>s, especially <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic and Social Council and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Employment Agency, and to keep it informed in this regard.<br />
(c) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures<br />
without delay to enable industrial courts to operate, if this is not yet <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case,<br />
and to enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any acti<strong>on</strong>s filed. It requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress in this respect.<br />
(d) In so far as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Social Security Fund is<br />
governed by a tripartite agreement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
to h<strong>on</strong>our <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rein and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it<br />
informed in this regard.<br />
(e) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to examine with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> retroactive payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> salary increase for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period<br />
October 2011 to February 2012.<br />
CASE NO. 2919<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexico<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Teleph<strong>on</strong>e Operators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexican Republic (STRM)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: anti-trade uni<strong>on</strong> practices and<br />
interference by Atento Servicios SA de CV,<br />
particularly in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with two ballots to<br />
determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative uni<strong>on</strong><br />
611. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Teleph<strong>on</strong>e Operators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexican Republic (STRM) dated 16 December 2011.<br />
612. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 1 March 2013.<br />
613. Mexico has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), but has not ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective<br />
Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
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A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
614. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 16 December 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM explains that it is a nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
industrial uni<strong>on</strong> representing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> telecommunicati<strong>on</strong>s industry, which has a branch<br />
(branch 187) in Atento Servicios SA de CV (a company specializing in providing call<br />
centre services between companies and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir customers through “c<strong>on</strong>tact centres”, or<br />
multichannel platforms). It was formed in 2008 and filed a request for legal recogniti<strong>on</strong><br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public authorities in June 2009, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> signature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 24 workers, and obtained<br />
legal recogniti<strong>on</strong> in August 2009. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM, following this, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company<br />
dismissed workers who were members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM (menti<strong>on</strong> was made <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> names <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
six workers in July 2009 and ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r six in October 2009) and reference was made to<br />
50 unnamed dismissals in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pachuca and Toluca centres which, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s, had begun to organize. The STRM also notes that significant restructuring took<br />
place during this period, with mass dismissals.<br />
615. The STRM states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> with bargaining rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreement since 2001 is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Progressive Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Communicati<strong>on</strong> and Transport Workers<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexican Republic – SPTCTRM); Atento Servicios SA de CV (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company) made<br />
workers sign a membership card up<strong>on</strong> recruitment and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers were unaware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement; in a ballot in May 2009,<br />
which this uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>ducted and w<strong>on</strong>, it received seven votes. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM,<br />
company management gave as a reas<strong>on</strong> for failing to reinstate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed members that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM uni<strong>on</strong> decided to expel <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r trade uni<strong>on</strong>, applying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “exclusi<strong>on</strong> clause” c<strong>on</strong>tained in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement.<br />
616. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM alleges that <strong>on</strong> 15 December 2009 it submitted a request for<br />
bargaining rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company’s collective agreement (through a ballot by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Federal District Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board (JLCADF)); a ballot that, after<br />
various barriers and obstacles, took place in an atmosphere <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference, uncertainty and<br />
intimidati<strong>on</strong> by a group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 60 company workers and staff, with police support; various<br />
irregularities occurred such as altering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> worker voting list, so that some pers<strong>on</strong>s voted<br />
even though <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were not entitled to do so. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> day, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM uni<strong>on</strong><br />
received 1,230 votes and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> (STRM) 375 votes because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
company’s favouritism for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> irregularities committed and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority’s<br />
bias. In January 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM appealed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authority against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
claiming victory for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM and calling for a revote, which was granted <strong>on</strong> 8 August<br />
2011 and ordered to take place <strong>on</strong> 31 October 2011.<br />
617. Days before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM took a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> steps to swing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vote in its favour through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following acti<strong>on</strong>s: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers who met <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
length-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>-service requirement for entitlement to vote; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> selecti<strong>on</strong> by trusted staff <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers who would come forward to vote, mostly those who would vote for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
SPTCTRM; vote buying, with three days’ extra salary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fered to workers who would vote<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM; and rumours and threats about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> replacement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Atento Servicios SA<br />
de CV staff by STRM people.<br />
618. On 31 October 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM carried out an extreme surveillance<br />
and transport operati<strong>on</strong> at workplace entrances. The movement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>nel close to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF began at 10 a.m. and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers at 12 p.m. The transfer was<br />
in company buses and vans, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company having hired bouncers, who were placed at<br />
workplace entrances to prevent any STRM workers from approaching. The same day, at<br />
approximately 3 p.m., <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF was surrounded by bouncers hired by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM, who kept watch <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers and pers<strong>on</strong>nel <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidence to<br />
ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y entered to vote for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> uni<strong>on</strong>. When around 1,000 pers<strong>on</strong>s had<br />
c<strong>on</strong>gregated inside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF, company workers who supported <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM were<br />
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prevented from entering. When <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers who supported <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM tried to enter, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
company and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM forcefully prevented <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers from entering by blocking<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entrance. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF decided that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was no guarantee that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot<br />
could take place, and thus decided to suspend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process.<br />
619. The STRM adds that, <strong>on</strong> 7 November 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF notified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
rescheduling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot suspended <strong>on</strong> 31 October 2011, informing it that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new date<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> revote would be 9 November 2011, at 4 p.m. in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF. The notificati<strong>on</strong> set<br />
out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same criteria as in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous notificati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ly difference being that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM lawyers to speak during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objecti<strong>on</strong>s stage was removed. On 8 November<br />
2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM began to select staff to take to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF to vote<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> uni<strong>on</strong>. The lists that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y drew up mostly c<strong>on</strong>tained<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>nel <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidence (trainers, supervisors and coordinators) who could not legally<br />
participate, excluding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers who went to vote <strong>on</strong> 30 October 2011. Acti<strong>on</strong> taken by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company <strong>on</strong> 8 and 9 November 2011 was as follows:<br />
– workers who met <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> length-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>-service requirement for entitlement to vote were not<br />
informed about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vote <strong>on</strong> 9 November and in some workplaces <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were informed<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vote was <strong>on</strong> a different day;<br />
– voting lists were drawn up, mostly including <strong>on</strong>ly pers<strong>on</strong>nel <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidence;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was a ban <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> selecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vote who supported <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> order was given that workers could <strong>on</strong>ly vote <strong>on</strong> 9 November 2011 if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y handed<br />
over copies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir voting credentials so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM could validate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir vote.<br />
620. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM, <strong>on</strong> 9 November 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company transported staff in private<br />
cars and vans to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF from 9 a.m. <strong>on</strong>wards. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end, over 800 pers<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>gregated inside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board, which<br />
was cord<strong>on</strong>ed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f by a large group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> grenadiers to prevent any STRM members from<br />
approaching <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board, stopping <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers from going in just to vote, arguing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were not <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company<br />
provided to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority, meaning that many workers were unable to vote. The electi<strong>on</strong><br />
result was: 526 votes for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM; 47 votes for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM; 1 vote for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sindicato<br />
21 de Enero; and 4 spoiled ballots, thus c<strong>on</strong>firming <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both Atento<br />
Servicios SA de CV and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM, which for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most part sent pers<strong>on</strong>nel <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>fidence to vote.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
621. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <strong>on</strong> 16 December 2011<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM presented a complaint to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>, which was<br />
forwarded to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexico <strong>on</strong> 9 February 2012. The complainant uni<strong>on</strong><br />
alleges violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles c<strong>on</strong>tained in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and<br />
Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98). It accuses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexican State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
omissi<strong>on</strong> by allowing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> direct interference <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Atento Servicios SA de CV (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company)<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM, through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exclusi<strong>on</strong> clause, mass dismissals,<br />
workplace bullying, violence and intimidati<strong>on</strong> against workers who were members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
branch 187 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM. It also accuses it <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> obstructing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM<br />
branch 187, denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bargaining rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement and allowing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
direct interventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM in uni<strong>on</strong> ballots.<br />
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622. The Government states that, in order to have a more comprehensive and accurate view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts given by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government held relevant c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties involved in this case.<br />
623. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Atento Servicios SA de CV<br />
workers in branch 187 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arguments put<br />
forward by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> are subjective and lacking in evidential value, since it<br />
provides no evidence to verify that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se acti<strong>on</strong>s have taken place since 2007. Moreover, it<br />
provides no names <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers dismissed or subjected to anti-trade uni<strong>on</strong> violence, nor<br />
to show whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y took legal acti<strong>on</strong> before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant labour tribunals to report <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rights through lawsuits or complaints. In this c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
labour law framework grants <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to any worker to appear before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant<br />
authorities to seek to defend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rights. For this purpose, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal<br />
Labour Ombudsman (PROFEDET), whose role is to advise and represent all workers in<br />
court cases free <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> charge and to put forward soluti<strong>on</strong>s to rec<strong>on</strong>cile <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties, both<br />
individually and collectively, to find a balance between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> factors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> producti<strong>on</strong> and<br />
respect for workers’ rights. It was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore vital for all workers to report any act that<br />
affects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir labour rights, so that, <strong>on</strong>ce identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour authority, any such c<strong>on</strong>duct<br />
can be penalized under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act.<br />
624. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> also stating that, at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2008,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company introduced its workers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM, with which it had c<strong>on</strong>cluded a<br />
collective bargaining agreement in 2001, depositing it with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF, and that until that<br />
date <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers were unaware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its existence and c<strong>on</strong>tents; that it was reviewed every<br />
two years; that in each review wage increases were generated; and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y had never been<br />
informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement negotiati<strong>on</strong>s, or <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir uni<strong>on</strong> representatives. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong> that, in 2009, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company began a process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> mass forced membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
SPTCTRM, which prevented workers from choosing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir leaders and participating in<br />
collective bargaining, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that, even though <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong><br />
failed to provide fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r evidence, it is important to note that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has provided<br />
transparency in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s handled by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities to<br />
make freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> more open. This was ensured through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> publicati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
updating <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public documents such as uni<strong>on</strong> registers, collective bargaining agreements<br />
and internal labour regulati<strong>on</strong>s deposited with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant authorities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s regulated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, making <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m available to workers so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are fully<br />
aware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rights and obligati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir representatives and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
bel<strong>on</strong>g, which is informati<strong>on</strong> that has also been made available to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Atento<br />
Servicios SA de CV.<br />
625. In additi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, initiatives promoting transparency were reinforced <strong>on</strong><br />
30 November 2012 with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> amendments to articles 364bis and 365bis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Federal Labour Act, which are set out as follows:<br />
Article 364 bis. In uni<strong>on</strong> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legality, transparency, certainty,<br />
freedom-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>-charge, immediacy, impartiality, and respect for uni<strong>on</strong> freedom, aut<strong>on</strong>omy, equity<br />
and democracy must be observed.<br />
Article 365 bis. The authorities referred to in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> article above shall make public, for<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> by any pers<strong>on</strong>, duly updated informati<strong>on</strong> from uni<strong>on</strong> registers. They shall also<br />
issue copies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> documents held in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> files if requested, in accordance with<br />
article 8 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Act <strong>on</strong> Transparency and Access<br />
to Government Public Informati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws regulating access to government and federal<br />
authority informati<strong>on</strong>, where appropriate.<br />
The full text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public versi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> by-laws shall be available <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> websites <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Security and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Boards,<br />
where appropriate.<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> registers shall c<strong>on</strong>tain at least <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following informati<strong>on</strong>:<br />
I. Address;<br />
II.<br />
III.<br />
Registrati<strong>on</strong> number;<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> name;<br />
IV. Names <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> members:<br />
V. Validity period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>;<br />
VI. Number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members; and<br />
VII. Trade uni<strong>on</strong> federati<strong>on</strong> to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y bel<strong>on</strong>g, where appropriate.<br />
The indicators should be updated every three m<strong>on</strong>ths.<br />
626. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged obstructi<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexican State, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
SPTCTRM <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> free associati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM branch 187, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government notes<br />
that in its allegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> states that in February 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducted a uni<strong>on</strong> ballot in JLCADF facilities to legitimize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM; that in that<br />
process <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers and Employees in General Trade and<br />
Service Providers, Storage, Similar and Allied Services <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexican Republic) were<br />
present and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vote were in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM. In this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government emphasizes that in its comments <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> produces no evidence<br />
to identify any kind <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> obstructi<strong>on</strong> to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot was carried<br />
out as a necessary procedure to determine bargaining rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement<br />
and uni<strong>on</strong> representati<strong>on</strong>, guaranteeing neutrality and impartiality in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF<br />
facilities.<br />
627. The Government notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> also states that, in 2009, a workers’<br />
coaliti<strong>on</strong> decided to join <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM, forming branch 187 to defend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir interests, and<br />
states that, <strong>on</strong> 9 June <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that year, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> branch filed a request for legal recogniti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Security, which was granted <strong>on</strong> 27 August 2009. In this<br />
regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government emphasizes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed shows that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> sought and obtained recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> branch 187, without any obstructi<strong>on</strong> and within a<br />
period not exceeding that provided for under article 366 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act,<br />
through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate General for Registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>s. It is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tradictory and in no circumstances can it be interpreted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed branch has been obstructed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexican State,<br />
Atento Servicios SA de CV and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM.<br />
628. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company began a process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unjustified mass<br />
dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers who joined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM branch 187, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that it<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts put forward by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> this point are subjective<br />
and lacking in evidential value, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y fail to provide any pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>. The trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> should <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore not <strong>on</strong>ly cite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts, but also provide all evidence showing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal acti<strong>on</strong> taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers dismissed from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir jobs, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals<br />
were reported and make clear <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unjustified reas<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals, so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour<br />
authority can take necessary acti<strong>on</strong>. It notes that nati<strong>on</strong>al labour legislati<strong>on</strong> makes<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ labour rights.<br />
629. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company denied reinstatement to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers who<br />
were members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM branch 187 by applying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exclusi<strong>on</strong> clause, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> argument put forward by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM provides no facts or evidence to c<strong>on</strong>firm<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>, which prevents <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour authority from taking any acti<strong>on</strong> to defend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers who were members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> branch 187, in accordance with labour legislati<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
Government also states that it is unlikely that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers were discriminated against<br />
through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “exclusi<strong>on</strong> clause”, since this was rendered obsolete and<br />
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superseded by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> jurisprudential opini<strong>on</strong> issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong> in April 2001. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, it should be noted that, <strong>on</strong> 30 November 2012,<br />
amendments to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act repealed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last paragraph <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 395 that<br />
allowed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inclusi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> so-called exclusi<strong>on</strong> clause <strong>on</strong> expulsi<strong>on</strong> in collective<br />
bargaining agreements.<br />
630. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF denied <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM bargaining rights under<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Atento Servicios SA de SV, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that, while<br />
it is true that <strong>on</strong> 15 December 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM submitted a request to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCDAF for<br />
bargaining rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company’s collective agreement, it is incorrect to assert that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
documents required for processing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request were attached. Indeed, it did not even<br />
indicate as a minimum requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company’s activities to be covered under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
collective bargaining agreement, nor attach <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers authorized it to submit a request for bargaining rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreement, nor produce a membership list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers it claims to represent. For this<br />
reas<strong>on</strong>, <strong>on</strong> 18 January 2010 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCDAF requested it to produce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> documentati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
631. Uni<strong>on</strong>s represent workers in defending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir individual rights, as provided under<br />
article 375 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act, and this representati<strong>on</strong> must be authorized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves, particularly in regard to bargaining rights under a collective<br />
agreement or a strike, which directly affect job security and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> income <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers’ families. Workers must <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore be informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> what <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> is going to do<br />
and thus must authorize it through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting held to decide <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong><br />
in questi<strong>on</strong> to be carried out. This is what <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF asks for as a court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>science<br />
that ensures and protects workers’ rights.<br />
632. In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> foregoing, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
missing documents in no circumstances involved any violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour legislati<strong>on</strong>, or <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
any internati<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s to which Mexico is a party. On <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>trary, it sought at all<br />
times to protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers to form a uni<strong>on</strong>, safeguard that right and provide legal<br />
security to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves.<br />
633. Notwithstanding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> omissi<strong>on</strong>s, and to avoid leaving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM claimed<br />
to represent without representati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF suggested holding a c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong>, petiti<strong>on</strong><br />
and excepti<strong>on</strong>s, evidentiary and resoluti<strong>on</strong> hearing <strong>on</strong> 2 July 2010, which took place at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fices <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour authority, as a neutral locati<strong>on</strong> to guarantee that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers could<br />
cast <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir votes freely and in secret. The ballot was c<strong>on</strong>ducted <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allotted day and time<br />
and steps were taken, where necessary, to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1,666 workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Atento<br />
Servicios SA de CV could cast <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir votes in a businesslike, expeditious and peaceful<br />
manner and that voting took place in a transparent manner in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF<br />
authorities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> worker and employer representatives assigned to it. Of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
1,666 workers who voted, 372 voted for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM and 1,294 for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM. It should<br />
be stressed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF is not resp<strong>on</strong>sible for granting or denying bargaining rights<br />
under a collective agreement. This is decided based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers, who<br />
choose <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would like to join, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority <strong>on</strong>ly endorses proceedings and<br />
must comply with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir will.<br />
634. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> ballot that took place <strong>on</strong> 2 July 2010, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority makes it clear<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number given <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1,500 workers who came to vote is inaccurate, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot record<br />
shows that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were 1,666; and if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y arrived before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time allotted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF was not at fault, since it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s in dispute to<br />
inform workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot. It should be noted that it is absolutely legal for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>dent company and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> co-resp<strong>on</strong>dent uni<strong>on</strong> to be present at<br />
ballots. The labour authority cannot <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore prohibit or prevent any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three parties in<br />
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dispute (STRM, Atento Servicios SA de CV and SPTCTRM) from being involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ballot.<br />
635. It is also untrue that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot result, 1,230 votes for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM and 375 votes for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
STRM, was obtained by altering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers entitled to vote, as both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM had sight <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employee–employer c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> settlement certificates<br />
and made any objecti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y c<strong>on</strong>sidered relevant; thus both submitted a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers<br />
with voting rights. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM, <strong>on</strong>ly wishing workers who<br />
were members to vote, c<strong>on</strong>ducted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> voting list provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company,<br />
which was based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> settlement certificates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexican Social Security Institute<br />
(IMSS). Nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM, nor <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, were rendered defenceless.<br />
636. C<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Federal Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> ballot, throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF adhered to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> powers legally<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ferred <strong>on</strong> it. Evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this is that <strong>on</strong> 13 December 2010 it issued an award in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
current dispute, based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot that took place <strong>on</strong> 2 July 2010. The ballot<br />
process provides <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main evidence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bargaining rights procedure because through it<br />
workers express <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir free will to choose <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y wish to join. In this specific case,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority voted for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM, a fact that leaves no doubt that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter merited<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> representati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
637. On 17 January 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM lodged a direct appeal with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Circuit Collegiate<br />
Labour Tribunal against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> award issued by JLCADF Special Board No. 10, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter<br />
being <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority in charge, seeking a revote. On 8 August 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fifteenth First<br />
Circuit Collegiate Labour Appeals Tribunal granted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby ordering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF to c<strong>on</strong>duct a revote, as noted below:<br />
The award is declared void and proceedings shall be replaced to meet <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> essential<br />
requirements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot process, duly respecting, should <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers invited to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot<br />
submit objecti<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process provided for in secti<strong>on</strong> V <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 931 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour<br />
Act, namely to summ<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to a hearing prior to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot; and, as previously, to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinue with proceedings in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law.<br />
638. In accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> handed down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fifteenth First Circuit Collegiate<br />
Labour Appeals Tribunal, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF set <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new date for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot for 31 October 2011,<br />
at 5 p.m. in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir facilities. Prior to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF set aside 9 a.m. <strong>on</strong> 18 August<br />
2011 for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hearing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> incidental objecti<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> documents produced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>dent.<br />
Having notified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties in pers<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those provisi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hearing took place.<br />
639. In this c<strong>on</strong>text, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF established certain “criteria” for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
presentati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> evidence, which is untrue, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> handed down <strong>on</strong> 19 October<br />
2011 by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF provides that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot will be c<strong>on</strong>ducted based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IMSS<br />
employee–employer c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> assessment certificate for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>th <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> November 2009<br />
and that, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> secti<strong>on</strong> IV <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 931 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal<br />
Labour Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ly workers entitled to cast <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir vote were those who were working prior<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> submissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request for bargaining rights, which was 15 December 2009,<br />
precisely to prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company from dismissing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <strong>on</strong> its books at that time and<br />
getting those who came after that date to vote. It also notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time and place for<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot proposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> co-resp<strong>on</strong>dent uni<strong>on</strong> as<br />
31 October 2011 at 5 p.m., through a free and secret ballot. The decisi<strong>on</strong> to that effect is<br />
quoted as follows:<br />
Auxiliary Secretariat for Collective Disputes. Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Teleph<strong>on</strong>e Operators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mexican Republic v. Atento Servicios SA de CV and Progressive Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Communicati<strong>on</strong><br />
and Transport Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexican Republic. File No. 475/2009 and subsequent file<br />
Nos 476/2009 and 04/2010.<br />
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Mexico, Federal District <strong>on</strong> 19 October 2011. In additi<strong>on</strong> to those documents, for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
appropriate legal purposes, reference is made to letter No. 211.2.2.4178, dated 17 October <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
that year, sent by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director for Registrati<strong>on</strong> and Updating, Directorate-General for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Welfare, to which is<br />
attached a certified copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> letter No. 211.2.2.4577, dated 10 November 2010, through which<br />
note is taken <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Progressive Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Communicati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Transport Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexican Republic and from which it is clear that no worker <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
company Atento Servicios SA de CV is recorded <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, to comply fully<br />
with ruling No. 203/11, handed down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fifteenth Federal District Collegiate Labour<br />
Tribunal, this Board states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot was c<strong>on</strong>ducted based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IMSS employee–<br />
employer c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> assessment certificate for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>th <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> November 2009, which is<br />
appended to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> documents for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tinuing with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedural c<strong>on</strong>sequential<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>, based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 931 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act and case law<br />
No. 15012008, issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sec<strong>on</strong>d Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
It is noted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot proposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong>s, under file Nos 475/2009,<br />
476/2009 and 4/2010, and by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> co-resp<strong>on</strong>dent uni<strong>on</strong> will take place <strong>on</strong> 31 October <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
current year at 5 p.m., through a free and secret ballot. Due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers who will<br />
attend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prescribed proceedings and to comply with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 720 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
relevant law, an adjudicator has been commissi<strong>on</strong>ed to c<strong>on</strong>vene with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties involved in<br />
this dispute, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ground floor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> annex <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board, entrance via Dr. Andrade No. 45, Col. Doctores, Delegación Cuauhtemoc,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this city, and present <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> evidence under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms and c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s accepted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Board.<br />
To ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed proceedings are carried out expeditiously and efficiently,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IMSS employee–employer c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> assessment certificate, which will serve as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
basis for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot, will be divided into alphabetical order and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers must present<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves to be identified at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> table with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> letter corresp<strong>on</strong>ding to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir first<br />
surname. The adjudicator should identify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot proceedings <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial document accepted by this Board such as voting credentials, passport,<br />
military service identity card and driving licence. Should a worker present a wage slip as pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> identity, this must cover <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period from 30 November to 11 December 2009. Three<br />
representatives should be present in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed proceedings, with documentary pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> identity, for each <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties involved in this dispute, <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom will be appointed by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beginning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings in questi<strong>on</strong>, to observe <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> identificati<strong>on</strong><br />
process and give out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot papers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s who are entitled to vote according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
specified voting list. Each representative will be at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entrance when proceedings begin,<br />
noting even cases where workers fail to come to ensure that presentati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed evidence is complete, which will guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot is impartial. The<br />
adjudicator should prepare a detailed written record <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot proceedings, indicating<br />
where appropriate any workers that had been dismissed after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> submissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
request. In order for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to be certain that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers are those entitled to vote, and to<br />
decide <strong>on</strong> any opti<strong>on</strong>s that might need to be made, <strong>on</strong>ce identified, indelible liquid will be<br />
applied to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right thumb and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y will be given a ballot paper <strong>on</strong> which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y will cast <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
vote, in accordance with article 17 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act, article 24, secti<strong>on</strong> VIII, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Rules <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Procedure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board and article 265(4)(b) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Code <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Electoral Instituti<strong>on</strong>s and Procedures. After voting, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir piece <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> identity<br />
will be handed back to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir exit will be via Dr. Río de la Loza No. 68,<br />
Col. Doctores, Delegación Cuauhtemoc, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this city. Votes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusted workers will not be<br />
counted and <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> votes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>ized workers who come to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot will be taken into<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>. In accordance with article 717 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requisite days and<br />
times will be made available to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adjudicator does not have to cancel <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot<br />
that has been called. Should <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> co-resp<strong>on</strong>dent uni<strong>on</strong> summ<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
fail to appear for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot and if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers do not come <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date and at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time<br />
specified, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed evidence will be declared defective, in accordance with<br />
articles 899 and 780 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act. In accordance with article 688 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal<br />
Labour Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Health has been assigned to assist <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this Board<br />
by providing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary security pers<strong>on</strong>nel to protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers involved in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed ballot. The parties will be notified in pers<strong>on</strong>. Set forth and signed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Head <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board, Mr. Ramón M<strong>on</strong>taño<br />
Cuadra, toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Capital and Labour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Board No. 10,<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Ms Luz María Morales Uribe and Ms Margarita Albarrán Servín, respectively, I hereby certify<br />
before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary for Collective Bargaining Matters, Ms Guadalupe Es<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Guerrero López.<br />
640. The Government adds that <strong>on</strong> 31 October 2011, as stated, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot began in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF<br />
facilities, with its authorities and representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Human Rights<br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong> (CDHDF) as observers to witness <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings.<br />
641. While proceedings were under way, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties present, and those in charge preparing<br />
to receive <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers so that voting could take place, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>tati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
provocati<strong>on</strong>s between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supporters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both uni<strong>on</strong>s, resulting in violence, which forced <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF to suspend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot due to a lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> guarantees in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process.<br />
For fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r reference, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF submitted as evidence two CDs with photographic<br />
evidence and a video recording <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> events, provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CDHDF.<br />
642. On 3 November 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date was <strong>on</strong>ce again set for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot that had been suspended<br />
<strong>on</strong> 31 October 2011, which took place <strong>on</strong> 9 November 2011 at 4 p.m., with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM, Atento Servicios SA de CV and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
SPTCTRM. To ensure c<strong>on</strong>tinued due diligence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot process, about which<br />
objecti<strong>on</strong>s had already been made, <strong>on</strong>ly votes from workers were accepted.<br />
643. It should be noted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour authority had no knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s transported <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir workers, as it is a procedural requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties proposing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot.<br />
644. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed ballot, 579 workers came to cast <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir vote, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which <strong>on</strong>ly 47 voted<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM. Thus, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> voting results, <strong>on</strong>ce again, went against it, making it clear that it<br />
did not represent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers in Atento Servicios SA de CV, given that it<br />
was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves who decided that it did not represent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m. This process was<br />
carried out in accordance with nati<strong>on</strong>al labour legislati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
645. Lastly, it is untrue that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF has refused to resolve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> questi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bargaining<br />
rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement because <strong>on</strong> 6 December 2011 it issued <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
corresp<strong>on</strong>ding award. The award had not been decided in August, which was not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fault<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF, but due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various challenges made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM, as a legally<br />
protected right to defend its interests and refer to o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r courts to c<strong>on</strong>test <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> award not<br />
issued in its favour.<br />
646. The Government c<strong>on</strong>cludes by stating that: (a) nati<strong>on</strong>al labour legislati<strong>on</strong> sets out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
penalties to be imposed <strong>on</strong> any employer or employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong> that infringes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
individual and/or collective rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers with whom <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y have an employment<br />
relati<strong>on</strong>ship. However, it should be noted that, after analysing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint lodged by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
STRM, it is clear that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is not sufficient informati<strong>on</strong> to determine whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is any<br />
violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> and n<strong>on</strong>-compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal framework, or that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been any<br />
interference or omissi<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexican State that might have affected any right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers in Atento Servicios SA de CV, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant presents no evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s, acti<strong>on</strong>s, lawsuits and infringements to support such claim. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, it<br />
reiterates that Mexican labour legislati<strong>on</strong> ensures that all workers have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal resources<br />
and means at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir disposal to approach <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities to defend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir labour rights; that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are bodies such as PROFEDET, which provide guidance and free legal advice for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ individual and collective rights; and that it is vital for workers to<br />
report any acts by employers that affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir labour rights to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate authorities, so<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant authorities can punish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m and act in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir defence, as clearly provided in<br />
law; and (b) from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong>, it is clear that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant authorities were at all times carried out in a timely and<br />
appropriate manner, within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legally established terms and c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, in c<strong>on</strong>formity with<br />
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legislati<strong>on</strong> and in full compliance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> powers c<strong>on</strong>ferred up<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m by its own<br />
regulati<strong>on</strong>s. A case in point is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM branch 187, which<br />
was processed and granted, resulting in it being legally recognized. Ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballots<br />
that were c<strong>on</strong>ducted following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request for bargaining rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Atento Servicios SA de CV, in which JLCADF procedures adhered to<br />
legislative provisi<strong>on</strong>s, unfailingly safeguarding workers’ rights and safety, complying with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legally required procedure and respecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> free choice<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> that should manage <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining agreement, given that it is not<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF that grants bargaining rights, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir vote. The<br />
authority <strong>on</strong>ly legitimizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> when issuing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> award based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results, with<br />
absolute transparency and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> participati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all parties involved.<br />
647. In no circumstances can it be c<strong>on</strong>sidered that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been any omissi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mexican State, ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r directly or through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities involved, as its<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>s have unfailingly been in accordance with legislati<strong>on</strong> and, in this regard, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
principles c<strong>on</strong>tained in ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98 have not been violated. On <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>trary, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has taken clear acti<strong>on</strong>s to streng<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
right to organize and to collective bargaining, pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which can be seen in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> amendments to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act, published in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Official Gazette <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Federati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 30 November 2012 in order to ensure compliance.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
648. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> (STRM) alleges:<br />
(1) anti-uni<strong>on</strong> dismissals following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its branch 187 in Atento Servicios<br />
SA de CV (six named members in July 2009 and ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r six in October 2009, and<br />
50 unnamed members who worked in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company’s Pachuca and Toluca centres);<br />
(2) uni<strong>on</strong> security clauses in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM that allow <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer to dismiss<br />
workers who are not members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM. The complainant also alleges automatic<br />
membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this uni<strong>on</strong> up<strong>on</strong> recruitment; (3) various irregularities (which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant details in its complaint) by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM uni<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authorities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d ballot process requested by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM <strong>on</strong> two occasi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
(December 2009 and following a decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant judicial authority (under an<br />
appeal) approving a new ballot requested by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM, which finally took place in<br />
November 2011). According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> irregularities referred to resulted in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM not winning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot.<br />
649. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statements denying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and according to which: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM fails to<br />
provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> names <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> (all) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissed workers, or give <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged unjustified reas<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
or to state whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y took any legal, judicial or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r acti<strong>on</strong>s; (2) STRM branch 187<br />
obtained its recogniti<strong>on</strong> within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal deadlines; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM has not provided<br />
evidence to support its allegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> mass and enforced membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r uni<strong>on</strong><br />
and, in any case, exclusi<strong>on</strong> clauses (uni<strong>on</strong> security clause) were declared unc<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice in 2001 and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same criteria were followed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last<br />
reform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 30 November 2012, which also includes uni<strong>on</strong><br />
transparency provisi<strong>on</strong>s; (4) in both ballots, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ vote results verified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authority (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which was after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority had cancelled <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong>) went against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM; (5) legislati<strong>on</strong> provides penalties for a<br />
violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual or collective rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers and remedies to put <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m into<br />
effect. The Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint is subjective and lacks evidence and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
November 2011 ballot was c<strong>on</strong>ducted in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law. In general, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s reply differ <strong>on</strong> many points.<br />
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650. Firstly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to note <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> difficulty in c<strong>on</strong>sidering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint, partly<br />
because, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong>, uni<strong>on</strong> security clauses were used to benefit<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r uni<strong>on</strong>, because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possible number<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeals filed by members dismissed or disadvantaged (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> also<br />
recognizes that in some periods <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was restructuring with lay-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fs) and partly because<br />
some pieces <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> raised questi<strong>on</strong>s. First, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot results which, although<br />
clearly in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM, gave surprising results in terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> figures (according<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first ballot 372 workers voted for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> – STRM<br />
– and 1,294 for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d, out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a total <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 579 workers <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
47 voted for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM). Sec<strong>on</strong>d, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority (Federal District Local<br />
C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board), when ordering a sec<strong>on</strong>d ballot, noted in its decisi<strong>on</strong><br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM uni<strong>on</strong> member voting list “clearly c<strong>on</strong>tains no record <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any company<br />
worker”. Third, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> finding that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> (STRM) fails to state whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r or<br />
not it appealed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last ballot (in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous ballot <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> STRM<br />
had obtained a decisi<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority to repeat <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot). Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority cancelled <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first workers’ ballot to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
most representative uni<strong>on</strong> for bargaining rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement, it will <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
examine issues relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> November 2011 ballot and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissals that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>siders to be anti-uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
651. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance that it attaches to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
fact that workers and employers should in practice be able to establish and join<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own choosing in full freedom and be able to freely choose which<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> will represent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m for purposes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observes in this case certain aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cern in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> voting process (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> atmosphere <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>tati<strong>on</strong> and c<strong>on</strong>fusi<strong>on</strong>; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police; serious problem in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> voting lists<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> balloting and suspici<strong>on</strong>s around <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that many workers did not vote, suggesting<br />
that workers may not have had sufficient time since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>vocati<strong>on</strong>). The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> any appeal filed by its members<br />
against dismissals or anti-uni<strong>on</strong> practices and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir outcomes, and against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last ballot<br />
(November 2011) obtained from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> with bargaining<br />
rights.<br />
652. While stressing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate procedure for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> verificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts and alleged<br />
irregularities in a ballot process for bargaining rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement<br />
between workers or members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> rival organizati<strong>on</strong>s (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> versi<strong>on</strong>s given by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government are c<strong>on</strong>flicting in this case) is primarily <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
bodies, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to emphasize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance it attaches, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is a new<br />
ballot, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities providing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safeguards necessary to avoid all alleged<br />
irregularities, thus guaranteeing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> affected workers have a full and fair opportunity<br />
to participate, in an atmosphere <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> calm and security. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> finding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> member voting list c<strong>on</strong>tained no record <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any company worker.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
653. In light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body<br />
to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant uni<strong>on</strong> to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
any appeal filed by its members against dismissals or anti-uni<strong>on</strong> practices<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir outcomes, and against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d ballot obtained from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authority to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> with bargaining rights.<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide its comments <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
claim <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SPTCTRM uni<strong>on</strong> member voting list c<strong>on</strong>tains<br />
no record <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any company worker.<br />
(c) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to emphasize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance it attaches, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is a<br />
new ballot, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities providing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safeguards necessary to avoid all<br />
alleged irregularities, thus guaranteeing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> affected workers have a<br />
full and fair opportunity to participate, in an atmosphere <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> calm and<br />
security.<br />
CASE NO. 2920<br />
DEFINITIVE REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexico<br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Higher Intermediate Educati<strong>on</strong><br />
Institute Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Housing Institute Workers’ Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers in Higher Intermediate<br />
Educati<strong>on</strong> and Decentralized Public Organizati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Firefighters’ Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: Unilateral issue by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal<br />
District Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong><br />
Board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “criteria for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proper functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
collective procedures”, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which is<br />
claimed to violate nati<strong>on</strong>al law, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong><br />
and C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87<br />
654. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a joint communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 8 December 2011 from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following organizati<strong>on</strong>s: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Higher Intermediate Educati<strong>on</strong> Institute<br />
Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Housing Institute Workers’ Associati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers in Higher Intermediate Educati<strong>on</strong> and Decentralized Public<br />
Organizati<strong>on</strong>s, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Firefighters’ Uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
655. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 1 March 2013.<br />
656. Mexico has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), but has not ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective<br />
Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
657. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 8 December 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Higher Intermediate<br />
Educati<strong>on</strong> Institute Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Housing Institute Workers’<br />
Associati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers in Higher Intermediate Educati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Decentralized Public Organizati<strong>on</strong>s, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Firefighters’ Uni<strong>on</strong> allege that<br />
<strong>on</strong> 25 October 2011 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Plenary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Federal District adopted “criteria for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proper functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective procedures”,<br />
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which were published in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Bulletin <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board <strong>on</strong> 27 October 2011.<br />
658. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed criteria for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proper functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
collective procedures do not form part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current Federal Labour Act and violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> detriment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
criteria were imposed unilaterally and were published in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Bulletin <strong>on</strong> 27 October<br />
2011. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board, as a local<br />
entity, has no power to amend, extend or define c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s established by a federal law or,<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sequently, to apply subjective interpretati<strong>on</strong>s devoid <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any legal basis which<br />
undermine and prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> free exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective<br />
bargaining designed to achieve a balance between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> factors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> producti<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
complainants reproduce in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir complaint <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local Board.<br />
659. The complainants indicate that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tested criteria were issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Plenary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Federal District Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby overstepped <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
regulatory powers c<strong>on</strong>ferred <strong>on</strong> it by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act solely for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purposes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its<br />
internal organizati<strong>on</strong> and not to enable it to impose extra-legal c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s or new<br />
obligati<strong>on</strong>s. Such criteria violate C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87 and encroach up<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al and<br />
legal powers that were c<strong>on</strong>ferred exclusively <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>gress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexico by virtue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
article 73(X) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>. The complainant states that such criteria impose extralegal<br />
requirements with regard to various collective procedures, such as trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong>, recording <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> changes in uni<strong>on</strong> leadership or statutes, depositing and revisi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements, strike notices and collective bargaining rights. The<br />
abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed criteria violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> supremacy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
hierarchy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws established in articles 1 and 133 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
660. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 1 March 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that in no way can it be<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidered that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexico, through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities specifically<br />
referred to by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants, has violated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87,<br />
since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s are unable to substantiate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claim that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State acted<br />
in such a way as to prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir establishment. Nor do <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y provide any evidence that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mexican authorities prevented <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers from forming coaliti<strong>on</strong>s or freely joining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s; or from drawing up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>s and rules, electing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
representatives in full freedom, organizing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir administrati<strong>on</strong> and activities or<br />
formulating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir programmes.<br />
661. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria in questi<strong>on</strong> violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective right to<br />
organize to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> detriment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District and lay down requirements<br />
bey<strong>on</strong>d those provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainants claim such violati<strong>on</strong>s but do not state which collective rights have been<br />
violated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria; nor do <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y specify which “extra-legal”<br />
requirements were <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby established. They simply object to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria have<br />
been issued and have not been revoked, without saying exactly how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are supposed to<br />
be detrimental. It should be noted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> document setting forth <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria was issued<br />
solely to elaborate <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority and<br />
competence that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act c<strong>on</strong>fers <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Boards. Hence<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> document cannot be c<strong>on</strong>sidered to overstep <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed Act since its purpose is<br />
simply to spell out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act c<strong>on</strong>fers.<br />
662. The scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Boards in each<br />
federative entity is laid down in secti<strong>on</strong>s 621–624 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act, which <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
provides for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir establishment, compositi<strong>on</strong> and general operati<strong>on</strong>. Secti<strong>on</strong> 621 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act<br />
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provides that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Boards shall operate in each <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
federative entities and shall be resp<strong>on</strong>sible for hearing and settling labour disputes which<br />
do not come within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board.<br />
663. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> secti<strong>on</strong> 614(IV) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed Act, set out below,<br />
are applicable to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Plenary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Boards:<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 614.- The Plenary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board shall have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following powers and obligati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
I.–III. …<br />
IV. To harm<strong>on</strong>ize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Board’s criteria for [dispute] settlement, whenever <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special<br />
Boards put forward c<strong>on</strong>flicting arguments;<br />
V.–VII. …<br />
664. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, it is for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Plenary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong><br />
Boards to harm<strong>on</strong>ize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria for settlement. Accordingly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issuing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Plenary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District<br />
(JLCADF) does not infringe <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act since even <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
secti<strong>on</strong> cited above allows it to harm<strong>on</strong>ize its settlement criteria and, hence, its mode <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
acti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
665. Account must also be taken <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria are for internal applicati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
JLCADF and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir purpose, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir name indicates, is to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proper functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective procedures <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Board itself. Accordingly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> document in questi<strong>on</strong> cannot<br />
be c<strong>on</strong>sidered as being potentially detrimental to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants or to any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
666. The Government adds that, notwithstanding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, in order to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> duties<br />
assigned to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF by article 123(A), sec<strong>on</strong>d paragraph, clauses XVI, XVII, XVIII,<br />
XIX, XX and XXI <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Mexican States and by secti<strong>on</strong>s 1, 2, 5,<br />
6, 18, 685, 686 and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r applicable secti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act, are coherent, kept<br />
up to date and duly fulfilled, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Plenary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> JLCADF, at its meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 October 2012,<br />
agreed as follows:<br />
… SINGLE [PROVISION] - To revoke <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> INTERNAL CRITERIA GOVERNING<br />
THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE COLLECTIVE PROCEDURES OF THE LOCAL<br />
CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION BOARD OF THE FEDERAL DISTRICT published<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Bulletin <strong>on</strong> 27 October 2011 … (sic) (Appendix).<br />
667. In c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed notice shows that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
grounds <strong>on</strong> which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint is based no l<strong>on</strong>ger exist and hence no report or acti<strong>on</strong> is<br />
necessary.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
668. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s allege that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “criteria for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proper functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective procedures” <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong><br />
and Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District, approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District and published <strong>on</strong> 27 October 2011, violate<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic<br />
(principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> supremacy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hierarchy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws). According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed criteria violate trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local Board<br />
arrogating power to modify c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s laid down in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act and<br />
establishing new extra-legal obligati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby overstepping its merely regulatory<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
competence provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong>, under which its prime purpose is to adopt <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrative and organic measures needed to ensure its better functi<strong>on</strong>ing without giving<br />
novel treatment to matters falling exclusively within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> said criteria restrict freedom<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to organize and to strike, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to collective bargaining and<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> aut<strong>on</strong>omy, imposing procedures with regard to trade uni<strong>on</strong> registrati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
recording (recogniti<strong>on</strong>) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> changes in uni<strong>on</strong> leadership or statutes, depositing and revisi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements, strike notices and collective bargaining rights.<br />
669. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statements that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants do not<br />
specify which supposedly “extra-legal” requirements were established by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed criteria; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria were issued to spell out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority and<br />
competence c<strong>on</strong>ferred by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Labour Act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Boards and cannot be regarded as a document that oversteps <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act or<br />
infringes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>; in fact <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act allows <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local Boards to harm<strong>on</strong>ize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
criteria for settlement and, hence, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir mode <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criteria are for internal<br />
applicati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Board and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir purpose is to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proper functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its<br />
collective procedures.<br />
670. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes in particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that, in order to<br />
ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> duties assigned to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local Boards by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal<br />
Labour Act are duly fulfilled and kept up to date, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Plenary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Local C<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Arbitrati<strong>on</strong> Board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal District, at its meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 October 2012, agreed to<br />
revoke <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internal criteria governing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proper functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective procedures<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Board. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this informati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that this case does<br />
not call for fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r examinati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
671. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to decide that this case does not call for fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r examinati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
CASE NO. 2981<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mexico<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> World Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s (WFTU)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: Detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> for seven-and-a-half<br />
hours and his subsequent criminal prosecuti<strong>on</strong>;<br />
deducti<strong>on</strong>s’ from teachers’ salaries for engaging<br />
in trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zacatecas<br />
672. The complaint was presented in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> World Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong>s (WFTU) dated 23 August 2012. The WFTU sent additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> in a<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 8 October 2012.<br />
673. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 1 March 2013.<br />
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674. Mexico has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), but has not ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective<br />
Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
675. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 23 August 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> World Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
(WFTU) alleges arbitrary and anti-uni<strong>on</strong> acti<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unjust and illegal detenti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
26 July 2012 by Zacatecas state police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Efraín Arteaga Domínguez (Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ex Braceros en Lucha, a WFTU affiliated organizati<strong>on</strong>; member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive<br />
coordinati<strong>on</strong> body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Fr<strong>on</strong>t for People’s Sovereignty (FSSP) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zacatecas;<br />
WFTU coordinator for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zacatecas), <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal charge by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Attorney-<br />
General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “attacking channels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong>” by taking part in a roadblock <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
boulevard Adolfo López Mateos organized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Independent Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Telesecundaria Workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zacatecas (SITTEZ) <strong>on</strong> 29 June 2012. After<br />
spending some seven-and-a-half hours in a police cell, he was c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>ally released<br />
pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> handing down <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a court sentence. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judge at his<br />
sec<strong>on</strong>d criminal court hearing, acting <strong>on</strong> orders from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive, rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arguments,<br />
evidence and testim<strong>on</strong>y <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> defence out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hand and brazenly rubberstamped <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
so-called arguments put forward by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Prosecutor General. The crime he is accused <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
carries a pris<strong>on</strong> sentence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three m<strong>on</strong>ths to four years.<br />
676. The WFTU summarizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incident as follows:<br />
– Between 21 June and 2 July 2012 SITTEZ organized a campaign to demand that its<br />
principal demands be met, namely: (a) a step-by-step increase in salary and a working<br />
week <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 30 to 35 hours; (b) implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a housing programme for uni<strong>on</strong><br />
members; and (c) introducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour standards guaranteeing security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employment at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> work, etc. On 29 June 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers organized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
blocking <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> boulevard Adolfo López Mateos, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main artery <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zacatecas,<br />
from midday to approximately 5.30 p.m.<br />
– In resp<strong>on</strong>se to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> roadblock <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state government proceeded to: (i) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> illegal<br />
retenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> salaries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> teachers; (ii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal<br />
proceedings against all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m; and (iii) public threatening to bring criminal charges<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leaders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protest movement and order <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir impris<strong>on</strong>ment. Eventually,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state government agreed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deducti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> teachers’ salaries instead <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, with a warning that at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> slightest sign <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> protest or public<br />
denunciati<strong>on</strong> it would cancel <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deducti<strong>on</strong>s from salary and resume <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal<br />
procedures.<br />
– In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FSSP and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU issued a public statement denouncing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incident <strong>on</strong> 17 July 2012 and affirming <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir solidarity with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SITTEZ workers.<br />
– The state government, through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State Prosecutor’s Office, charged Efraín Arteaga<br />
Domínguez with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> so-called crime <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “attacking channels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong>” by<br />
means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 29 June 2012 roadblock, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fallacious testim<strong>on</strong>y <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a lawyer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
state’s Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong> and Culture. On 26 July 2012 Efraín Arteaga<br />
Domínguez was detained.<br />
– According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged incident c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong><br />
No. 87 and is intended to criminalize social struggle.<br />
677. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> enclosed with its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 8 October 2012 a<br />
number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> documents c<strong>on</strong>cerning SITTEZ’s demands, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> demands that<br />
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<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> presented for 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meetings it c<strong>on</strong>vened <strong>on</strong> 20, 21 and 27 June 2012<br />
showing that teachers were absent from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir place <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> work because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were attending<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> meetings, and minutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 6 and 11 July 2012 which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU believes reflect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
repressive attitude adopted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong> and Culture by<br />
requiring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists to write to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> governor implicitly admitting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y had<br />
broken <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law and promising not to do so again, failing which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry would proceed<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> teachers. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11 July<br />
2012 c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry’s legal department and three uni<strong>on</strong><br />
representatives “agreeing” to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deducti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> salaries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 842 teachers, for a total <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
2,192 days <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> salary. The uni<strong>on</strong> representatives say that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were given no opti<strong>on</strong> and that<br />
if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y had not signed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would have been dismissed instead <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> having deducti<strong>on</strong>s from<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir salaries.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
678. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 1 March 2013 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <strong>on</strong> 4 September<br />
2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO transmitted a complaint that had been presented against it by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU,<br />
alleging <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights in Mexico. It adds that in its complaint <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
23 August 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU alleges that SITTEZ has been <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> acti<strong>on</strong><br />
and that Efraín Arteaga Domínguez, Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ex Braceros en Lucha,<br />
Civilian Associati<strong>on</strong>, was detained for “attacking channels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong>” when he<br />
took part in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> roadblock organized by SITTEZ. On 12 October 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU<br />
submitted a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> documents in support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its complaint to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 August<br />
2012, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s lists <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> demands, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an agreement between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities and letters from SITTEZ c<strong>on</strong>vening uni<strong>on</strong> meetings.<br />
679. The Government notes that, by way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> acti<strong>on</strong> against SITTEZ, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU<br />
alleges illegal deducti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> salaries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> teachers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
procedures to have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m all dismissed and threats <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal charges and pris<strong>on</strong> sentences<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leaders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> blocking <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> boulevard Adolfo López Mateos in Zacatecas. The<br />
Government c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU’s complaint to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO should not be deemed<br />
receivable by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>, for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following reas<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
– According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special procedures for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour<br />
Organizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaints alleging violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, complaints<br />
must be presented in writing, duly signed and supported by evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> specific<br />
infringements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights. This requirement has not been met, since in its<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU formulates a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> general, subjective and n<strong>on</strong>-specific<br />
arguments and omits any reference to actual violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong><br />
supposedly committed against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SITTEZ. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU does<br />
not present any evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> veracity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its claims and SITTEZ has apparently not<br />
applied to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent administrative or jurisdicti<strong>on</strong>al authority individually or<br />
collectively to defend rights that have supposedly been violated. That being so, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complaint presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU does not meet <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> set out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special procedures.<br />
– Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Efraín Arteaga Domínguez, Secretary-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ex Braceros en Lucha, Civilian Associati<strong>on</strong>, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal charge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “attacking<br />
channels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong>” when he took part in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> roadblock organized by<br />
SITTEZ, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>siders that, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special procedures, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU<br />
may present a complaint in so far as it has c<strong>on</strong>sultative status with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO. However,<br />
Efraín Arteaga Domínguez’s detenti<strong>on</strong> is not a matter for c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> since, although Ex Braceros en Lucha, AC is<br />
affiliated to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU, its juridical status is not that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong> but <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
a civil associati<strong>on</strong> governed by Mexico’s Federal Civil Code. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, Efraín<br />
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Arteaga Domínguez’s detenti<strong>on</strong> as a representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> cannot be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, as he is not a trade uni<strong>on</strong> leader.<br />
– Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> documents presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU <strong>on</strong> 12 October 2012 in support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
its complaint, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special procedures stipulate that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director-General, <strong>on</strong> receiving<br />
a complaint c<strong>on</strong>cerning specific cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
informs <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant that any informati<strong>on</strong> he may wish to furnish in substantiati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint should be communicated to him within a period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e m<strong>on</strong>th, as<br />
was clearly indicated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO in its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 4 September 2012. The<br />
Government observes that this requirement has not been met by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
relevant informati<strong>on</strong> was presented after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deadline, i.e. 51 days after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> submitted its complaint to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO <strong>on</strong> 23 August 2012.<br />
680. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special procedures specify that, “in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> event that supporting<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> is sent to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expiry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e m<strong>on</strong>th period provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
procedures it will be for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to determine whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r this informati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>stitutes<br />
new evidence which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant would not have been in a positi<strong>on</strong> to adduce within<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appointed period”, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU<br />
does not c<strong>on</strong>stitute new evidence c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged anti-uni<strong>on</strong> acti<strong>on</strong> taken against<br />
SITTEZ.<br />
681. In c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that it is apparent from its analysis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint<br />
that it is irreceivable by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> grounds both <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
form and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance inasmuch as it does not meet <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirements established by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>. That being so, and in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special<br />
procedures, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government requests that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reject <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
682. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present complaint <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU alleges: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arbitrary<br />
and unjust detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its coordinator for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zacatecas (Efraín Arteaga<br />
Domínguez) for seven-and-a-half hours, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal charge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> attacking channels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> by taking part in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> peaceful blocking <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a boulevard organized by<br />
SITTEZ <strong>on</strong> 29 June 2012 in support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its principal labour demands; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU indicates<br />
that, following his detenti<strong>on</strong>, its coordinator was released <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>al bail and is<br />
currently awaiting trial; and (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deducti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> salaries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 842 teachers<br />
(according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leaders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> were initially threatened with<br />
pris<strong>on</strong> sentences and criminal charges and dismissal procedures were initiated against<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se were subsequently dropped).<br />
683. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government argues that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> documents sent by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 8 October 2012 are inadmissible as additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong><br />
because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint itself was submitted <strong>on</strong> 23 August 2012 when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s<br />
procedural rules allow a period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>on</strong>e m<strong>on</strong>th for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir submissi<strong>on</strong>. On this point, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that, after receiving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office invited <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU, <strong>on</strong><br />
4 September 2012, to submit additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong>, and it <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore c<strong>on</strong>cludes that,<br />
allowing for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir postal delays, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> and documents which were sent<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU <strong>on</strong> 8 October 2012 and reached <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <strong>on</strong> 12 October 2012 were within<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e-m<strong>on</strong>th deadline provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special procedures.<br />
684. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged detenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its coordinator for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zacatecas (Efraín<br />
Arteaga Domínguez) for seven-and-a-half hours, for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> so-called crime <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> attacking<br />
channels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong> by joining in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> peaceful roadblock <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a boulevard organized<br />
by SITTEZ <strong>on</strong> 29 June 2012 in support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its principal labour demands, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal<br />
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charges subsequently brought against him, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> should not be examined because, although Ex Braceros en<br />
Lucha, AC (<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU, Efraín Arteaga Domínguez is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary-<br />
General) is affiliated to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU, its juridical status is not that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a workers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> but <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a civil associati<strong>on</strong> governed in Mexico by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federal Civil Code and<br />
because he is not a trade uni<strong>on</strong> leader. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU does not<br />
claim that Efraín Arteaga Domínguez is a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SITTEZ or a teacher and that it has<br />
not sent a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal charges brought against him. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU does describe Efraín Arteaga Domínguez as its coordinator for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Zacatecas. On this point, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> participati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s in uni<strong>on</strong> protest movements is<br />
comm<strong>on</strong> practice. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that, in order to establish whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
WFTU’s coordinator did or did not exceed his resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities by participating in what <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
criminal charges describe as illegal activities, it would be useful to have a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ruling handed down. While taking note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that Efraín Arteaga Domínguez has,<br />
according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU, been released <strong>on</strong> bail, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to send it a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling handed down in respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which<br />
he is accused (attacking channels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong>).<br />
685. As to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deducti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> salaries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> teachers,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU refers to an agreement between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Educati<strong>on</strong> and Culture and three SITTEZ leaders (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU points out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y signed<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement to avoid being dismissed). The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government argues<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> is inadmissible <strong>on</strong> grounds that it c<strong>on</strong>tains general, subjective and n<strong>on</strong>specific<br />
arguments and fails to provide any evidence that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incidents referred to are true<br />
(illegal retenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> salaries for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> blocking <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a boulevard, initiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal<br />
procedures, threats <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal charges) or that SITTEZ applied to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative or<br />
judicial authority in defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights that had supposedly been violated. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observes that, in its complaint, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU refers to a protest campaign from 21 June to<br />
2 July 2012 (which included <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> five-and-a-half hours roadblock <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a major boulevard <strong>on</strong><br />
29 June 2012). However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deducti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> salaries<br />
were part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an agreement signed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities and by uni<strong>on</strong> representatives and,<br />
judging from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided, appears to have been linked to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hours not<br />
worked because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> protest acti<strong>on</strong>, and it will <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore not pursue its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, notably because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU has not referred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lodging <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrative or judicial appeals by SITTEZ.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
686. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send it a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sentence<br />
handed down <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WFTU’s coordinator, Efraín Arteaga Domínguez,<br />
charged with a criminal attack <strong>on</strong> channels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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CASE NO. 2916<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nicaragua<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrative Workers’ and Teachers’ Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong> (SINTRADOC)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: Transfer and subsequent dismissal<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Educati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pretext <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> restructuring<br />
687. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Administrative Workers’ and<br />
Teachers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong> (SINTRADOC) dated 5 December 2011.<br />
688. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 13 April and 21 June<br />
2012.<br />
689. Nicaragua has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
690. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 5 December 2011, SINTRADOC alleges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer and<br />
subsequent dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Orlando José Jiménez Hernández, General Secretary,<br />
Mr Randy Arturo Hernández López, Organizati<strong>on</strong> and Informati<strong>on</strong> Secretary, and<br />
Mr William José Morales Peralta, Labour and Disputes Secretary, which it ascribes to<br />
retaliati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities in defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ rights (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> sends documentati<strong>on</strong> relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir uni<strong>on</strong> activities and claims).<br />
691. SINTRADOC alleges that, in August 2010, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong><br />
arbitrarily and unilaterally informed seven workers, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed uni<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials who worked at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong>, that as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reorganizati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would be transferred, leaving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> posts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al supervisors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
educati<strong>on</strong> at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry headquarters to take up posts as classroom teachers, in o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
words, changing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir general c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment which SINTRADOC c<strong>on</strong>siders to<br />
violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> immunity established in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreement.<br />
692. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presentati<strong>on</strong> in August 2010 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaints by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate issued decisi<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir favour. Previously, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
three <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials had filed a lawsuit with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeals Court, which provisi<strong>on</strong>ally suspended<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer decisi<strong>on</strong> and ruled that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter should be referred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice. The complainant indicates that, <strong>on</strong> 13 April<br />
2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed Chamber rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials’ claims, whereup<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter<br />
brought an acti<strong>on</strong> to overturn that ruling <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that it was without any legal<br />
foundati<strong>on</strong>. In September 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative authority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, through oral administrative proceedings, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cancellati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employment c<strong>on</strong>tracts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> derelicti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> duty. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
same proceedings, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cancellati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment c<strong>on</strong>tracts was authorized.<br />
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693. SINTRADOC adds that, in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this situati<strong>on</strong>, and fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adverse outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir appeal for amparo (protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al rights), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials<br />
decided to bring an acti<strong>on</strong> against illegal dismissal through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ordinary labour court,<br />
requesting reinstatement and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> outstanding salaries.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
694. In its communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 13 April and 21 June 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government categorically<br />
denies that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were any anti-uni<strong>on</strong> grounds in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to transfer <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant trade uni<strong>on</strong>. On <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>trary, it indicates that it maintains harm<strong>on</strong>ious<br />
and respectful relati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> many trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> teaching sector, as<br />
borne out by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current collective agreement, which is renewed every<br />
two years, has been signed by 11 trade uni<strong>on</strong>s. The Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to<br />
transfer <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials was taken in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> restructuring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
educati<strong>on</strong> system, which entailed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aboliti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unit in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
workers were employed. The Government emphasizes that, in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
posts occupied by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials were due to disappear, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong><br />
could have dismissed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m directly under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> in force, but opted to maintain<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir employment and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir salaries, taking account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> operati<strong>on</strong>al reas<strong>on</strong>s such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
urgent need to fill teaching posts at schools in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> city <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Managua. Since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials<br />
refused <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer decided up<strong>on</strong> in August 2010, after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice had declared <strong>on</strong> 13 April 2011 that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re had been no violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al rights (as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfers were c<strong>on</strong>ducted within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law) and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
obligati<strong>on</strong> was <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interested parties to accept <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer in resp<strong>on</strong>se to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> needs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong> system, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspector, at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
authorized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cancellati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tracts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, in August 2011, <strong>on</strong><br />
grounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> gross misc<strong>on</strong>duct (failure to perform <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir duties) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Teaching<br />
Careers Act authorizes transfers fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to an order from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
Government c<strong>on</strong>firms that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, Mr William José Morales Peralta and Mr Randy<br />
Arturo Hernández López, submitted a claim for reinstatement to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ordinary labour court,<br />
and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil Service Appeals Board rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal lodged by Mr Orlando José<br />
Jiménez Hernández against his dismissal. An appeal for amparo was submitted by<br />
Mr Orlando José Jiménez Hernández and Mr Randy Arturo Hernández López against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissal decisi<strong>on</strong> issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative authority fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling (against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
three <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials) issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court, and is<br />
currently pending. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government emphasizes that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interested parties have had recourse to numerous administrative and judicial remedies<br />
provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> with a view to defending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rights.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
695. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant trade uni<strong>on</strong> alleges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
illegal transfer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials by decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong> (a<br />
transfer not accepted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials c<strong>on</strong>cerned) in August 2010 and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir subsequent<br />
dismissal, in September 2011, for derelicti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> duty, fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to an adverse ruling from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice, against which an appeal was<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n filed. The complainant emphasizes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectorate initially decided in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir favour. It believes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are anti-uni<strong>on</strong> motives behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir transfer and<br />
dismissal – which it c<strong>on</strong>siders c<strong>on</strong>trary to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement – in<br />
relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir activities in defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ rights, and c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been<br />
a failure to comply with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law.<br />
696. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government categorically rejects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any antiuni<strong>on</strong><br />
motives for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfers, and points out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y occurred in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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restructuring <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong>, which entailed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aboliti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unit in which<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r workers were employed. In that c<strong>on</strong>text, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials was permitted under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> in force but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government opted to<br />
maintain <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir employment and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir salaries through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfers, taking account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
urgent need <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> service to fill teaching posts in schools in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same area. The<br />
Government also indicates that it has harm<strong>on</strong>ious and respectful relati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> many<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> teaching sector and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement (signed<br />
by 11 trade uni<strong>on</strong>s) is renewed every two years. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interested parties have been able to take and are still taking legal and judicial acti<strong>on</strong> in<br />
defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rights.<br />
697. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s explanati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that it has<br />
insufficient informati<strong>on</strong> – at least for now – to be able to c<strong>on</strong>clude that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer and<br />
subsequent dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials were <strong>on</strong> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> grounds. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interested parties, after various appeals, have brought an acti<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
labour court, which, apart from being due to rule <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> motivati<strong>on</strong>, will<br />
probably have to decide whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong> to transfer <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m,<br />
according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s, from posts as nati<strong>on</strong>al supervisors at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry<br />
headquarters to posts as classroom teachers c<strong>on</strong>stitutes an infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour law. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following are pending: (1) according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s, an appeal filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interested parties to overturn <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adverse ruling issued<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice; and (2) according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government, an appeal for amparo against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal decisi<strong>on</strong> issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrative authority fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed ruling.<br />
698. In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any<br />
rulings handed down in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> events described in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
699. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any rulings<br />
handed down with respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer and subsequent dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials Mr William José Morales Peralta, Mr Randy Arturo<br />
Hernández López and Mr Orlando José Jiménez Hernández.<br />
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CASE NO. 2943<br />
DEFINITIVE REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norway<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong>s for Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als (Unio)<br />
supported by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
(Akademikerne)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Vocati<strong>on</strong>al Uni<strong>on</strong>s (YS)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nordic Police Uni<strong>on</strong> (NPF) and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> European C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Police (EUROCOP)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
alleges Government interference in collective<br />
bargaining<br />
700. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong>s for<br />
Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als (Unio) dated 20 April 2012. The Nordic Police Uni<strong>on</strong> (NPF), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> (Akademikerne), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Vocati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong>s (YS) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> European C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Police (EUROCOP) supported <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complaint in communicati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 25 April and 3, 7 and 24 May 2012, respectively.<br />
701. The Government forwarded its resp<strong>on</strong>se to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated<br />
14 November 2012.<br />
702. Norway has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98), as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Relati<strong>on</strong>s (Public Service) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
1978 (No. 151), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1981 (No. 154).<br />
A. The complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
703. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 20 April 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> Unio alleges that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government violated ratified ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s when it unduly interfered in collective<br />
bargaining by imposing provisi<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
intent to c<strong>on</strong>trol <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>going negotiati<strong>on</strong>s over working hours for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service.<br />
704. The complainant indicates that, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian law and within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
framework stipulated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian police force has full<br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, collective bargaining rights and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike.<br />
705. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spring <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009, as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>going<br />
renegotiati<strong>on</strong>s between Unio and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government Administrati<strong>on</strong>, Reform and<br />
Church Affairs (FAD) over a collective agreement <strong>on</strong> a set <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> working hours provisi<strong>on</strong>s for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government passed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> Exempti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Working Hour Provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act regarding Police Officers, etc.,<br />
<strong>on</strong> 26 June 2009 (entry into force <strong>on</strong> 1 July 2009). The Regulati<strong>on</strong> stipulates provisi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong><br />
daily rest periods for certain groups <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service, including<br />
civilian staff. Such provisi<strong>on</strong>s were previously subject to collective bargaining and were<br />
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outlined in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current collective agreement entitled Working Hours Provisi<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Police and Lensmann Service (ATB).<br />
706. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong> passed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
was mandatory, but could be altered through provisi<strong>on</strong>s in a collective agreement between<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s acti<strong>on</strong>s affected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>on</strong>going negotiati<strong>on</strong>s because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong> in reality represented a more or less<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-negotiable demand in so far as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong> would apply if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
parties failed to reach an agreement. Therefore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s partly became illusory and<br />
partly led <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties towards a predetermined outcome that favoured <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer’s<br />
positi<strong>on</strong>. The opportunity <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> had to protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members’ interest was thus<br />
weakened, partly because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s were c<strong>on</strong>ducted under an obligati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial<br />
peace. Faced with this situati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s had no o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r opti<strong>on</strong> but to accept <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
main c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong>. This was incorporated into a new and comprehensive<br />
working hours agreement that was reached by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FAD (see<br />
minutes dated 9 July 2009).<br />
707. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s view, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s decisi<strong>on</strong> was in clear breach <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s. This is evident from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government used its authority as a<br />
lawmaker to unduly intervene in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>going negotiati<strong>on</strong>s over working hours for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
police service by regulating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s for rest periods – provisi<strong>on</strong>s that were already<br />
defined by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing collective agreement. Even more crucially, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
exercised this authority even though it was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police and thus party to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s. This interventi<strong>on</strong> transpired without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Parliament and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any crisis in Norway that might have required such governmental acti<strong>on</strong>. By<br />
passing this Regulati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government thus interfered in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s’ right to free<br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s and neglected its obligati<strong>on</strong> to encourage free negotiati<strong>on</strong>s. Unless <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government abstains from such interventi<strong>on</strong>s, future negotiati<strong>on</strong>s will c<strong>on</strong>tinue to be<br />
steered in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> directi<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government wants.<br />
708. The complainant indicates that Unio was founded in December 2001 as a politically<br />
independent c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> and is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d largest trade uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> in Norway.<br />
It has highly qualified members, including teachers, nurses, researchers, police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers,<br />
clergy, physio<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rapists, occupati<strong>on</strong>al <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rapists, c<strong>on</strong>sultants and deac<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
709. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r enumerates its ten affiliated uni<strong>on</strong>s with a total <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
300,000 members: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Educati<strong>on</strong> Norway (148,909 members, including<br />
teachers/pedagogues in kindergartens, primary schools, sec<strong>on</strong>dary schools, universities and<br />
colleges); <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian Nurses Organisati<strong>on</strong> (NNO) (89,992 members including<br />
registered nurses, midwives, specialist nurses, public health nurses and nursing students);<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Researchers (NAR) (17,430 members including employees<br />
in academic, administrative and library-related positi<strong>on</strong>s at universities, colleges, research<br />
instituti<strong>on</strong>s, museums and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong>); <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian Police Federati<strong>on</strong><br />
(12,534 members including employees from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police force, police force leadership and<br />
civilian staff); <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian Physio<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rapist Associati<strong>on</strong> (NPA) (9,238 members); <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Norwegian Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Occupati<strong>on</strong>al Therapists (NETF) (3,422 members); <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
University and College Graduates (2,937 members including administrative pers<strong>on</strong>nel with<br />
a minimum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three years educati<strong>on</strong> from university or college); <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian<br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Clergy (2,593 members including clergy and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ologians); <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian<br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tax Auditors and Accountants (504 members); and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian<br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deac<strong>on</strong>s (485 members including deac<strong>on</strong>s permanently employed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Church <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norway and deac<strong>on</strong>s engaged in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> health and social work undertaken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Church).<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
The Norwegian negotiating system<br />
710. The complainant states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, collective bargaining<br />
rights and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike are acknowledged in Norwegian law. For employees in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
state sector <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se principles are laid down in a general law c<strong>on</strong>cerning public sector<br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s, namely <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act relating to public service disputes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 18 July 1958. No<br />
distincti<strong>on</strong> is made in this Act between various state sector employees. Thus, police service<br />
employees in Norway have unrestricted freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining<br />
rights and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike. The Police Act previously c<strong>on</strong>tained a clause forbidding strike<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>, but this clause was repealed by Royal Decree No. 8 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 3 February 1995.<br />
711. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>, police service uni<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members thus<br />
enjoy <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same rights as all o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r public servants. They have been exercising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir freedom<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining rights for more than 50 years and have had <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
right to strike since 1995. The collective bargaining rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police<br />
service, which are <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this complaint, have thus not been restricted, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government’s right to limit collective bargaining rights for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police under Article 5 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98 has never been used. The relevant ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore apply in<br />
full.<br />
712. The complainant fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r indicates that, for Norwegian public servants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al general<br />
collective agreement sets out basic provisi<strong>on</strong>s for pay and working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. There is a<br />
right to strike associated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al collective agreements.<br />
However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act relating to public service disputes allows separate agreements to be<br />
reached <strong>on</strong> issues not covered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al collective agreement. As a general rule, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<br />
is no right to strike associated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se separate agreements. Since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
1970s at least, provisi<strong>on</strong>s for working hours for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police have been laid down in separate<br />
collective agreements for various groups <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public servants. Where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreements do not regulate working hours, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian Working<br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act shall apply. This also means that when a collective agreement <strong>on</strong><br />
working hours expires, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act applies.<br />
Background informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
over police working hours<br />
713. The complainant underlines that, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1990s, a joint working hours agreement, namely<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB, has been in place for all employee groups within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service. The first<br />
joint ATB was entered into <strong>on</strong> 3 September 1999, and took effect <strong>on</strong> 1 November 1999.<br />
Since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement has been renegotiated at various intervals. The negotiati<strong>on</strong>s have<br />
been c<strong>on</strong>ducted under an obligati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial peace, which means that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws and<br />
regulati<strong>on</strong>s do not permit industrial acti<strong>on</strong> to be taken in support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> demands made by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>. The negotiating model and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> specific negotiati<strong>on</strong>s have<br />
worked well and created scope for drawing up working hours provisi<strong>on</strong>s under free<br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s and with balanced c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both parties.<br />
714. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>, over time, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB has stipulated rules <strong>on</strong><br />
employees’ pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al rights c<strong>on</strong>cerning daily and weekly working hours, vacati<strong>on</strong>, time<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f, rest periods, etc. as well as rules <strong>on</strong> how work should be organized. Since 1 June 2007,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB has included significant deviati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> rest periods that are<br />
stipulated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act. The Norwegian Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act<br />
states that employees are, as a general rule, entitled to 11 hours <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest between two main<br />
shifts; however, by agreement with employee representatives in workplaces that are bound<br />
by a collective agreement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest time may be reduced to eight hours. These<br />
general entitlements have been changed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB and now allow rest periods to be<br />
shorter than both 11 and eight hours.<br />
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715. The complainant also states that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state sector, <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s, and not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s, may approve such significant deviati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entitlements stated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
working hours chapter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act (see secti<strong>on</strong> 10-12, paragraph 4;<br />
cf. secti<strong>on</strong> 25, No. 2, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act relating to public service disputes). Therefore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB<br />
has been entered into by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Negotiati<strong>on</strong>s over police working hours 2008–09<br />
716. The complainant reiterates that a separate agreement c<strong>on</strong>cerning working hours provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police was entered into in 2007. The agreement ran from 1 June 2007 until<br />
31 December 2007, and was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n to be extended for <strong>on</strong>e year at a time unless it was<br />
terminated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement. Secti<strong>on</strong> 5(5) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that agreement set out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main<br />
rule <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11 hours <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest between two work assignments. This corresp<strong>on</strong>ded to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main rule<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act, which is identical to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main rule stipulated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Working Time Directive. However, in order to reduce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest period to fewer than both<br />
11 and eight hours, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were also rules <strong>on</strong> exempti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main rule. As previously<br />
menti<strong>on</strong>ed, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se exempti<strong>on</strong>s represented significant deviati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entitlements<br />
embedded in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act and were subsequently accepted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
717. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> also indicates that, after some negotiati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement<br />
was extended several times. It was extended for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first time from 1 January 2008 to<br />
30 June 2008. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement was renegotiated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spring <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2008, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s found that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning short rest periods were being used ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
frequently. During <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y unsuccessfully attempted to reach an agreement<br />
<strong>on</strong> a more sensible and appropriate use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties managed<br />
to agree that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arrangement, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s, would be evaluated and reviewed.<br />
Thus, an evaluati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s was to be carried out before l January 2009. The<br />
ATB was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n extended for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period 1 July 2008–31 December 2009, but in such a way<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning rest periods (i.e. secti<strong>on</strong> 5(5) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement), would<br />
remain in force until 30 June 2009 (half a year before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB itself was due to expire).<br />
718. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> evaluati<strong>on</strong> was carried out by a panel appointed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
parties in order to obtain a better basis for negotiating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s. The evaluati<strong>on</strong><br />
revealed a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> breaches <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB provisi<strong>on</strong>s in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> service, in particular breaches <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rules <strong>on</strong> risk assessment, disproporti<strong>on</strong>ately l<strong>on</strong>g<br />
shifts, lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> compensating rest periods, especially short rest periods between two shifts,<br />
etc. The evaluati<strong>on</strong> also found that, during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first half <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2008, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were nearly<br />
24,000 exempti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main rule <strong>on</strong> 11 hours <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest over a 24-hour period. As this<br />
number shows, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se exempti<strong>on</strong>s were used extensively and implied a deteriorati<strong>on</strong> in<br />
working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s as well as an increase in health, envir<strong>on</strong>mental, and safety risks for<br />
many employees in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> service.<br />
719. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2008 report “The police towards<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> year 2020” c<strong>on</strong>cluded that two police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers were required for every 1,000 citizens;<br />
but that police coverage at that time was just 1.8 per 1,000; that a significant number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
additi<strong>on</strong>al police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers was thus required in order to fill those positi<strong>on</strong>s; and that police<br />
coverage would fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r deteriorate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period 2012–13.<br />
720. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> autumn <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2008 and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spring <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<br />
was widespread unrest and frustrati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> staffing situati<strong>on</strong><br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working hours provisi<strong>on</strong>s, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest periods. Many people felt that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working hours provisi<strong>on</strong>s had become irresp<strong>on</strong>sible because low staffing levels led<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extensive use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> overtime, l<strong>on</strong>g shifts and shorter rest periods between shifts. It<br />
became increasingly clear that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was no interest am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees in c<strong>on</strong>tinuing<br />
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<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act unless <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s could be<br />
organized to better safeguard <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> health and welfare <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers. Indeed, a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers declined to work overtime and asked to be exempted from certain duties.<br />
During <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spring <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009, both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s became involved in<br />
preventing any illegal acti<strong>on</strong>. The corresp<strong>on</strong>dence shows that no illegal acti<strong>on</strong> took place,<br />
nor has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government accused <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> engaging in any illegal acti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
721. The complainant indicates that, <strong>on</strong> that basis, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government signalled, <strong>on</strong> 26 January<br />
2009, its intenti<strong>on</strong>s to pass a regulati<strong>on</strong> equivalent to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing agreed exempti<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ATB, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s had caused. The announcement came <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same day that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government allocated additi<strong>on</strong>al funds to new, civilian positi<strong>on</strong>s in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service, but without meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> needs identified in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2008 report. Norwegian<br />
c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s resp<strong>on</strong>ded in unis<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> announcement, c<strong>on</strong>sidering that this was an<br />
interventi<strong>on</strong> representing a breach <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a l<strong>on</strong>g-standing negotiating traditi<strong>on</strong> and an actual<br />
curtailment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to freely negotiate <strong>on</strong> working hours provisi<strong>on</strong>s. Every negotiating<br />
party <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employee side saw this acti<strong>on</strong> as a manoeuvre by which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, by<br />
exercising its authority, attempted to regulate traditi<strong>on</strong>al negotiating matters and influence<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se matters to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> detriment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members. With<br />
this regulati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir side, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers were no l<strong>on</strong>ger compelled to engage in tough<br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s over regulati<strong>on</strong>s for rest period. This, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> course, gave <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government full<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trol over this particular aspect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> separate agreement, which was a central part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>. On 29 January 2009, a lawful political strike lasting <strong>on</strong>e-and-a-half hours<br />
took place against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s announcement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
722. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s view, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enactment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> was motivated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
particularities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiating situati<strong>on</strong> and by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s desire to achieve a<br />
specific outcome. Additi<strong>on</strong>al evidence for this motivati<strong>on</strong> can be seen in a hearing<br />
document dated 20 March 2009 from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, which states: “With<br />
background in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has made a decisi<strong>on</strong> to<br />
draw up a regulati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning exempti<strong>on</strong>s from certain provisi<strong>on</strong>s laid down in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
working hours chapter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act and that special rules be<br />
introduced in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se areas.’’<br />
723. The Regulati<strong>on</strong> primarily regulates exempti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act’s main<br />
rule <strong>on</strong> rest periods, so that secti<strong>on</strong>s 2 and 3 allow for daily <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f periods shorter than 11 and<br />
eight hours, respectively. Secti<strong>on</strong> 4 describes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to compensating rest periods or<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r appropriate safeguards. It also c<strong>on</strong>tains rules <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f periods and<br />
standby duties.<br />
724. The complainant states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> was drawn up and passed simultaneously with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s over a new ATB. It was passed <strong>on</strong> 26 June 2009 and came into force <strong>on</strong><br />
1 July 2009. The Regulati<strong>on</strong> was quickly replaced by a new working hours agreement<br />
entered into by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FAD (see minutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 9 July 2009), with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest<br />
period provisi<strong>on</strong>s largely corresp<strong>on</strong>ding with those c<strong>on</strong>tained in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong>. The ATB<br />
is valid from 1 October 2009 to 31 December 2012. With <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acceptance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s came to an end. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> was never formally repealed, even<br />
though it became redundant when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB began regulating working hours in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police<br />
force.<br />
725. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s view, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s’ acceptance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new ATB was primarily based <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir inability to escape <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> material c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issuance by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> power and influence<br />
over a key area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s were taken away from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s. Their<br />
opportunity to protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> health and welfare <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members was weakened in an area<br />
that is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> significant importance to health, envir<strong>on</strong>ment and safety. In this respect, it is<br />
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instructive to refer to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian Labour Inspecti<strong>on</strong> Authority that, in its hearing<br />
statement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 7 May 2009, declared: “In our opini<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposal described in secti<strong>on</strong> 2<br />
goes too far in allowing for <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f periods shorter than 11 hours. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> curtailed<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f period should be no l<strong>on</strong>ger than <strong>on</strong>e night at a time. This is primarily because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
risk <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> accumulated tiredness occurring as early as in shift 2. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong><br />
should not allow for <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f periods shorter than eight hours in any 24-hour period, since, in<br />
our view, this would pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>oundly affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employee’s opportunity to take safety<br />
precauti<strong>on</strong>s during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next shift because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> sleep.”<br />
726. The complainant c<strong>on</strong>cludes that, due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s acti<strong>on</strong>s, a shift was made away<br />
from standard practice in Norway, whereby <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law stipulates general rules <strong>on</strong> working<br />
hours through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is room for deviati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
rules including through collective agreements based <strong>on</strong> need and preferences from both<br />
sides. If no agreement was reached during negotiati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general rules <strong>on</strong> working hours<br />
as stipulated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act would be applied. For police service<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government-imposed Regulati<strong>on</strong> undermined this well-established practice. In<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s view, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government buttressed its positi<strong>on</strong> by being able to fall back<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> for imposing highly stressful arrangements for working hours if no<br />
agreement was reached during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s. The Regulati<strong>on</strong> was passed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government as a way to improve its bargaining positi<strong>on</strong> so that it could dictate certain<br />
employment terms in relati<strong>on</strong> to working hours. One effect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any<br />
time limitati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> term <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> validity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong>. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
regulati<strong>on</strong> was passed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government means that it was not heard by Parliament. In<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r words, it was passed without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very same democratic authority that<br />
had granted all Norwegian trade uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective<br />
bargaining rights.<br />
727. The complainant believes that, because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s interventi<strong>on</strong> in collective<br />
bargaining rights, Norway is failing to meet its obligati<strong>on</strong>s under C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 98 and<br />
154, both <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which have been ratified by Norway. As, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Working Time Directive does not generally apply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s relating to collective bargaining are <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main instruments <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fering protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees and uni<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service. When ratifying<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98, Norway has not adopted any excepti<strong>on</strong>s. The unequivocal main rule<br />
under Article 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Vienna C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Treaties (1969) is that any<br />
reservati<strong>on</strong>s against parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> must be formally stated in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ratificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>. The Government has made no such reservati<strong>on</strong>s and is thus,<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s view, according to internati<strong>on</strong>al law and human rights method, bound<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98 with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following core provisi<strong>on</strong>: “Measures<br />
appropriate to nati<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s shall be taken where necessary, to encourage and<br />
promote <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> full development and utilizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> machinery for voluntary negotiati<strong>on</strong><br />
between employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s and workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, with a view to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
regulati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms and c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements”<br />
(Article 4).<br />
728. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, this provisi<strong>on</strong> implies that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government shall ensure that<br />
nobody, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government itself, imposes a soluti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> employees without<br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong> or sets up a framework for negotiati<strong>on</strong>s imposing fixed specific outcomes. On<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>trary, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government shall ensure that negotiati<strong>on</strong>s take place based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> choice and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aut<strong>on</strong>omy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s. Therefore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
obligati<strong>on</strong>s have both a positive and a negative aspect: it should encourage negotiati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and abstain from interfering in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m. Article 4 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98 covers negotiati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
over “terms and c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment”. Hence, collective negotiati<strong>on</strong>s over working<br />
hours, including daily and weekly rest periods, are clearly protected by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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729. The complainant acknowledges, however, that, under internati<strong>on</strong>al law, Norway is able to<br />
restrict <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiating rights in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service. This follows from Article 5(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98, and Article 1(2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 154, which provide: “The extent to<br />
which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guarantees provided for in this C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> shall apply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> armed forces and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police shall be determined by nati<strong>on</strong>al laws or regulati<strong>on</strong>s.” The wording implies,<br />
however, that unless such restricti<strong>on</strong>s are actually imposed, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>’s provisi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining rights shall apply in full, even to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
police. A faithful interpretati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian legality<br />
principle requires any restricti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police to be<br />
clearly and unequivocally defined by law. Yet, such a limitati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
bargaining rights does not exist in Norwegian legislati<strong>on</strong>. The complainant fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
underlines that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> in questi<strong>on</strong> applies not <strong>on</strong>ly to police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers but also to<br />
civilian staff, i.e. “civilian employees holding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> positi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> custody <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers or chief<br />
custody <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers”. Under C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se employees have unrestricted bargaining<br />
rights.<br />
730. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> also indicates that secti<strong>on</strong>s 1-2(3) and 10 through 12(9) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act allow <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to pass regulati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
working hours arrangements, and some police overtime provisi<strong>on</strong>s have for a l<strong>on</strong>g time<br />
been regulated by regulati<strong>on</strong>s (see secti<strong>on</strong> 1-2(4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Regulati<strong>on</strong> Relating to Exempti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act for Certain Types<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Work and Groups <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 16 December 2005, No. 1567). The right to stipulate<br />
public regulati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> working hours does, however, not represent a right to limit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scope<br />
and c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s. If it did, it would have been explicit or implicit in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
wording or in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preliminary documents, which is not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that regulati<strong>on</strong> are general and apply also to groups o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police, i.e. groups <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employees whose collective bargaining rights may not be restricted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
under any circumstance.<br />
731. The complainant <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore believes that provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such regulati<strong>on</strong>s may not in any<br />
circumstance be applied in such a way that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y directly intervene in negotiati<strong>on</strong>s, when<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant collective bargaining rights have not been expressly curtailed in nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> and when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s have traditi<strong>on</strong>ally been free. If C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98,<br />
Article 5(1), and C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 154, Article 1(2), are interpreted in such a way as to<br />
allow groups that are not exempt from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> to be exempted through<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s are<br />
not at all suited to <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fer real protecti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>s menti<strong>on</strong>ed in Article 5. This<br />
would clearly c<strong>on</strong>tradict <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wording and purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
732. According to C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98, Article 4, and C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 154, Article 1, Norway<br />
has an obligati<strong>on</strong> to ensure free negotiati<strong>on</strong>s and to ban interventi<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
that may limit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining rights. It also has a duty to promote collective<br />
bargaining and to make provisi<strong>on</strong>s that allow free negotiati<strong>on</strong>s to take place. Based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fear <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir dissatisfacti<strong>on</strong><br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome do not c<strong>on</strong>stitute legally valid reas<strong>on</strong>s for halting negotiati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
exercising governmental authority to manage <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome. If <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian authorities<br />
believe <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been a breach <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial peace or that o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r unlawful acts have been<br />
earned out by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employee organizati<strong>on</strong>s, it should resp<strong>on</strong>d to this with ordinary legal<br />
sancti<strong>on</strong>s, not by limiting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining rights.<br />
733. In c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant requests that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong> be repealed so as to avoid <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
same situati<strong>on</strong> from arising <strong>on</strong>ce again when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current collective agreement expires.<br />
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B. The Government’s reply<br />
734. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 14 November 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government recalls that ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98 c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to organize and<br />
to bargain collectively, was ratified by Norway in 1955 and entered into force in 1956.<br />
Pursuant to its Article 5(1), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guarantees provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> shall apply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> armed forces and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police, shall be determined by nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
laws or regulati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
735. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r recalls that ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 154 c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promoti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
collective bargaining was ratified by Norway in 1982. The scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> is<br />
determined in its Article 1(2), which provides that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guarantees<br />
provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> apply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> armed forces and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police, may be<br />
determined by nati<strong>on</strong>al law, regulati<strong>on</strong>s or nati<strong>on</strong>al practice.<br />
736. The Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are l<strong>on</strong>g-standing traditi<strong>on</strong>s in Norway regarding<br />
collective bargaining and collective agreements, across <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour market. The right to<br />
organize and collective bargaining are fundamental parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian justice, and are<br />
supported by legislati<strong>on</strong> with procedural rules and instituti<strong>on</strong>s for resolving disputes. The<br />
right to industrial acti<strong>on</strong> is part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to free collective bargaining in Norway. No<br />
prohibiti<strong>on</strong> against strike or lockout exists, except for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> military forces and senior civil<br />
servants/<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials. These groups never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less enjoy <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to organize and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to<br />
collective bargaining. Collective bargaining and collective agreements are c<strong>on</strong>sidered by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities to be a fundamental prerequisite for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> well-functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian<br />
model <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite cooperati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act<br />
related to working-time arrangements<br />
737. The Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act (Chapter 10) c<strong>on</strong>stitutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
main framework for working-time arrangements, from which enterprises (both public and<br />
private) may deviate under certain c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s by collective agreements or by exempti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
granted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supervisory authority (cf. secti<strong>on</strong> 10-12). This paves <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> way for soluti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
adapted to c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual enterprise, business sector or trade.<br />
738. Agreements <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most wide-ranging working-time arrangements must be entered into by<br />
a uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siderable size (stipulated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law), and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state sector this will usually<br />
be c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s, cf. secti<strong>on</strong> 10-12(4). The purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> is to ensure<br />
that workers’ health, welfare and more l<strong>on</strong>g-term interests are taken into account.<br />
739. Secti<strong>on</strong> 10-12(9) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chapter 10 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act additi<strong>on</strong>ally provides <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal basis for exempting special types <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> work from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> chapter<br />
and for adopting special regulati<strong>on</strong>s regarding framework provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> working time.<br />
There is also a provisi<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act, which gives a legal basis for a general (partial or<br />
complete) exempti<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act for parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong> (secti<strong>on</strong> 1-2(4)).<br />
“Working Hours Provisi<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Police<br />
and Lensmann Service” agreement<br />
740. The Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is a l<strong>on</strong>g-standing traditi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> entering into special<br />
collective agreements regarding wages and working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service. A<br />
joint special agreement for all police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Working Hours Provisi<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Police and Lensmann Service” (ATB), was entered into in 1999. The ATB covered all civil<br />
servants with police authority, except senior <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers under a special pay structure, and<br />
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custody <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers, and had its legal basis in secti<strong>on</strong> 10-12(4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment<br />
Act. The agreement made several exempti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding normal<br />
working time and rest periods, and was in general valid until 31 December 2009 and<br />
fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r for a year at a time, if not given notice by <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding rest periods had a clause that said that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se provisi<strong>on</strong>s would be<br />
repealed by 1 July 2009.<br />
741. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, when disputes in negotiati<strong>on</strong>s regarding such special<br />
agreements occur, industrial acti<strong>on</strong>s cannot take place. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state sector, usually <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State<br />
Wage <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> or a separate committee may handle <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disputes. However, disputes<br />
regarding working-time provisi<strong>on</strong>s cannot be resolved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se mechanisms. If <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties<br />
do not agree, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act will apply.<br />
742. The Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new ATB, that entered into force <strong>on</strong> 1 October 2009, has a<br />
broader scope than <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous <strong>on</strong>e, as it covers in additi<strong>on</strong> border inspectors, civil<br />
servants within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prosecuting authority, special investigators, transport escorts and<br />
certain undercover agents. It is a quite extensive agreement that c<strong>on</strong>sists <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 17 secti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning a wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s related to working hours and overtime work. The<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding rest periods are c<strong>on</strong>tained in secti<strong>on</strong> 5(5), with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formal basis<br />
secti<strong>on</strong> 10-12(4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act.<br />
Regulati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> Exempti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Hour<br />
Provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act<br />
regarding Police Officers, etc.<br />
743. The Government indicates that, <strong>on</strong> 20 March 2009, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour sent out a draft<br />
Regulati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning rest periods for police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers for public hearing. The deadline for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hearing was 8 May 2009. The expiry date <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working hour provisi<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB<br />
was end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> June 2009, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry aimed at an entry into force <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
1 July 2009. By choosing this date, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aim was to avoid <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> to intervene with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> valid and running ATB. The title <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> was “Regulati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> Exempti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Hour Provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act regarding Police<br />
Officers, etc.” It was adopted <strong>on</strong> 26 June and came into force <strong>on</strong> 1 July 2009.<br />
744. The Regulati<strong>on</strong> gives, under certain c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, permissi<strong>on</strong> for shorter rest periods than<br />
11 hours, and in certain limited cases for rest periods shorter than eight hours, in<br />
c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with overtime work. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding compensating<br />
rest periods or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r appropriate protecti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> shortened rest periods that are<br />
permitted in a row, etc.<br />
745. The Government asserts that Norway has not violated C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 98 and 154 by<br />
adopting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> in questi<strong>on</strong> and sets out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following arguments:<br />
– The relevant C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s are applicable to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service. The Government<br />
agrees that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are no general legal excepti<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al law<br />
regarding collective bargaining. However, this does not imply that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
collective bargaining can be interpreted as absolute. The organizati<strong>on</strong>s must c<strong>on</strong>duct<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir freedom within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prevailing frames <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al legislati<strong>on</strong>. This principle is<br />
explicitly expressed in Article 8(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87.<br />
– The freedom to enter into collective agreements still exists. The Working<br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a framework that stipulates how extensive a workingtime<br />
arrangements can possibly be, and determines <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> opti<strong>on</strong>s for possible deviati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
from this framework through collective agreements or excepti<strong>on</strong>s granted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authorities. Regulati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning working time would normally replace <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law. The Act, or regulati<strong>on</strong>s authorized by this Act, do not govern<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual duty to work, which arises from individual or collective agreements.<br />
According to secti<strong>on</strong> 1-9 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law will not c<strong>on</strong>stitute a hindrance for<br />
agreements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fering to employees better working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s than those stipulated in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law. Although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> may affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bargaining positi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employee<br />
side, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom to negotiate and enter into collective agreements regarding<br />
working-time arrangements still exists according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law. This is clearly illustrated<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties carried out negotiati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> summer 2009 and entered<br />
into a new collective agreement regarding, inter alia, rest periods. This agreement is<br />
still valid, and c<strong>on</strong>sequently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> has not been used so far. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB comprising provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding rest periods c<strong>on</strong>stitutes <strong>on</strong>ly a minor<br />
part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement (<strong>on</strong>e out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 17 secti<strong>on</strong>s).<br />
– The right to use valid authority in law to adopt new regulati<strong>on</strong>s. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
opini<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has to be a clear and str<strong>on</strong>g legal basis, indeed,<br />
to claim that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has forever renounced its right to use a valid authority<br />
in law to adopt new regulati<strong>on</strong>s, when entering into collective agreements <strong>on</strong> a given<br />
matter. There is no such basis in this case. On <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>trary, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> regarding<br />
rest periods must be assessed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> background <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> particular role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police in<br />
a society.<br />
Legal basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong><br />
746. The 2009 Regulati<strong>on</strong> regarding rest periods in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service has its legal basis in two<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act. According to secti<strong>on</strong> 1-2(4), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> King may,<br />
by regulati<strong>on</strong>, provide that parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong> shall wholly or partly be<br />
excepted from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such a special nature that it is difficult to<br />
adapt it to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act. This provisi<strong>on</strong> gives <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal basis for adopting<br />
excepti<strong>on</strong>s from all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act. Secti<strong>on</strong> 10-12(9) provides that, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work<br />
is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such a special nature that it would be difficult to adapt it to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this<br />
chapter, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry may, by regulati<strong>on</strong>, issue special rules providing excepti<strong>on</strong>s from<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se provisi<strong>on</strong>s. This sec<strong>on</strong>d provisi<strong>on</strong> allows for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> excepti<strong>on</strong>s and special<br />
rules o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than those <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chapter 10 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act.<br />
747. The Government emphasizes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> gist <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both secti<strong>on</strong>s is that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work has to be <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such<br />
a special nature that it is difficult to adapt <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chapter 10.<br />
Already in 1977, a regulati<strong>on</strong> was adopted regarding adjustments for parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
administrati<strong>on</strong>, including police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers which, inter alia, c<strong>on</strong>cerned <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right as regards<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police to deviate from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s setting frames for overtime work. This provisi<strong>on</strong><br />
still exists in a new regulati<strong>on</strong> adopted <strong>on</strong> 16 December 2005 (No. 1567). Hence, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
police services have, for a l<strong>on</strong>g time, been regarded to be <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such special nature that it<br />
qualifies for excepti<strong>on</strong>s regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> working time.<br />
748. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>siders that secti<strong>on</strong> 10-12(9) (“difficult to adapt”) may be<br />
interpreted somewhat wider than <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> corresp<strong>on</strong>ding provisi<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous 1977 Act,<br />
which provided that it had to be impossible to adapt <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> working<br />
time.<br />
749. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> role and duty <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian police appear from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Police Act and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Police Order (Politiinstruksen). Accordingly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main tasks <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
police are to maintain public order and security and to prevent crime and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r violence.<br />
The police is entitled to and is obliged to intervene, if necessary by force, to maintain<br />
public law and order, pursue legal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences or to bring legal decisi<strong>on</strong>s into effect or to be<br />
respected. No o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r agency or public <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers have comparable tasks and authority as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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police in times <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> peace. This underlines <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excepti<strong>on</strong>al positi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police in society to<br />
ensure life, health and property.<br />
750. The Government also states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tasks <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police are to a large extent directed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
incidents that occur. When large incidents and accidents occur or in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initial phase <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
large criminal cases, it will not always be possible to plan for sufficient pers<strong>on</strong>nel so that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirement for at least 11 hours (and in certain limited cases eight hours) rest period<br />
can be complied with.<br />
751. Looking at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tasks and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> special character <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>cludes that<br />
it is not possible to carry out parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> duties solely based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding<br />
rest periods in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act. The need for excepti<strong>on</strong>s relates both to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding<br />
overtime work and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding rest periods (secti<strong>on</strong> 10-8 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act). As<br />
menti<strong>on</strong>ed above, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excepti<strong>on</strong>s from overtime provisi<strong>on</strong>s have been granted for many<br />
years by a special regulati<strong>on</strong> which is still in force. The need for this regulati<strong>on</strong> has not<br />
been challenged by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employee’s organizati<strong>on</strong>s. It is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> firm opini<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government,<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong> regarding rest periods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service is sufficiently reas<strong>on</strong>ed,<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal basis in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act.<br />
Situati<strong>on</strong> in June 2009<br />
752. In June 2009, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government was facing a very difficult situati<strong>on</strong>. The negotiati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FAD had come to a point where a realistic result was that<br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s regarding a new ATB could fail. It was very clear that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police would not be<br />
able to fulfil all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir tasks according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Police Act, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chapter 10 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WEA<br />
solely would c<strong>on</strong>stitute <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal framework for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest periods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working-time<br />
arrangements in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service. Due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> risk <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service<br />
stood ahead <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a possible violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Police Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> was adopted <strong>on</strong><br />
26 June. However, it was not put into force until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prevailing ATB agreement expired at<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> June. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> to a very large extent c<strong>on</strong>tinued <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB regarding rest periods, i.e. an arrangement that for years had been accepted<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> affected employees. It is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> opini<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government that this did not<br />
represent an infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 98 or 154.<br />
753. The fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties reached an agreement <strong>on</strong> a revised ATB in 2009 does not change<br />
this. The Government holds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> society for predictability and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
police for c<strong>on</strong>tinuity require a regulati<strong>on</strong> in force, should <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s fail in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future.<br />
If paramount and evident reas<strong>on</strong>s call for ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r framework for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working-time<br />
arrangements within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police than those pursuant to Chapter 10 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act, such<br />
framework regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> critical needs must be settled by a regulati<strong>on</strong> ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than be left to<br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s and agreements between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ and workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
relative strength between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se parties.<br />
754. In c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that, in its opini<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
Exempti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Hour Provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act<br />
regarding Police Officers, etc. cannot be c<strong>on</strong>sidered as a breach <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 98 or<br />
154.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
755. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> alleges<br />
Government interference in collective bargaining in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service.<br />
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756. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant indicates that:<br />
(i)<br />
(ii)<br />
(iii)<br />
(iv)<br />
(v)<br />
(vi)<br />
(vii)<br />
(viii)<br />
(ix)<br />
(x)<br />
(xi)<br />
As no distincti<strong>on</strong> is made in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act relating to public service disputes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 18 July<br />
1958 between police service employees and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r public servants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian<br />
police force enjoys full freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining rights,<br />
and enjoys <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike since 1995 under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Police Act as amended by Royal<br />
Decree No. 8 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 3 February 1995.<br />
As regards working hours for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1970s, provisi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> this matter<br />
have been laid down in separate collective agreements for various groups <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
servants, bearing in mind that where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreement expires or does not<br />
regulate working hours, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act shall apply<br />
(see secti<strong>on</strong> 10-8: at least 11 hours <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest per 24 hours; excepti<strong>on</strong>ally <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amount<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest time may be reduced to eight hours by collective agreement).<br />
Since 1999, a joint working hours agreement, namely <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB, has been in place<br />
for all employee groups within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service and has been renegotiated at<br />
various intervals.<br />
Since 1 June 2007, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB included significant deviati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong><br />
rest periods stipulated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act (rest periods shorter than eight hours per 24-hour<br />
period) and was extended for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first time from 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2008.<br />
When <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement was renegotiated, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s criticized that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning short rest periods (i.e. secti<strong>on</strong> 5(5) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement) were being used<br />
ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r frequently, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties agreed to evaluate and review <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
before l January 2009, and to extend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period<br />
1 July 2008–31 December 2009 <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> understanding that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s would<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly remain in force until 30 June 2009.<br />
The evaluati<strong>on</strong> revealed a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> breaches <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB and found<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s were used extensively and implied a deteriorati<strong>on</strong> in working<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
During autumn 2008 and spring 2009, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was widespread unrest and frustrati<strong>on</strong><br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> insufficient staffing and irresp<strong>on</strong>sible use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
working time exempti<strong>on</strong>s provisi<strong>on</strong>s, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s succeeded in preventing illegal<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The Government signalled, <strong>on</strong> 26 January 2009, its intenti<strong>on</strong>s to pass a regulati<strong>on</strong><br />
equivalent to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing agreed exempti<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB.<br />
On 29 January 2009, a lawful political strike lasting <strong>on</strong>e-and-a-half hours took<br />
place against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> announced regulati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
During <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>going renegotiati<strong>on</strong>s between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FAD <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
collective agreement <strong>on</strong> working hours for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
passed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> Exempti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Hour Provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act regarding Police Officers, etc. <strong>on</strong> 26 June 2009 (entry<br />
into force <strong>on</strong> 1 July 2009).<br />
The Regulati<strong>on</strong> stipulates provisi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> rest periods for employees in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police<br />
service (including civilian staff) allowing for exempti<strong>on</strong>s shorter than eight hours,<br />
which were previously subject to collective bargaining and already outlined in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
existing collective agreement entitled ATB.<br />
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(xii)<br />
(xiii)<br />
(xiv)<br />
(xv)<br />
(xvi)<br />
The Regulati<strong>on</strong> could, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ory, be altered through provisi<strong>on</strong>s in a collective<br />
agreement but in practice affected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>going negotiati<strong>on</strong>s because it represented<br />
a more or less n<strong>on</strong>-negotiable demand that would apply if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties failed to<br />
reach an agreement.<br />
Thus, due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> weakened positi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
industrial peace in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> separate agreements<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning issues not covered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al collective agreement, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s became illusory and led <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties towards a predetermined outcome<br />
that favoured <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer’s positi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Faced with this situati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s had to accept <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Regulati<strong>on</strong>, which was incorporated into a new and comprehensive working hours<br />
agreement that was reached by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FAD and is valid from<br />
1 October 2009 to 31 December 2012.<br />
According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, and at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same time employer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police and party to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s, unduly interfered in collective bargaining<br />
by using its authority as a lawmaker to issue a regulati<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working<br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> intent to c<strong>on</strong>trol <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>going negotiati<strong>on</strong>s over working<br />
hours for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service, thus violating C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 98 and 154.<br />
In its view, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s fully apply to police since when ratifying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
instruments Norway has not adopted any excepti<strong>on</strong>s in respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
bargaining rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> police, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no restricti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining<br />
rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police clearly and unequivocally determined by law.<br />
(xvii) Also, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issued Regulati<strong>on</strong> applies not <strong>on</strong>ly to police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers but also to civilian<br />
staff.<br />
(xviii) If <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian authorities believe <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been a breach <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial peace, it<br />
should resp<strong>on</strong>d by imposing sancti<strong>on</strong>s, not by limiting collective bargaining rights.<br />
(xix)<br />
Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> repeal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> so as to avoid <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
same situati<strong>on</strong> from arising <strong>on</strong>ce again when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current collective agreement<br />
expires.<br />
757. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that:<br />
(i)<br />
(ii)<br />
(iii)<br />
(iv)<br />
The right to organize and collective bargaining are fundamental parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Norwegian<br />
justice, and are supported by legislati<strong>on</strong> with procedures for resolving disputes.<br />
The Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act (Chapter 10) c<strong>on</strong>stitutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main framework for<br />
working-time arrangements, from which enterprises (public and private) may<br />
deviate under certain c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s by collective agreements or exempti<strong>on</strong>s granted by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supervisory authority.<br />
There is a l<strong>on</strong>g-standing traditi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> entering into special collective agreements<br />
regarding wages and working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service; but when disputes<br />
occur in negotiati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such agreements, industrial acti<strong>on</strong> cannot take place.<br />
The relevant ATB made several exempti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding normal<br />
working time and rest periods, and was in general valid until 31 December 2009<br />
and fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, if not given notice by <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties; however, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
regarding rest periods c<strong>on</strong>tained a clause stating that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would be repealed by<br />
1 July 2009.<br />
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(v)<br />
(vi)<br />
On 20 March 2009, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour sent out a draft Regulati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
rest periods for police <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers for public hearing. The Government was facing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
situati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s regarding a new ATB between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties had come to<br />
a point where a failure was probable. Due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> risk that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police would not be<br />
able to fulfil <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir tasks in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal framework provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong><br />
was adopted <strong>on</strong> 26 June and came into force <strong>on</strong> 1 July 2009 following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expiry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se provisi<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB.<br />
The Regulati<strong>on</strong> allows, under certain c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, for shorter rest periods than<br />
11 hours, and in certain limited cases for rest periods shorter than eight hours, in<br />
c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with overtime work. It c<strong>on</strong>tinued to a very large extent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding rest periods, i.e. an arrangement that had been accepted for<br />
years am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees.<br />
(vii) Norway has not violated C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 98 and 154. The relevant C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s are<br />
applicable to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service, but, while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are no general legal excepti<strong>on</strong>s for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al law regarding collective bargaining, this does not imply<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining can be interpreted as absolute. The<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s must c<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir freedom within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prevailing frames <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong>. This principle is explicitly expressed in Article 8(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong><br />
No. 87.<br />
(viii) It cannot be claimed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has forever renounced its right to use a<br />
valid legal basis in law to adopt new regulati<strong>on</strong>s, when entering into collective<br />
agreements <strong>on</strong> a given matter. The Regulati<strong>on</strong> has its legal basis in two provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act. According to secti<strong>on</strong> 1-2(4), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> King may, by<br />
regulati<strong>on</strong>, provide that parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public administrati<strong>on</strong> shall wholly or partly be<br />
excepted from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such a special nature that it is difficult<br />
to adapt it to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act. Secti<strong>on</strong> 10-12(9) provides that, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work is<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such a special nature that it would be difficult to adapt it to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Chapter 10, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry may, by regulati<strong>on</strong>, issue special rules providing<br />
excepti<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se provisi<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
(ix)<br />
(x)<br />
(xi)<br />
The Government emphasizes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> gist <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both secti<strong>on</strong>s is that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work has to be<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such a special nature that it is difficult to adapt <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s. In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excepti<strong>on</strong>al positi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police in society to ensure life,<br />
health and property and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that its tasks are to a large extent directed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
incidents that occur, it is not always possible to comply with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest period<br />
requirements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> at least 11 hours (and in certain limited cases eight hours). The<br />
need for excepti<strong>on</strong>s relates both to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding overtime work and to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding rest periods. The excepti<strong>on</strong>s from overtime provisi<strong>on</strong>s have<br />
been granted by special regulati<strong>on</strong> since 1977.<br />
The Working Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Act c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a framework that stipulates working-time<br />
arrangements and provides opti<strong>on</strong>s for possible deviati<strong>on</strong>s through collective<br />
agreements or excepti<strong>on</strong>s granted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities. Regulati<strong>on</strong>s issued under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Act normally replace <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act. Although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009 Regulati<strong>on</strong> may<br />
affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bargaining positi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employee side, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom to negotiate and<br />
enter into collective agreements regarding working-time arrangements still exists.<br />
This is clearly illustrated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties carried out negotiati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
summer 2009 and entered into a new ATB that entered into force <strong>on</strong> 1 October<br />
2009. The part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ATB comprising provisi<strong>on</strong>s regarding rest periods c<strong>on</strong>stitutes<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly a minor part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement (<strong>on</strong>e out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 17 secti<strong>on</strong>s).<br />
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(xii) The ATB is still valid, and c<strong>on</strong>sequently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong> has not been used so far.<br />
However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> society for predictability and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police for<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinuity require a regulati<strong>on</strong> in force, should <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s fail in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future. If<br />
paramount and evident reas<strong>on</strong>s call for ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r framework for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working-time<br />
arrangements within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police than those pursuant to Chapter 10 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act, such<br />
framework regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> critical needs must be settled by a regulati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
758. Bearing in mind that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case c<strong>on</strong>cerns alleged interference in collective bargaining<br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that Norway has ratified<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 98, 151 and 154. With respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se instruments to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police force, C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 98 and 151 c<strong>on</strong>tain a provisi<strong>on</strong> which reads as follows:<br />
“The extent to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guarantees provided for in this C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> shall apply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
armed forces and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police shall be determined by nati<strong>on</strong>al laws or regulati<strong>on</strong>s”<br />
(Article 5(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98; Article 1(3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 151). C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong><br />
No. 154 c<strong>on</strong>tains a similar provisi<strong>on</strong> stipulating that: “The extent to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guarantees<br />
provided for in this C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> apply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> armed forces and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police may be<br />
determined by nati<strong>on</strong>al laws or regulati<strong>on</strong>s or nati<strong>on</strong>al practice” (Article 1(2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 154). The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has previously c<strong>on</strong>sidered that it is clear that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour C<strong>on</strong>ference intended to leave it to each State to decide <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent<br />
to which it was desirable to grant members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> armed forces and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights<br />
covered by C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> holds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s apply to<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 98, 151 and 154.<br />
759. Never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with interest that several member States have<br />
recognized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to organize and bargain collectively <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> armed<br />
forces in accordance with freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> principles. In particular, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
notes that in Norway, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police has enjoyed freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective<br />
bargaining rights for more than 50 years and has had <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike for more than<br />
15 years. It also observes that both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government agree: (i) that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
relevant C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s are applicable to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are no general legal<br />
excepti<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al law regarding collective bargaining; and (ii) that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is a l<strong>on</strong>g-standing traditi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> entering into special collective agreements regarding<br />
working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service including working time.<br />
760. In light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent determined by nati<strong>on</strong>al law, regulati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
practice in Norway (Article 5(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98; Article 1(3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong><br />
No. 151; and Article 1(2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 154), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>curs with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government’s view that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental principles underpinning those C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
should be respected for all categories <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers covered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s would appear to particularly point<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problem that arises when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> separati<strong>on</strong> between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s role as<br />
legislator and as employer is not sufficiently clear. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government,<br />
within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing nati<strong>on</strong>al legislati<strong>on</strong>, to c<strong>on</strong>duct good-faith collective<br />
bargaining negotiati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service with a view to reaching agreement regarding<br />
working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, including working time.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
761. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing<br />
nati<strong>on</strong>al legislati<strong>on</strong>, to c<strong>on</strong>duct good-faith collective bargaining negotiati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
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in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police service with a view to reaching agreement regarding working<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, including working time.<br />
CASE NO. 2855<br />
DEFINITIVE REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Workers’ Federati<strong>on</strong> (PWF)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Bank <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan has illegally dismissed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
General Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Bank <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Pakistan Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Federati<strong>on</strong>, Mr Syed<br />
Jahangir<br />
762. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its May–June 2012 meeting, when it presented<br />
an interim report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body [see 364th <strong>Report</strong>, paras 760–771, approved by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body at its 315th Sessi<strong>on</strong> (June 2012)].<br />
763. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 27 May 2013.<br />
764. Pakistan has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. Previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
765. At its May–June 2012 meeting, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s [see<br />
364th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 771]:<br />
Noting that according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, two cases c<strong>on</strong>cerning Mr Syed Jahangir are<br />
pending adjudicati<strong>on</strong> before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusts that any informati<strong>on</strong> relating to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged anti-uni<strong>on</strong> nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal will be c<strong>on</strong>sidered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts bearing in mind<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se principles and expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se decisi<strong>on</strong>s will be handed down in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very near future.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take steps, in c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerned, aimed at ensuring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Jahangir pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> final decisi<strong>on</strong>s to<br />
be rendered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts. It requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court<br />
judgments as so<strong>on</strong> as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are handed down, as well as any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r informati<strong>on</strong> relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
anti-uni<strong>on</strong> nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this dismissal.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
766. By its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 27 May 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that all cases pending<br />
against Mr Syed Jahangir have been disposed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> and submits in this regard a letter from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Commissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan (NIRC), which c<strong>on</strong>firms that<br />
Mr Jahangir has been reinstated in service.<br />
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C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
767. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant in this case alleged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> illegal dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mr Syed Jahangir, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Bank <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Trade Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Federati<strong>on</strong>, by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Bank <strong>on</strong> 20 October 2010. It fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
recalls that following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal order by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Industrial<br />
Relati<strong>on</strong>s Commissi<strong>on</strong> (NIRC) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bank refused to reinstate him and<br />
pay his lawful dues; instead, it approached <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sindh High Court, Karachi seeking a stay<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> executi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC was not competent to suspend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> order <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissal. The High Court ordered, <strong>on</strong> 28 October 2010, that until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next auditi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
status quo shall be maintained.<br />
768. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with interest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reinstatement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mr Jahangir. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, it c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case<br />
does not call for fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r examinati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
769. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to decide that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case does not call for fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r examinati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
CASE NO. 2964<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Commissi<strong>on</strong><br />
(NIRC) have declared <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> n<strong>on</strong>-existent and issued a collective<br />
bargaining agent certificate to a rival uni<strong>on</strong><br />
which had previously been defeated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
nati<strong>on</strong>wide referendums held under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aegis<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC<br />
770. The complaint is set out in communicati<strong>on</strong>s by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Central Labour<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong>, dated 7 June and 6 July 2012.<br />
771. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 12 December 2012.<br />
772. Pakistan has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
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A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
773. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 7 June 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
explains that it is <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eldest trade uni<strong>on</strong>s registered after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> independence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Pakistan and is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> largest nati<strong>on</strong>al industry-wide trade uni<strong>on</strong> representing more than<br />
140,000 workers employed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> largest nati<strong>on</strong>al public utility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> electricity, namely <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and electricity companies,<br />
all over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country. The uni<strong>on</strong> was registered with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
(registrati<strong>on</strong> certificate No. 46 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1973 dated 15 May 1973) under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Ordinance (IRO), 1969. The uni<strong>on</strong> has w<strong>on</strong> nati<strong>on</strong>wide referendums<br />
four times by defeating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rival uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> WAPDA Paigham Uni<strong>on</strong> in 1999, 2001, 2004<br />
and 2007 (with 65 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> votes cast in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> secret ballot at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last referendum). Its<br />
status has never been challenged by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rival uni<strong>on</strong>. The complainant states that it has been<br />
carrying out c<strong>on</strong>certed campaigns against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed privatizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al public<br />
utility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> electricity and has been urging <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to make <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> utility self-reliant<br />
through producti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cheaper electricity through hydel and coal fired and coastal wind<br />
power houses instead <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> independent private power houses and rental power houses. The<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> has been holding large protest rallies all over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country for acceptance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
demands, and in 2012 it held three protest rallies in fr<strong>on</strong>t <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Parliament in<br />
Islamabad. The protest held by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> from 8 to 11 May 2012, culminated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers’ demands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> being accepted.<br />
774. The complainant alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Industrial<br />
Relati<strong>on</strong>s Commissi<strong>on</strong> (NIRC) passed an order dated 29 May 2012 declaring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant trade uni<strong>on</strong> as n<strong>on</strong>-existent and issuing a collective bargaining agent (CBA)<br />
certificate to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rival uni<strong>on</strong> which has been defeated four times in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>wide<br />
referendums held under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aegis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> said<br />
order is c<strong>on</strong>tradictory since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar, <strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>e hand, has stated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cluding<br />
paragraph <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> order that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> is still to be cancelled and has<br />
asked <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC to undertake proceedings for cancellati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>,<br />
and <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r hand, has stated that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has become n<strong>on</strong>-existent and certified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
rival trade uni<strong>on</strong> as being <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ly uni<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CBA in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> utility.<br />
775. The complainant fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r submits that pursuant to secti<strong>on</strong> 11 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act<br />
(IRA), 2012, <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC is authorized to cancel <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a uni<strong>on</strong>. According<br />
to this provisi<strong>on</strong>:<br />
11. Cancellati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong>. (1) Subject to o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this secti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade Uni<strong>on</strong> may be cancelled by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> has – …<br />
(2) Where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> opini<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong> should be<br />
cancelled, he shall submit an applicati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commissi<strong>on</strong> praying for permissi<strong>on</strong> to cancel<br />
such registrati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
(3) The Registrar shall cancel <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong> within seven days from<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> receipt <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> permissi<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commissi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
776. The complainant c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> plea taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impugned order is<br />
completely unfounded <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ground that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expiry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA 2008<br />
<strong>on</strong> 30 April 2010, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promulgati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRO 2011, was c<strong>on</strong>fusing since no federal<br />
industrial relati<strong>on</strong>s legislati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC existed and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> had to take<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial industrial relati<strong>on</strong>s laws to c<strong>on</strong>tinue to exercise its right to<br />
collective bargaining. The status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> as a nati<strong>on</strong>al industry-wide trade uni<strong>on</strong> has<br />
been revived up<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promulgati<strong>on</strong> at nati<strong>on</strong>al level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRO 2011, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reafter, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
IRA 2012. The registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> remained protected during this period. The<br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> certificate issued to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> was never withdrawn by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC and,<br />
202 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, is a c<strong>on</strong>clusive pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its legal status under secti<strong>on</strong> 10 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA 2012, which reads as follows:<br />
10. Certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong>. The Registrar, <strong>on</strong> registering a trade uni<strong>on</strong> under<br />
secti<strong>on</strong> 9, shall issue a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prescribed form which shall be<br />
c<strong>on</strong>clusive evidence that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> has been duly registered under this Act.<br />
777. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar has not <strong>on</strong>ly himself<br />
acknowledged in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> order that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> still existed, but also stated that<br />
this uni<strong>on</strong> has produced <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Provincial Registrars in Punjab, Khyber<br />
Pakhto<strong>on</strong> Khawa (KPK) and Sindh to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that this uni<strong>on</strong> has not been registered with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m. The relevant porti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> orders reproduced as under:<br />
2. The applicati<strong>on</strong> was resisted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> opposite uni<strong>on</strong> i.e. <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro<br />
Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong>. Inter alia it was c<strong>on</strong>tended that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro<br />
Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> was registered as industry-wise trade uni<strong>on</strong> vide registrati<strong>on</strong><br />
certificati<strong>on</strong> No. 46 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1973 dated 15 May 1973 issued <strong>on</strong> prescribed Form-C. The said<br />
certificate is still intact and same is exclusive evidence that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has been duly registered<br />
under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRO, 1969. The certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has not been cancelled. It was fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r alleged<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> has not been registered at<br />
provincial level so far. No provincial Registrar has issued any certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prescribed form by giving Sr. No. <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> to it, which is a<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> precedent for certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
10. The learned counsel for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> arguments produced<br />
copies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> letters dated 13 April 2012, 2 May 2012 and 4 May 2012 issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrars <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Provinces <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Punjab, Sindh and KPK, respectively, whereby <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicants were informed as<br />
to why <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> has not issued certificates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Registrati<strong>on</strong> at Provincial level.<br />
778. The complainant indicates that it has also approached <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Full Bench <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC to have<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impugned order <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar annulled. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impugned<br />
order has caused great unrest and frustrati<strong>on</strong> am<strong>on</strong>g workers over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> denial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
fundamental trade uni<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining rights and declaring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lawfully elected<br />
through nati<strong>on</strong>wide referendum CBA trade uni<strong>on</strong> as n<strong>on</strong>-existent. The complainant<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> asserti<strong>on</strong> made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protected period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CBA has<br />
already expired is not correct because secti<strong>on</strong> 19(11) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA 2012 <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
provides that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> referendum cannot be challenged during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three years. The<br />
Registrar has also ignored <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has been recognized as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CBA by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employer pursuant to secti<strong>on</strong> 21 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA 2012. This case is still pending with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC.<br />
779. The complainant fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r submits that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has not <strong>on</strong>ly been regularly carrying out<br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong> through collective bargaining with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer, but has also been regularly<br />
holding its nati<strong>on</strong>al executive and nati<strong>on</strong>al general bodies meetings in accordance with its<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>. It has been submitting its reports <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activities and results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice bearers held by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>. The uni<strong>on</strong> has also been complying with secti<strong>on</strong> 16 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
IRA 2012, and sent its annual audited report regularly, including for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> years 2010–11 as<br />
nati<strong>on</strong>wide trade uni<strong>on</strong>. The Registrar has never raised any objecti<strong>on</strong> up<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal<br />
validity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se returns sent to him regularly.<br />
780. In a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 6 July 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant informs that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has filed a<br />
writ petiti<strong>on</strong> before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamabad High Court, to challenge <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> jurisdicti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC to pass <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impugned order dated 29 May 2012. The Justice<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court has suspended <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> order <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cancellati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong>. The complainant<br />
indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has also observed protest days <strong>on</strong> 30 May and 6 June 2012.<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
781. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 12 December 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that following<br />
an inquiry into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above complaint, it transpired that after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promulgati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
18th C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al Amendment, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro<br />
Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> moved an applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 10 June 2011 before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar Trade<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Punjab requesting to register <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> companies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
WAPDA situated in Punjab in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> name <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> Punjab Province under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Punjab Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act (PIRA), 2010. The<br />
Registrar, by his letter dated 21 June 2011, opined that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric<br />
Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> Punjab Province shall deem to be a registered trade uni<strong>on</strong> under secti<strong>on</strong> 79<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> PIRA, 2012 and receive a CBA status. Similarly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice bearers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda<br />
Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> registered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Provinces <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
KPK, Balochistan and Sindh.<br />
782. Pakistan Wapda Employees Paigham Uni<strong>on</strong>, ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r uni<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment,<br />
submitted an applicati<strong>on</strong> dated 18 July 2011 before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s NIRC<br />
requesting for issuance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a CBA certificate in its favour, being <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ly uni<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
WAPDA establishment and having membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> more than <strong>on</strong>e third <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total number<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers employed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment. The Registrar, after hearing both parties,<br />
declared that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> had ceased to exist<br />
as an industry-wide trade uni<strong>on</strong> by operati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law. He also certified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicant uni<strong>on</strong><br />
as a CBA for WAPDA. The order <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar, dated 29 May 2012, was challenged by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamabad High Court and<br />
Balochistan High Court in Quetta. The Government indicates that as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter is currently<br />
pending adjudicati<strong>on</strong> before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court, it cannot intervene at this stage.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
783. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant in this case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric<br />
Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong>, alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC has<br />
declared <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant trade uni<strong>on</strong> n<strong>on</strong>-existent and issued a CBA certificate to a rival<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> which had previously been defeated in nati<strong>on</strong>wide referendums held under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aegis<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tested decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC Bench dated 29 May<br />
2012, which, as reproduced below, provides a good summary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case.<br />
1. Pakistan Wapda Employees Paigham Uni<strong>on</strong> brought <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instant applicati<strong>on</strong> dated<br />
18-07-2011 ... praying for issuance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> CBA certificate in its favour <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ground that it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>on</strong>ly uni<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> WAPDA and having membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> more than 1/3rd <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> total<br />
number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workmen employed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment. ... The perusal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> report shows that<br />
according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicant uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
has lost its existence <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ground that four different uni<strong>on</strong>s at provincial level emerged out<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> and all members left it. As result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda<br />
Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> has ceased to exist. The applicant uni<strong>on</strong> submitted a list<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership al<strong>on</strong>g with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> which shows that it has more than<br />
1/3rd membership which is pre-requisite for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issuance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> CBA certificate under Secti<strong>on</strong><br />
19(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRO, 2011. He opined that applicant uni<strong>on</strong> may be certified as CBA being single<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> WAPDA.<br />
2. The applicati<strong>on</strong> was resisted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> opposite uni<strong>on</strong> i.e. Pakistan Wapda Hydro<br />
Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong>. Inter alia it was c<strong>on</strong>tended that Pakistan Wapda Hydro<br />
Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> was registered as industry-wise trade uni<strong>on</strong> vide registrati<strong>on</strong><br />
certificate No. 46 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1973 dated 15-05-1973 issued <strong>on</strong> prescribed Form-C. The said certificate<br />
is still intact and same is exclusive evidence that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has been duly registered under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
IRO, 1969. The certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has not been cancelled. It was fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r alleged that<br />
Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> has not been registered at provincial<br />
level so far. No provincial Registrar has issued any certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prescribed form by giving Sr. Number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> to it, which is a c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong><br />
precedent for certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
...<br />
5. The perusal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> record shows that Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> was registered with this Commissi<strong>on</strong> as industry-wise trade uni<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> year 1973. The<br />
last internal electi<strong>on</strong> was held <strong>on</strong> 16-04-2009 for a period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two years and 65 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice bearers<br />
were elected. ... It is pointed out that Mr Khurshid Ahmad <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan<br />
Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> submitted an applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 10-06-2011 before<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Welfare Punjab requesting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rein registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Companies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> WAPDA situated in Punjab in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> name and style <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ‘Wapda Hydro Electric<br />
Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> Punjab Province’ under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Punjab Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s Act, 2010. The<br />
General Secretary also submitted general body resoluti<strong>on</strong> dated 10-06-11 passed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers urging <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Welfare Punjab for registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
law. The perusal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> minutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> said general body meeting reveals that members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>ducted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> said proceedings in view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA, 2008 which brea<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>d its last [sic] w.ef.<br />
30-04-2010, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>ourable Supreme Court dated 02-06-2011 and<br />
18th Amendment in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamic Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan whereby <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commissi<strong>on</strong><br />
has become defunct. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> said general body proceedings <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> claimed 70,000 members<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Punjab. The general body elected 25 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice bearers. The general body also<br />
passed c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>. In resp<strong>on</strong>se to this applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> RTU Punjab vide his letter<br />
dated 21-06-2011 opined that uni<strong>on</strong> namely “Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> Punjab Province” shall deemed [sic] to be registered trade uni<strong>on</strong> under Secti<strong>on</strong> 79 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
PIRA 2010 including its status as CBA.<br />
6. Similarly ... an active member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> approached <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Department<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> KPK Province with similar grounds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC is defunct body after 18th Amendment in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> which has devolved <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s as provincial subject and also<br />
relied up<strong>on</strong> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> H<strong>on</strong>ourable Supreme Court dated 02-06-2011. The documents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> which were approved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general body meeting held <strong>on</strong> 10-06-2011 at Ata<br />
Labour Hall Peshawar were also placed before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Department Peshawar, asserting<br />
that members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> which was registered with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC has now decided to<br />
register itself with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> KPK. The members approved <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> KPK and also elected <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice bearers. The membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20,000 was claimed in this<br />
resoluti<strong>on</strong>. In reply to this applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> RTU KPK vide letter dated 27-06-2011 opined that<br />
Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> KPK shall deem to be registered under<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 83 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> KPK IRA, 2010 including its status as CBA.<br />
7. ... Joint Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> also<br />
forwarded documents al<strong>on</strong>g with applicati<strong>on</strong> dated 04-06-2011 to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Department<br />
Baluchistan at Quetta with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request that 5600 members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric<br />
Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> has passed resoluti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 08-05-2011 to register <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> at<br />
provincial level under Secti<strong>on</strong> 86(a) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Baluchistan IRA, 2010. In this regard Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
also approached <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> learned Labour Court Quetta. The learned Labour Court directed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
RTU <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Baluchistan vide order dated 15-07-2011 to register <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>. The RTU in<br />
compliance to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> order <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> learned Labour Court registered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro<br />
Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> at provincial level.<br />
8. ... President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> approached<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sindh Labour Department with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> dated 15-06-2011 al<strong>on</strong>g with minutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general body as well as c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> seeking registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> at provincial level <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same<br />
grounds which were taken by aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed applicants in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir respective applicati<strong>on</strong>s. The<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> claimed its membership throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> province <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sindh. In resp<strong>on</strong>se Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Sindh vide letter dated 24-06-2011 informed that uni<strong>on</strong> shall deem to be registered under<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 87 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sindh IRA, 2010 including its status as CBA.<br />
9. All <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resoluti<strong>on</strong>s were passed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meetings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> general bodies for registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> into four uni<strong>on</strong>s at provincial level. Under sub-Regulati<strong>on</strong> 3 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Regulati<strong>on</strong> 12 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> NIRC (P&F) Regulati<strong>on</strong>s, 1973 in case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> general body approximate number<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members has to be menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings in case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive body names and<br />
signatures <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice bearers who attended <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting are required.<br />
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10. In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
ceased to exist as industry-wise trade uni<strong>on</strong> by operati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law. In all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Laws<br />
starting from 1969 to IRA, 2012 “trade uni<strong>on</strong>” and “registered trade uni<strong>on</strong>s” are differently<br />
defined and for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> important prerequisite is that list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
members and names <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice bearers should be supplied. Therefore, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice<br />
bearers leave <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> and join ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r uni<strong>on</strong> such uni<strong>on</strong> is left without members /<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice<br />
bearers. In such circumstances it looses its status as trade uni<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle that loosing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> qualificati<strong>on</strong> prerequisite for status, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status is also lost. All members/<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice bearers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> as industry-wise trade uni<strong>on</strong> joined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
newly formed four provincial level trade uni<strong>on</strong>s and thus cease to be members/<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice bearers<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> as industry-wise trade uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 3(a) Sec<strong>on</strong>d proviso <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA, 2012 read as under:-<br />
“Provided fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r that no worker shall be entitled to be a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> more than <strong>on</strong>e<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> at any <strong>on</strong>e time and <strong>on</strong> joining ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earlier membership shall<br />
automatically stands cancelled”<br />
The learned counsel for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> much stressed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> point that Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> has not<br />
been registered at provincial level so far. No provincial Registrar has issued any certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prescribed performa by giving serial numbers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> to it which is a c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> precedent for certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong>. The argument <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
learned counsel for Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> is devoid <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> force because in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above referred provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
law <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> word “trade uni<strong>on</strong>” is menti<strong>on</strong>ed and not “registered trade uni<strong>on</strong>”. Therefore, it is<br />
immaterial that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s at provincial level have not been issued certificates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong><br />
at yet. It will not be out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> place <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> menti<strong>on</strong> here that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> learned counsel for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
frankly admitted that Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> has been<br />
registered with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Baluchistan <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> orders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> learned Labour Court. The<br />
learned counsel for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> arguments produced copies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
letters dated 13-04-12, 02-05-12 and 04-05-2012 issued by Registrars <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Provinces <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Punjab,<br />
Sindh and KPK respectively whereby <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicants were informed as to why Pakistan Wapda<br />
Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> has not been issued certificates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrati<strong>on</strong> at<br />
Provincial level. But indirectly it establishes and c<strong>on</strong>firms that members / <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice bearers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> did apply for registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s at provincial level. It has not been<br />
menti<strong>on</strong>ed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong>s for registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> at provincial level were<br />
dismissed. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> circumstances <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous letters which have been referred above<br />
issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrars <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Provinces show that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> at provincial level shall<br />
deem to be registered under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir respective Industrial Relati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Acts, have great importance and can be relied up<strong>on</strong>.<br />
11. It was argued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> learned counsel for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hydro Uni<strong>on</strong> that under IRA, 2008 as<br />
well as IRO, 2011 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> has been<br />
protected under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> saving clauses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> above referred labour laws. In reply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> said<br />
arguments learned counsel for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicant uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tended that saving clauses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> above<br />
referred labour laws will provide protecti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>ly to those uni<strong>on</strong>s which were in existence at<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> promulgati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se laws. The Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> was not in existence at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> promulgati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRO, 2011 i.e. 18-07-2011,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, protecti<strong>on</strong> provided under Secti<strong>on</strong> 88 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRO, 2011 is not available to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> said<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong>. It was fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r argued that at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> promulgati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRO, 2011 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicant<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ly uni<strong>on</strong> in existence, registered as industry-wise trade uni<strong>on</strong> having its<br />
membership in all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provinces, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, it was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ly uni<strong>on</strong> which was protected by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Saving clause and thus it was entitled to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> CBA under Secti<strong>on</strong> 19(i) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA, 2012<br />
and Article 17 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan as well.<br />
12. Secti<strong>on</strong> 11 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> repealed IRO, 2011 and IRA, 2012 deals with cancellati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s. Under Sub-Clause – <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> sub secti<strong>on</strong> (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secti<strong>on</strong> 11 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong> may be cancelled by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> applied for<br />
cancellati<strong>on</strong> or ceased to exist. In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed circumstances <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above referred<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law will be attracted as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour<br />
Uni<strong>on</strong> ceased to be industry-wise trade uni<strong>on</strong> due to its own c<strong>on</strong>duct.<br />
...<br />
15. In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> what has been stated above, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> merits acceptance, same is<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, accepted and applicant uni<strong>on</strong> i.e. Pakistan Wapda Employees Paigham Uni<strong>on</strong> is<br />
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certified as CBA. The certificate be issued accordingly. The H<strong>on</strong>ourable Commissi<strong>on</strong> be<br />
moved seeking permissi<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cancellati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro<br />
Electric Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
784. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar’s decisi<strong>on</strong> is in part based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interpretati<strong>on</strong> he<br />
gave to secti<strong>on</strong> 3(a) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA, which prohibits dual trade uni<strong>on</strong> membership. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar’s reas<strong>on</strong>ing, pursuant to secti<strong>on</strong> 3(a) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
IRA, members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a provincial trade uni<strong>on</strong> cannot be members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a nati<strong>on</strong>al trade uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders such an interpretati<strong>on</strong> is incompatible with Article 5 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87, in as far as it would preclude trade uni<strong>on</strong>s at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial level to<br />
establish a nati<strong>on</strong>al industry-wide trade uni<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s has also c<strong>on</strong>sidered<br />
that secti<strong>on</strong> 3(a) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA, obliging workers to <strong>on</strong>ly join <strong>on</strong>e trade uni<strong>on</strong>, could unduly<br />
prejudice <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right to establish and join organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own choosing and<br />
requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to amend this provisi<strong>on</strong> so as to<br />
ensure that workers can bel<strong>on</strong>g to trade uni<strong>on</strong>s at both sectoral/provincial and nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
levels. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all measures taken<br />
in this regard.<br />
785. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> order <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar had <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> leaving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Pakistan Wapda Hydro Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong>, without registrati<strong>on</strong>, both at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provincial<br />
and nati<strong>on</strong>al level despite its historic existence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sector, as can be noted from earlier<br />
cases brought to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> [see Cases Nos 1175, 1383 and 2006]. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a nati<strong>on</strong>al industrial relati<strong>on</strong>s legislati<strong>on</strong> for a<br />
certain period had created a legislative void leading to c<strong>on</strong>fusi<strong>on</strong> as to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
nati<strong>on</strong>al level trade uni<strong>on</strong>s. In this respect, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> had expressed, in March 2011,<br />
its c<strong>on</strong>cern “over evident obstacles in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current situati<strong>on</strong> for nati<strong>on</strong>al industry-wide<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong>s to exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rights and observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> clarity in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
nati<strong>on</strong>al legislative framework for industrial relati<strong>on</strong>s and trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights could restrict<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>”. It fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidered “that provisi<strong>on</strong>s should be made to ensure that nati<strong>on</strong>al trade uni<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s are able to exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir activities at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al level in a legal<br />
and effective manner” [see Case No. 2799, 359th <strong>Report</strong>, paras 986 and 988].<br />
786. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant has filed an appeal to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamabad High<br />
Court against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar to cancel its registrati<strong>on</strong> and that pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
hearing, <strong>on</strong> 14 June 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court suspended <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> order <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrar. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has been without registrati<strong>on</strong> for <strong>on</strong>e year represents<br />
a serious violati<strong>on</strong> and interference. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that pending hearing before<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> have been<br />
restored. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan to respect, in nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> and practice, freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> principles and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s which it<br />
has freely ratified will be taken into account by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> will be ensured <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to represent its members both at provincial and at<br />
nati<strong>on</strong>al level as appropriate. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> handed down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamabad High Court.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
787. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to<br />
amend secti<strong>on</strong> 3(a) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IRA 2012, so as to ensure that workers can bel<strong>on</strong>g<br />
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to trade uni<strong>on</strong>s at both sectoral/provincial and nati<strong>on</strong>al levels. It requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all measures taken in this regard.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hearing before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan Wapda Hydro Central Labour Uni<strong>on</strong> are restored.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pakistan to respect in<br />
nati<strong>on</strong>al legislati<strong>on</strong> and practice freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> principles and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s which it had freely ratified will be taken into account by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
High Court and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> will be ensured <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right<br />
to represent its members both at provincial and at nati<strong>on</strong>al level as<br />
appropriate. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> handed down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamabad High Court.<br />
CASE NO. 2921<br />
DEFINITIVE REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Panama<br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Officials <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund (ANFACSS)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund (AECSS)<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Dental Practiti<strong>on</strong>ers, Medical Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als and Allied<br />
Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund (AMOACSS) and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Independent Uni<strong>on</strong>s (CONUSI)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
allege a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
rights at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund<br />
788. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Officials<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund (ANFACSS), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social<br />
Insurance Fund (AECSS), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Dental Practiti<strong>on</strong>ers, Medical Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als<br />
and Allied Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund (AMOACSS) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Independent Uni<strong>on</strong>s (CONUSI), dated 30 January 2012.<br />
789. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 16 May 2012 and<br />
8 February 2013.<br />
790. Panama has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
791. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 30 January 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ANFACSS, AECSS, AMOACSS and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
CONUSI allege that since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund came into<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been a policy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human rights and freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> violati<strong>on</strong>s that<br />
has been prejudicial to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative and health-sector uni<strong>on</strong>s. This has allegedly<br />
resulted in trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials being vilified in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> media, bans <strong>on</strong> exercising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights to<br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> expressi<strong>on</strong> and freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> assembly, bans <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leave, workers being<br />
encouraged to resign <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> membership, transfers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials<br />
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without c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> and, lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, Mr Juan<br />
Samaniego and Ms Elineth Menchaca. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s state that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
alleged violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights prompted a large number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s to establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Coordinating Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund, through<br />
which proceedings have been initiated before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> General Directorate.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
792. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 16 May 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an ILO<br />
technical assistance missi<strong>on</strong> that visited Panama in January 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite Agreement<br />
for Panama was signed, establishing a committee for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement<br />
and a committee for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rapid handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaints regarding freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
collective bargaining. The Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case was examined under<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> auspices <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter committee, and with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> input <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a moderator appointed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ILO. An agreement was signed, which c<strong>on</strong>tained a proposal for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund<br />
to take steps to resolve five <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s presented in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint and it was agreed<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> joint meetings would c<strong>on</strong>tinue in order to resolve all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues raised in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
793. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 8 February 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <strong>on</strong> 5 December 2012,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund signed an agreement <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong> freedoms with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s, which was endorsed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Catholic Church and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ombudspers<strong>on</strong>, in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fund undertook to guarantee and promote <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> freedom, as well as freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r fundamental rights and<br />
guarantees enshrined in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Political C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates<br />
that it was also established that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund repeals and renders void <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 30 June 2010, encouraging workers to resign <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
membership; (2) all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials will respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to affiliate and resign from affiliati<strong>on</strong><br />
with any trade uni<strong>on</strong>, free from interference <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any sort; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund<br />
declares its firm respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> expressi<strong>on</strong> and freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
both recognized under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Political C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, subject to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> limitati<strong>on</strong>s established by<br />
law, and, c<strong>on</strong>sequently, respects and guarantees <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s to exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m<br />
freely; and (4) modalities were established to facilitate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> assembly<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> granting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leave through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> distributi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> publicati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
submissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> lists <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> claims and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> granting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leave to trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials<br />
to enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m to initiate or participate in organizati<strong>on</strong>al and training activities.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
794. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s allege a<br />
number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights (bans <strong>on</strong> exercising freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> assembly and<br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> expressi<strong>on</strong>, bans <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leave, workers being encouraged to resign<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> membership, transfers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials) at<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund.<br />
795. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that in June 2012 it noted that “at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Rapid Handling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Complaints<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Collective Bargaining, a technical<br />
assistance/mediati<strong>on</strong> missi<strong>on</strong> was c<strong>on</strong>ducted in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues raised in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complaint alleging violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund and that<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> missi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties signed an agreement which c<strong>on</strong>tains c<strong>on</strong>crete<br />
commitments, including joint meetings. In this respect, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that all<br />
issues raised in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint will be dealt with in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
agreement and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s to keep it<br />
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informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this agreement” [see<br />
364th <strong>Report</strong>, para. 12].<br />
796. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that in a recent communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <strong>on</strong><br />
5 December 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund signed an agreement <strong>on</strong> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
freedoms with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s, which was endorsed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Catholic Church<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ombudspers<strong>on</strong>, in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fund undertook to guarantee and<br />
promote <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> freedom as well as freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
fundamental rights and guarantees enshrined in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Political C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government indicates that it was also established that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Insurance Fund<br />
repeals and renders void <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> memorandum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 30 June 2010 encouraging workers to resign<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> membership; (2) all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials will respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to affiliate and resign<br />
from affiliati<strong>on</strong> with any trade uni<strong>on</strong> free from interference <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any sort; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social<br />
Insurance Fund declares its firm respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> expressi<strong>on</strong> and freedom<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong>, both recognized under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Political C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> subject to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> limitati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
established by law, and c<strong>on</strong>sequently respects and guarantees <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s to<br />
exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m freely; and (4) modalities were established to facilitate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> assembly and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> granting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leave through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> distributi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
publicati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> submissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> lists <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> claims and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> granting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> leave to<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials to enable <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m to initiate or participate in organizati<strong>on</strong>al and training<br />
activities.<br />
797. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes this informati<strong>on</strong> with interest and expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement signed<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties has taken into account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> leaders. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> will not pursue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
798. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to c<strong>on</strong>sider that this case does not call for fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r examinati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
CASE NO. 2883<br />
DEFINITIVE REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peru<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peru (FTCCP)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government: (1) has promoted<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sector made up <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s engaged<br />
in criminal activities; and (2) proposed changes<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Board for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Housing<br />
and Recreati<strong>on</strong>al Centres for Civil C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
Workers (CONAFOVICER) – an instituti<strong>on</strong><br />
established as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining<br />
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799. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peru (FTCCP) dated 30 June 2011.<br />
800. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 2 March, 19 July and<br />
29 August 2012.<br />
801. Peru has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
802. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 30 June 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FTCCP indicates that, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new<br />
Government has come into <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State has resp<strong>on</strong>ded to social protests by taking<br />
reprisals against trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s. The FTCCP adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrati<strong>on</strong> has<br />
proceeded to intervene in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> functi<strong>on</strong>ing and administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities and<br />
promoted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>s under its c<strong>on</strong>trol with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> clear intenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interfering in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong>. The complainant alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister for Labour and Promoti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Employment, backed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following organizati<strong>on</strong>s affiliated to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peru (CTP), which clearly support <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> American Popular<br />
Revoluti<strong>on</strong>ary Alliance (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current governing party): <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Single Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers in<br />
Civil C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> and Similar Activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peru, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil<br />
C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peru, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Former, Independent and<br />
Operative Civil C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peru and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers in<br />
Civil C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s are engaged in criminal activities, subjecting employers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
sector to acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vandalism to exert pressure <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, to kidnapping, blackmail and general<br />
violence against individuals.<br />
803. The complainant alleges that, in this c<strong>on</strong>text, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has proposed changes to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fund for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Housing and Recreati<strong>on</strong>al Centres for Civil C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> Workers (CONAFOVICER).<br />
This is an instituti<strong>on</strong> that was established as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
FTCCP and is, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exclusive remit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, excluding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interference <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any public authority in its functi<strong>on</strong>ing and administrati<strong>on</strong> as a private<br />
instituti<strong>on</strong> that is <strong>on</strong>ly governed by its statutes. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government proposed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed changes with a view to enabling <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s supported by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CTP to intervene in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that instituti<strong>on</strong> in<br />
violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
804. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2 March 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Homicide Investigati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Investigati<strong>on</strong> (DIRINCRI) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Peruvian Nati<strong>on</strong>al Police has carried out a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> police interventi<strong>on</strong>s in Lima and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provinces to identify, locate and capture individuals who, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> rights, have been forming informal groups for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes.<br />
Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government adds that informati<strong>on</strong> and intelligence collecti<strong>on</strong> activities<br />
have been carried out with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FTCCP, providing greater precisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
modus operandi and criminal records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> individuals that form <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se illegal groups to<br />
intimidate workers with threats against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir lives and physical integrity and financial<br />
blackmail. The Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se elements have been brought to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecuti<strong>on</strong> Service and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judiciary.<br />
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805. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 19 July 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State promotes<br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, taking care not to interfere in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong>, administrati<strong>on</strong> or<br />
maintenance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s. The complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s seem to lack<br />
logic, claiming that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State promotes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
crimes, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State itself works to prevent acti<strong>on</strong>s that restrict freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State intends to make changes to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CONAFOVICER<br />
directorate, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no current initiative to make any changes to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> directorate, thus undermining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> credibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s. The<br />
Government indicates that, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Housing,<br />
C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> and Sanitati<strong>on</strong> reported, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CTP and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers in Civil<br />
C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> and Similar Activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peru requested an amendment to article 7(d) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Statutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> CONAFOVICER. However, no follow-up was given to that request.<br />
806. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 29 August 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reports that, in order to crack<br />
down <strong>on</strong> violence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sector, it has created a special police department<br />
known as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> Protecti<strong>on</strong> Police Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peruvian Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Police, which is c<strong>on</strong>ducting a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> police activities to secure civil c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sites.<br />
Special security units have also been created in a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cities where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been a<br />
rise in violence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sector. Lastly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government strictly refutes any<br />
involvement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative authorities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promoti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>s accepting<br />
individuals engaged in criminal activities.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
807. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that in this case <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FTCCP alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government: (1) has<br />
promoted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sector c<strong>on</strong>taining<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>s engaged in criminal activities, who have subjected employers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
sector to acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vandalism to exert pressure <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, to kidnapping, blackmail, and<br />
general violence against individuals; and (2) that a proposal has been put forward to make<br />
changes to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> CONAFOVICER – an instituti<strong>on</strong><br />
established as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FTCCP – with a view to enabling<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>s supported by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CTP to intervene in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
808. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promoti<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
allegedly c<strong>on</strong>taining pers<strong>on</strong>s engaged in criminal activities, who have subjected employers<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sector to acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vandalism to exert pressure <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, to kidnapping,<br />
blackmail and general violence against individuals, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government indicates that: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State promotes freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, taking care not<br />
to interfere in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong>, administrati<strong>on</strong> or maintenance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s;<br />
(2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re seems to be a lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> logic to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants’ claim that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State promotes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s engaged in criminal activities, when it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State that works to<br />
prevent acti<strong>on</strong>s that restrict freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>; (3) through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Homicide Investigati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> DIRINCRI <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peruvian Nati<strong>on</strong>al Police in Lima and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provinces, a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> police interventi<strong>on</strong>s have been carried out to identify, locate and<br />
capture individuals who, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights, have been forming<br />
informal groups for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes; (4) in order to crack down <strong>on</strong> violence in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sector, it has created a special police department known as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil<br />
C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> Protecti<strong>on</strong> Police Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peruvian Nati<strong>on</strong>al Police, which is<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducting a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> police activities to secure civil c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sites; (5) special<br />
security units have also been created in a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cities where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been a rise in<br />
violence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sector, and informati<strong>on</strong> and intelligence collecti<strong>on</strong><br />
activities have been carried out with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FTCCP, providing greater<br />
precisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> modus operandi and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> individuals that form<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se illegal groups to intimidate workers through threats against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir lives and physical<br />
integrity and financial blackmail; and (6) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se elements have been brought to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecuti<strong>on</strong> Service and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judiciary. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> welcomes<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statements that it has adopted initiatives to guarantee security in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sector and invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide follow-up to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se initiatives<br />
within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al tripartite dialogue body.<br />
809. As regards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government proposed to make changes to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> CONAFOVICER – an instituti<strong>on</strong> established as a result<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FTCCP – with a view to enabling <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
supported by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peru (CTP) to intervene in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Secretary General<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Housing, C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> and Sanitati<strong>on</strong> reported that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CTP and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers in Civil C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> and Similar Activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Peru requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
amendment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 7(d) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Statutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> CONAFOVICER but that no follow-up was<br />
given to that request, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is currently no initiative to make changes to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that body. Bearing this informati<strong>on</strong> in mind, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> will not pursue<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
810. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide follow up to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initiatives<br />
to combat violence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sector within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
nati<strong>on</strong>al tripartite dialogue body.<br />
CASE NO. 2972<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Poland<br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Commissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSZZ “Solidarnosc” and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> All-Polish Alliance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s (OPZZ)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
denounce a civil court decisi<strong>on</strong> made in closed<br />
sessi<strong>on</strong> without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties,<br />
which declared illegal <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike acti<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducted at LOT Aircraft Maintenance<br />
Services (LOT AMS) and led to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ten trade uni<strong>on</strong> activists<br />
811. The complaint is c<strong>on</strong>tained in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Commissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSZZ<br />
“Solidarnosc” and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> All-Polish Alliance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s (OPZZ), dated 10 July 2012.<br />
812. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 29 October 2012.<br />
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813. Poland has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
814. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 10 July 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants allege that, <strong>on</strong> 23 March<br />
2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court in Warsaw, in closed sessi<strong>on</strong> without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties,<br />
declared <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike acti<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>ducted at LOT Aircraft Maintenance Services (LOT AMS)<br />
illegal, that this decisi<strong>on</strong> was made in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87 and led to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ten trade uni<strong>on</strong> activists who organized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike (Marcina Choluj, Miroslaw<br />
Jankowski, Michal Kniazewski, Jacek Mikulski from NSZZ “Solidarnosc”, and Robert<br />
Skalski, Grzegorz Grzybowski, Andrzej Tomczak, Andrzej Michel, Krzyszt<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Kaczorek,<br />
Pawel Sznajder from Aircraft Land Pers<strong>on</strong>nel Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>). The complainants indicate<br />
that, <strong>on</strong> 20 March 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer LOT AMS had applied to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil court for<br />
determinati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> announced and organized strike was illegal in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
comm<strong>on</strong> law, especially with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 May 1991, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> settlement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
labour disputes and for prohibiting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s from organizing and c<strong>on</strong>ducting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike.<br />
815. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s were legal in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al laws: (i) <strong>on</strong> 6 October 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s announced <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> demand for an<br />
increase <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> remunerati<strong>on</strong> by 2,000 Polish Zloty (PLN) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer refused to fulfil<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> demand in a letter dated 12 October 2011; (ii) <strong>on</strong> 26 October 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Labour<br />
Inspecti<strong>on</strong> registered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective dispute; (iii) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties followed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligatory<br />
procedure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s and mediati<strong>on</strong>; (iv) <strong>on</strong> 21 February 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties signed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> divergences as no agreement was reached; (v) <strong>on</strong> 27 January 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
organized a two-hour warning strike; and (vi) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike was announced <strong>on</strong> 18 March 2012<br />
at midnight, having <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legally demanded support vote <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> at least 50 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers (488 out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 836 workers took part in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballot, 415 voted for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protest acti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
62 against and 11 votes were invalid).<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
816. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 29 October 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that, <strong>on</strong><br />
28 November 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Policy received a request to indicate<br />
a mediator for c<strong>on</strong>ducting mediati<strong>on</strong> proceedings in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective dispute<br />
between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Airport Ground Staff (Zwiazek Zawodowy Naziemnego<br />
Pers<strong>on</strong>elu Lotniczego – ZZNPL), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mazovia Regi<strong>on</strong> Inter-Enterprise <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
NSZZ “Solidarnosc” at PLL LOT SA (Komisja Miçdz.yzakladowa NSZZ “Solidarnosc”<br />
Regi<strong>on</strong> Mazowsze at PLL LOT SA) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Management Board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOT AMS Sp.z o.o.<br />
According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> divergences prepared pursuant to article 9 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
23 May 1991 <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> settlement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective labour disputes, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter in dispute was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
demand to raise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basic salary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all employees by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> net amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> PLN2,000 as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
6 October 2011. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r indicates that a mediator from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list kept by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Policy was indicated to c<strong>on</strong>duct mediati<strong>on</strong> proceedings<br />
pursuant to article 11(2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed Act. No agreement being reached in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mediati<strong>on</strong> proceedings, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties – pursuant to article 14 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act –<br />
prepared records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> divergences in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mediator and with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> indicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
respective standpoints <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties which c<strong>on</strong>stitutes an authorizati<strong>on</strong> to undertake a<br />
strike acti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
817. A strike organized by ZZNPL and NSZZ “Solidarnosc” began <strong>on</strong> 18 March 2012. On<br />
20 March 2012, an attorney <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOT AMS filed a request at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court in Warsaw to<br />
secure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claims by prohibiting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ZZNPL and NSZZ “Solidarnosc” trade uni<strong>on</strong>s from<br />
214 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
organizing and c<strong>on</strong>ducting a strike at LOT AMS. In its decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 March 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
District Court in Warsaw granted security to LOT AMS in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a prohibiti<strong>on</strong><br />
against organizing and c<strong>on</strong>ducting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike that began <strong>on</strong> 18 March 2012 and defined a<br />
14-day time limit for filing a petiti<strong>on</strong> to determine that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike was organized in breach<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> settlement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective labour disputes. Within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time<br />
limit set out by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court in Warsaw, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attorney <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOT AMS filed a petiti<strong>on</strong> to<br />
determine whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed strike was announced and organized in breach <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> settlement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective labour disputes. The Government<br />
indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hearing in that case has not yet been set.<br />
818. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ZZNPL and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Inter-Enterprise <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
No. 205 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSZZ, “Solidarnosc” filed complaints to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court in Warsaw <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 March 2012 to grant security in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
a prohibiti<strong>on</strong> against organizing and c<strong>on</strong>ducting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike. By way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
11 July 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal in Warsaw revoked <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> challenged decisi<strong>on</strong> in relati<strong>on</strong><br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Inter-Enterprise <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> No. 205 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSZZ “Solidarnosc” due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that<br />
entity’s capacity to act as a party in civil cases and it rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOT AMS in<br />
relati<strong>on</strong> to that entity; it also dismissed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOT AMS to grant security in<br />
relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ZZNPL in Warsaw.<br />
819. NSZZ “Solidarnosc” charged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> challenged decisi<strong>on</strong> with violating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
procedural law (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil Proceedings Code), which c<strong>on</strong>sisted in, inter alia, assuming that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> security might hinder LOT AMS from attaining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
proceedings to determine unlawfulness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike and in assuming that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong> that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entitled party intends to file, that is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong> to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> illegality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike,<br />
is a civil case, as well as with violating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substantive law by not<br />
applying article 59(3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Poland, which c<strong>on</strong>sisted in<br />
prohibiting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong> and c<strong>on</strong>ducting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
prerequisite infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public good. On <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r hand, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ZZNPL charged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
challenged decisi<strong>on</strong> with violating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> norms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedural law by way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>, inter alia,<br />
unjustified assumpti<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicant had substantiated its entitlement to make claims<br />
despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r legal <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ory nor jurisprudence have as yet worked out a view<br />
according to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer should be entitled to request <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court to determine<br />
whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r a strike organized at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer’s establishment complies with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> settlement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective labour disputes, and by unjustified assumpti<strong>on</strong> that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicant had dem<strong>on</strong>strated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its legal interest in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> granting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> security,<br />
which c<strong>on</strong>sisted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> security would prevent, or seriously hinder,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> performance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling issued in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case or that it would prevent or seriously hinder<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attainment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings.<br />
820. When revoking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> challenged decisi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal pointed out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civil<br />
Proceedings Code stipulates two c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s for granting security, that is substantiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a claim subject to security and substantiati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a legal interest in<br />
obtaining security. The Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal recognized that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collected evidence did not<br />
substantiate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal interest in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a claim <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOT AMS – that is in<br />
determining whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike that began <strong>on</strong> 18 March 2012 violated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
comm<strong>on</strong> law and, particularly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> settlement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
labour disputes. The Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal decided that LOT AMS had an ec<strong>on</strong>omic interest in<br />
claiming <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> security and not a legal <strong>on</strong>e. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal also found that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested manner <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> securing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claim was also subject to reservati<strong>on</strong>s. The purpose<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> security in this case would be to normalize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights and obligati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
proceedings for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir durati<strong>on</strong>. As a manner <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> security, LOT AMS indicated<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prohibiting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligated parties from organizing and c<strong>on</strong>ducting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entitled party. However, article 59(3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> grants trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to organize strikes within statutory limits. On <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r hand, an act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law<br />
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may establish a prohibiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike acti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public good in relati<strong>on</strong> to<br />
specific categories <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees or in specific fields. The Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal observed that at<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> given stage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings it was not possible to find, in an unambiguous manner,<br />
whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s indicated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disproporti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employee demands<br />
in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> potential losses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entitled party caused by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> defective<br />
way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>ducting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike referendum – were factually accurate. First and foremost, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
applicant failed to substantiate that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike acti<strong>on</strong> could lead to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-performance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer’s obligati<strong>on</strong>s and did not supply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employees who eventually<br />
took part in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike that had begun. For that reas<strong>on</strong>, at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current stage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
proceedings, and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s furnished by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer, it was not possible<br />
to find in an unambiguous manner that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike was illegal, even for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purposes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
proceedings to secure claims where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislator does not require that a claim is<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strated but <strong>on</strong>ly made plausible (substantiated).<br />
821. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, c<strong>on</strong>sidering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> affairs, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r legal<br />
nor factual basis for a claim that Poland has violated ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87. The State<br />
ensures <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to a fair trial from which it arises that rulings issued by independent<br />
courts can be subject to a review by courts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> higher instance which makes it possible for<br />
quashing those court rulings which give grounds for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir withdrawal from legal<br />
circulati<strong>on</strong>. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r states that it is not possible to accept a complaint that<br />
is based <strong>on</strong> a ruling which, in effect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its verificati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal proceedings,<br />
has lost its legal validity. On <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a single situati<strong>on</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
exercised its right to a review by a court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> higher instance – in effect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> original<br />
ruling lost its legal validity – it is not possible to accuse <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Judiciary Branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> infringing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right to organize.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
822. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that this case c<strong>on</strong>cerns allegati<strong>on</strong>s that a civil court (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District<br />
Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Warsaw), in closed sessi<strong>on</strong>, without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties, declared <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
strike acti<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>ducted at LOT AMS illegal, and that this decisi<strong>on</strong> was made in violati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87 and led to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ten trade uni<strong>on</strong> activists who organized<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike.<br />
823. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> filing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint<br />
before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants filed complaints to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court in Warsaw <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 March 2012. By way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
11 July 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal in Warsaw revoked <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> challenged decisi<strong>on</strong> in relati<strong>on</strong><br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Inter-Enterprise <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> No. 205 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> NSZZ “Solidarnosc” due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that<br />
entity’s capacity to act as a party in civil cases and it rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company<br />
in relati<strong>on</strong> to that entity; it also dismissed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company to grant security in<br />
relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ZZNPL. The Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal indicated that, at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current stage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
proceedings, and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer, it was not possible<br />
to find in an unambiguous manner, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike was illegal, even for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purposes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
proceedings to secure claims where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislator does not require that a claim is<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strated, but <strong>on</strong>ly made plausible (substantiated). Therefore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> duly<br />
notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> which gave rise to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint in this case has been overturned<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Warsaw.<br />
824. However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants, following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Warsaw, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company dismissed ten trade uni<strong>on</strong> activists who<br />
organized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike (Marcina Choluj, Miroslaw Jankowski, Michal Kniazewski, Jacek<br />
Mikulski from NSZZ “Solidarnosc” and Robert Skalski, Grzegorz Grzybowski, Andrzej<br />
Tomczak, Andrzej Michel, Krzyszt<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Kaczorek, Pawel Sznajder from Aircraft Land<br />
Pers<strong>on</strong>nel Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>). The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not<br />
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replied to this allegati<strong>on</strong>, nor has it provided any informati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ten trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists dismissed. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that no <strong>on</strong>e should be penalized<br />
for carrying out, or attempting to carry out, a legitimate strike. When trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists or<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> leaders are dismissed for having exercised <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike, it can <strong>on</strong>ly c<strong>on</strong>clude<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y have been punished for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities and have been discriminated<br />
against [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, paras 660 and 662].<br />
825. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s reply that in its decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23 March<br />
2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> District Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Warsaw had defined a 14-day time limit for filing a petiti<strong>on</strong> to<br />
determine that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike was organized in breach <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
settlement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective labour disputes and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attorney <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> company filed a<br />
petiti<strong>on</strong> within this time limit, but no date had yet been set for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hearing. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se proceedings and to<br />
provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgment <strong>on</strong>ce it is handed down. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meantime, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
observes that ten trade uni<strong>on</strong> activists have been dismissed allegedly for organizing<br />
industrial acti<strong>on</strong> which was initially prohibited due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer’s request to secure its<br />
claims, but that this decisi<strong>on</strong> was subsequently overturned <strong>on</strong> appeal and, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<br />
has yet to be a judgment <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se circumstances, and given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
apparent delay in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court proceedings challenging <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lawful nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial<br />
acti<strong>on</strong> (no hearing had been sent at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s reply <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 29 October<br />
2012), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to review immediately <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dismissed workers and should it be found that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir dismissal was indeed due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial acti<strong>on</strong>, to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate measures for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
reinstatement in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts without delay pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> final determinati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> steps taken in this<br />
regard.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
826. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>:<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings and to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgment <strong>on</strong>ce it is<br />
handed down. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to review immediately<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Marcina Choluj, Miroslaw Jankowski, Michal Kniazewski,<br />
Jacek Mikulski from NSZZ “Solidarnosc” and Robert Skalski, Grzegorz<br />
Grzybowski, Andrzej Tomczak, Andrzej Michel, Krzyszt<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Kaczorek, Pawel<br />
Sznajder from Aircraft Land Pers<strong>on</strong>nel Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> and should it be found<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir dismissal was indeed due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> industrial<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>, to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate measures for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir reinstatement in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir posts<br />
without delay pending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> final determinati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> steps taken in this<br />
regard.<br />
GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx 217
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
CASE NO. 2976<br />
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS<br />
TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Turkey<br />
presented by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IndustriALL Global Uni<strong>on</strong><br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: The complainant alleges that since<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beginning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2012 no uni<strong>on</strong> has obtained a<br />
certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence, which resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
de facto suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining<br />
rights in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country and a situati<strong>on</strong> where<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s cannot appoint <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir representatives,<br />
benefit from check-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f facilities, and protect<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members from acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
intimidati<strong>on</strong><br />
827. IndustriALL Global Uni<strong>on</strong> submitted its complaint in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 15 August<br />
2012.<br />
828. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 28 January 2013.<br />
829. Turkey has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
830. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 15 August 2012 IndustriALL Global Uni<strong>on</strong>, which represents<br />
more than 50 milli<strong>on</strong> workers throughout manufacturing, mining and energy sectors in<br />
some 140 countries, including 19 Turkish trade uni<strong>on</strong>s (Tes-İş, Belediye-İş, Petrol-İş,<br />
Turkiye Maden-İş, Birlesik Metal-İş, Lastik-İş, Seluloz-İş, Kristal-İş, Genel Maden-İş,<br />
Cimse-İş, Tumka-İş, Teksif, Oz Iplik-İş, Celik-İş, Tekstil, Deri-İş, Dok Gemi-İş, Turk<br />
Enerji-sen, Turk Tarim Orman-Sen) alleges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> de facto suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
bargaining rights in Turkey. The complainant explains that according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Turkish<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining process begins with a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence issued<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Security. However, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beginning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry has not issued any certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence for any trade uni<strong>on</strong>, including<br />
affiliates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> IndustriALL Global Uni<strong>on</strong>, which makes it de facto impossible for workers to<br />
exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir collective bargaining rights. The uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>siders that this situati<strong>on</strong> is<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trary to C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98, Turkey’s C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Collective Labour<br />
Agreement, Strike and Lock-out Act (Act No. 2822). The complainant alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workplaces for which a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence was not issued has reached<br />
some 950 covering 350,000 workers.<br />
831. The complainant refers to article 53 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Turkish C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, which stipulates that:<br />
Workers and employers have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to c<strong>on</strong>clude collective bargaining agreements in<br />
order to regulate reciprocally <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir ec<strong>on</strong>omic and social positi<strong>on</strong> and c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> work. The<br />
procedure to be followed in c<strong>on</strong>cluding collective bargaining agreements shall be regulated by<br />
law.<br />
218 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
It fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r refers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following relevant secti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 2822:<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 12. A workers’ trade uni<strong>on</strong> representing at least ten per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers<br />
engaged in a given branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity (excluding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity covering agriculture,<br />
forestry, hunting and fishing) and more than half <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers employed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment<br />
or each <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishments to be covered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective labour agreement shall have<br />
power to c<strong>on</strong>clude a collective labour agreement covering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
establishments in questi<strong>on</strong>. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise collective labour agreements, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
establishments shall be c<strong>on</strong>sidered as <strong>on</strong>e whole unit in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> calculati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> more than half<br />
majority. ... The statistics published by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Security in January<br />
and July <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> each year shall be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instrument used in calculating ten per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers<br />
engaged in a given branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity. The total number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers engaged in a branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
activity and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership figures <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> each <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s in that branch as indicated in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statistics shall be valid for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purposes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r formalities until<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next statistics are published. The competence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a workers’ trade uni<strong>on</strong> that applied for or<br />
obtained a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence shall not be affected by statistics subsequently published.<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 13. A workers’ trade uni<strong>on</strong> that c<strong>on</strong>siders itself competent to c<strong>on</strong>clude a<br />
collective labour agreement shall make applicati<strong>on</strong> in writing to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and<br />
Social Security, requesting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ministry to determine that its membership within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
activity (excluding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity covering agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing) in<br />
which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> is c<strong>on</strong>stituted represents at least ten per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers engaged in that<br />
branch, and to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers employed and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
establishment or establishments to be covered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such<br />
applicati<strong>on</strong>. The workers’ trade uni<strong>on</strong> shall give <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> membership forms in its keeping to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employer within three working days as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its applicati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
and Social Security for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determining <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence. Where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> required<br />
majority according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Security, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry<br />
shall communicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong>, toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers employed and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> members in each establishment c<strong>on</strong>cerned, to o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r workers’ uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity and to employers’ uni<strong>on</strong>s and employers not<br />
bel<strong>on</strong>ging to such uni<strong>on</strong>s who shall be a party to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agreement, within six working days <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
receiving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong>, as indicated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ministry at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
applicati<strong>on</strong>. Where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry determines that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> does not have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> required<br />
majority, this informati<strong>on</strong> shall be communicated <strong>on</strong>ly to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicant uni<strong>on</strong> within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same<br />
time limit.<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 16. The Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Security shall issue a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
competence to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerned within six working days after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expiry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time limit<br />
allowed for an appeal if no appeal has been lodged, or within six working days <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> receiving<br />
notice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court rejects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeal.<br />
The complainant explains that despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se mandatory legislative provisi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Turkey has not published labour statistics since 2009.<br />
This was legally possible until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2011, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Turkish Parliament had amended<br />
Act No. 2822 by adding a new, provisi<strong>on</strong>al, secti<strong>on</strong>, according to which, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous<br />
labour statistics would be valid for collective bargaining certificati<strong>on</strong>s. However, because<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> validity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> said temporary secti<strong>on</strong> expired, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry, which should have<br />
published labour statistics, failed to do so.<br />
832. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to bargain collectively is de facto<br />
suspended in Turkey because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an arbitrary and illegal administrative decisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Security. Hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> thousands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s cannot exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining and negotiate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir wages, social<br />
benefits and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> work, which makes trade uni<strong>on</strong>s vulnerable in defending<br />
and enhancing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rights and interests. The complainant refers, am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its affiliate, Oil, Chemical and Rubber Workers’ Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Turkey (Petrol-İş),<br />
which has applied to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry to get a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following<br />
workplaces:<br />
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1. Erze Ambalaj ve Plastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (applicati<strong>on</strong> date: 13 January 2012);<br />
2. Gripin ilag A.S. (applicati<strong>on</strong> date: 17 February 2012);<br />
3. Saba Endustriyel Urunler imalat ve Ticaret A.S. (applicati<strong>on</strong> date: 24 February 2012);<br />
4. Elba Bant Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (applicati<strong>on</strong> date: 2 March 2012);<br />
5. Arili Plastik Sanayii A.S. (applicati<strong>on</strong> date: 4 May 2012);<br />
6. Reckitt Benckiser Temizlik Malzemeleri San. Ve Tic. A.S. (applicati<strong>on</strong> date: 4 May<br />
2012);<br />
7. Urosan Kimya San. Ve Tic A.S. (applicati<strong>on</strong> date: 4 May 2012);<br />
8. Akin Plastik San. Ve Tic. A.S. (applicati<strong>on</strong> date: 4 May 2012);<br />
9. Sandoz ilag San. Ve Tic. A.S. (applicati<strong>on</strong> date: 4 May 2012);<br />
10. Plastimak Plastik Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>il Enjeksiy<strong>on</strong> San. Ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti. (applicati<strong>on</strong> date: 15 May<br />
2012);<br />
11. PIastiform Plastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (applicati<strong>on</strong> date: 22 May 2012);<br />
12. Plaskar Plastik Enjeksiy<strong>on</strong> Otomotiv Yedek Parga Nakliye Ambalaj Kalip Sanayi<br />
ithalat Ihracat Ticaret ve Sanayi A.S. (applicati<strong>on</strong> date: 22 May 2012);<br />
13. Mehmetşik Vakfi Turizm, Petrol, insaat Saglik Gida ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti. (applicati<strong>on</strong><br />
date: 20 June 2012).<br />
833. The complainant also alleges that trade uni<strong>on</strong>s that cannot get a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence<br />
are unable to collect uni<strong>on</strong> dues. In this respect, it refers to secti<strong>on</strong> 61 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Act (Act No. 2821), according to which:<br />
At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> written request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ trade uni<strong>on</strong> which is a party to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
labour agreement in force in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> undertaking or <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ trade uni<strong>on</strong> which has<br />
obtained <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence to bargain, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective labour agreement is<br />
terminated or not c<strong>on</strong>cluded, and up<strong>on</strong> receipt <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> member workers whose<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s are to be deducted, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer shall be bound to deduct <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members’<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> fixed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statute <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> solidarity c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> to be paid to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act respecting collective labour agreements, strikes and lock-outs from<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir wages, and to submit to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers whose c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s have<br />
been so deducted, indicating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> type <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> and to transfer <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
deducti<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> dues is dependent <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a collective<br />
agreement or certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, this situati<strong>on</strong><br />
endangers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> viability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s from a financial point <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> view.<br />
834. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, trade uni<strong>on</strong>s that cannot get a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence are unable to appoint<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> representatives. In this respect, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant refers to secti<strong>on</strong> 34 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act<br />
No. 2821, according to which:<br />
A trade uni<strong>on</strong>, whose competence to c<strong>on</strong>clude <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective labour agreement is<br />
certified, shall appoint trade uni<strong>on</strong> representatives from am<strong>on</strong>g its members at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
establishment in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following manner, and shall provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> names <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such uni<strong>on</strong><br />
representatives to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer within 15 days.<br />
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The appointment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> representatives is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore dependent <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
collective agreement or certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence; thus, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant, this<br />
situati<strong>on</strong> endangers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> viability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s from an organizati<strong>on</strong>al point <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> view.<br />
835. Finally, according to IndustriALL Global Uni<strong>on</strong>, because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current de facto suspensi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining rights in Turkey, workers cannot exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> rights. Since trade uni<strong>on</strong>s cannot deliver any service and protecti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
members in newly organized workplaces, workers are very reluctant to join trade uni<strong>on</strong>s<br />
since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y become subject to dismissals and intimidati<strong>on</strong>. The complainant alleges that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this kind and refers, in particular, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following two cases<br />
involving its affiliates:<br />
■<br />
■<br />
The Lea<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r and Shoe Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Turkey (Deri-İş) recruited <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers at Togo Ayakkabi Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., located in Ankara, and applied for<br />
certificati<strong>on</strong> at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beginning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> April. As so<strong>on</strong> as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management heard about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong> organizing activity, 35 uni<strong>on</strong> members were dismissed at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beginning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
May 2012. The dismissed workers are still picketing under massive and regular<br />
attacks, pressure and intimidati<strong>on</strong> by security forces. Since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
and Social Security has not issued a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence, Deri-İş cannot defend<br />
and protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its members at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise.<br />
The United Metal Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> (Birlesik Metal-İş) recruited <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers at Ceha Buro Mobilyalari Ltd.Sti., located in Kayseri, and applied for<br />
certificati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beginning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2012. As so<strong>on</strong> as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management learned about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
uni<strong>on</strong> organizing activity, 20 members were dismissed. Since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
and Social Security has not issued a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>, it cannot<br />
defend and protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its members at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise.<br />
IndustriALL Global Uni<strong>on</strong> wrote a letter to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Security in<br />
respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se cases, but received no answer.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
836. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 28 January 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s refer to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> which existed before Act No. 6356 <strong>on</strong><br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s and Collective Labour Agreements was enacted <strong>on</strong> 18 September 2012 and<br />
came into force <strong>on</strong> 7 November 2012. The Government never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less replies in detail to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
837. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to collective bargaining, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government refers to article 53 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Turkish C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and related provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 2822. It indicates, in particular, that<br />
in accordance with secti<strong>on</strong> 12, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statistics published by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social<br />
Security in January and July <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> each year shall be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instrument used to calculate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
10 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers engaged in a given branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity. Following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amendment<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 5838 (Act dated 18 February 2009 amending various acts), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statistics could<br />
not be published by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry in January and July <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> each year due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> related<br />
legislative regulati<strong>on</strong>s. As no amendment could be made to Acts Nos 2821 and 2822, a<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong> was added to secti<strong>on</strong> 12 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 2822 through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 5921,<br />
which came into effect <strong>on</strong> 28 January 2010, requiring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry to use statistics existing<br />
<strong>on</strong> 1 August 2010. With <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong> adopted pursuant to Act No. 6111, which came into<br />
effect <strong>on</strong> 25 February 2011, it was fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r resolved that no new statistics would be<br />
published until 30 June 2011 and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last membership and worker statistics published<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry shall be c<strong>on</strong>sidered valid until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following publicati<strong>on</strong> date <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> statistics.<br />
In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 6236 (Act to add a temporary secti<strong>on</strong> to Act No. 2822 <strong>on</strong><br />
collective agreements, strikes and lockouts), it was fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r determined that no statistics<br />
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would be published until 31 December 2011 and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latest membership and workers<br />
statistics published by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry would be c<strong>on</strong>sidered valid until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following<br />
publicati<strong>on</strong> date <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> statistics after this date. However, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statistics that<br />
should have been published in January 2012 and in absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a new suspensi<strong>on</strong> period,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> demands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s applying for competence for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
bargaining in a workplace or enterprise could not be met. While trade uni<strong>on</strong>s’ applicati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence could not be processed in accordance<br />
with secti<strong>on</strong> 13 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 2822, and certificates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence could not be issued in<br />
accordance with its secti<strong>on</strong> 16, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and<br />
Social Security has not neglected its duty with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> publicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> statistics.<br />
838. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r indicates that intensive studies have been carried out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> drafting Act No. 6356 <strong>on</strong> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s and Collective Labour Agreements<br />
during meetings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> board and technical committee with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> view<br />
to bringing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> dealing with trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights into c<strong>on</strong>formity with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO and<br />
European Uni<strong>on</strong> standards. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act was drafted in<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r indicates that after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entry<br />
into force <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 6356, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statistics will begin to be published regularly and that all<br />
records will be kept electr<strong>on</strong>ically.<br />
839. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Petrol-İş Uni<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>firms that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has<br />
applied to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry for a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence in some workplaces. It also indicates<br />
that as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 October 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were 1,688 applicati<strong>on</strong>s waiting for certificates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
competence, which represents 349,226 workers. The Government points out, however that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedures for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> for competence, which, due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
reas<strong>on</strong>s, came to a deadlock temporarily, will recommence with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entry into force <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
new Act. Thus, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong>s filed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Petrol-İş for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence certificates for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following workplaces will be examined urgently:<br />
1. Gripin Pharmaceutical Co.<br />
2. Elba Plaster Industry and Trade Inc.<br />
3. Arili Plastic Industry Inc.<br />
4. Saba Industrial Products Manufacturing and Trade Inc.<br />
5. Reckitt Benckiser Cleaning Supplies Industry and Trade Inc.<br />
6. Urosan Chemical Industry and Trade Inc.<br />
7. Akin Plastic Industry and Trade Inc.<br />
8. Sandoz Pharmaceutical Industry and Trade Inc.<br />
9. Plastimak Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>iled Injecti<strong>on</strong> Industry and Trade Limited Co.<br />
10. Plaskar Plastic Injecti<strong>on</strong>, Automotive, Accessories, Transport, Packaging, Molding<br />
Industry, Import, Export, Trade and Industry Inc.<br />
11. Mehmetcik Foundati<strong>on</strong> Tourism, Oil, Instructi<strong>on</strong>, Health, Food and Trade Limited<br />
Co.<br />
However, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, when some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry have<br />
been examined, o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r questi<strong>on</strong>s have emerged with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following workplaces<br />
menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Petrol-İş’ applicati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
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Erze Packaging and Plastic Industry and Trade Inc.: Petrol-İş filed an applicati<strong>on</strong> for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence <strong>on</strong> 19 December 2011. However, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has<br />
objected to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prior competence determinati<strong>on</strong> (turned down due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
required quorum), and in this respect, a case was pending before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Izmir<br />
Fifth Labour Court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> was requested to communicate a “ruling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> specific<br />
annotati<strong>on</strong>”. While subsequently, <strong>on</strong> 13 January 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> notified that nine<br />
more members were registered so as to fulfil <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> required quorum, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> was<br />
reminded that it should communicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “ruling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> specific annotati<strong>on</strong>” by a letter<br />
dated 2 March 2012; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has so far failed to do so.<br />
Plastiform Plastic Industry and Trade Inc.: an applicati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
competence was made <strong>on</strong> 22 May 2012. However, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant records were<br />
examined, it appeared that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Inegol Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office was<br />
investigating allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise.<br />
840. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> that without a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence, uni<strong>on</strong>s cannot<br />
benefit from check-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f facilities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enactment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
new legislati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re will be no problem for trade uni<strong>on</strong>s to collect trade uni<strong>on</strong> dues.<br />
841. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s which cannot obtain a<br />
certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence cannot appoint uni<strong>on</strong> representatives and that this situati<strong>on</strong><br />
endangers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sustainability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>s organizati<strong>on</strong>ally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government referred to<br />
secti<strong>on</strong> 34 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act No. 2821, which indeed requires <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> to have a competence<br />
certificate in order to appoint a shop steward. The Government agrees that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> duty <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
being a shop steward c<strong>on</strong>tinues during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong>’s competence and that this situati<strong>on</strong> poses<br />
a problem for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workplaces which have made a request for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
competence as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> February 2012. The Government indicates, however, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry<br />
will start working <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorized uni<strong>on</strong>s. With <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enactment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
new legislati<strong>on</strong>, trade uni<strong>on</strong>s having been granted competence certificates will be able to<br />
assign <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir representatives.<br />
842. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining rights hinders<br />
workers’ freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> rights, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government provides <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> in respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprises menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint:<br />
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Togo Footwear Industry and Trade Inc.: it appears from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> records <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry<br />
that in order to c<strong>on</strong>clude a collective bargaining agreement at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise, Deri-İş<br />
applied to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry for a competence determinati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 4 April 2012. However, as<br />
explained above, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 February 2012, no such determinati<strong>on</strong> could be made. A case<br />
has been opened at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ankara Third Labour Court to examine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> that<br />
35 workers were dismissed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deri-İş to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry. Following an examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry’s records c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workplace, it appeared that as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 16 November 2011, 56 workers were employed by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise; however, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was no informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
members. The Government fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r indicates that as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 4 April 2012, 33 out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
59 workers were uni<strong>on</strong> members. Deri-İş applied to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Presidency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Grand<br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Turkey Human Rights Investigati<strong>on</strong> Commissi<strong>on</strong> alleging that<br />
all workers who were trade uni<strong>on</strong> members were dismissed. A case was also opened<br />
at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour court. No applicati<strong>on</strong> has been made to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Provincial Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Labour and Employment Agency in Ankara regarding this issue.<br />
Ceha Office Furniture Limited Company: United Metal Workers’ Uni<strong>on</strong> applied to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <strong>on</strong> 5 March 2012 in order to determine to which branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
enterprise related. Following inspecti<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>ducted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry, it was determined that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforesaid workplace was in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> metal branch with<br />
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a sequence number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 13 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Regulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Branches <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Activity”. The uni<strong>on</strong><br />
asserted that workers were dismissed following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> for a competence<br />
certificate. Following an inquiry c<strong>on</strong>ducted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Provincial Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
and Employment Agency in Kayseri, it was determined that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tracts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
20 workers were terminated by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> paying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir severance and notice pays. It<br />
was c<strong>on</strong>cluded, however, that no worker was dismissed due to his or her trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
activities.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
843. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant in this case, IndustriALL Global Uni<strong>on</strong>, alleges<br />
that since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beginning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2012 no uni<strong>on</strong> has obtained a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence, which<br />
has resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> de facto suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining rights in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country and a<br />
situati<strong>on</strong> where uni<strong>on</strong>s cannot appoint <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir representatives, benefit from check-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f<br />
facilities, and protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members from acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong> and intimidati<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> detailed reply provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<strong>on</strong> and observes that<br />
in general, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government does not refute <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
844. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> de facto suspensi<strong>on</strong>, in 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining rights in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country, triggering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to check-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f facilities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to<br />
elect representatives, and recalls that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to bargain freely with employers with<br />
respect to c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> work c<strong>on</strong>stitutes an essential element in freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
and trade uni<strong>on</strong>s should have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right, through collective bargaining or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r lawful<br />
means, to seek to improve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> living and working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those whom <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s represent. The public authorities should refrain from any interference which would<br />
restrict this right or impede <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lawful exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>. Any such interference would<br />
appear to infringe <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle that workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s should have<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to organize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir activities and to formulate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir programmes [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
2006, para. 881]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes, however, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s refer to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> which existed before Act No. 6356 <strong>on</strong><br />
Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s and Collective Labour Agreements was adopted <strong>on</strong> 18 September 2012 and<br />
came into force <strong>on</strong> 7 November 2012 and that following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entry into force <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this new<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong>, all applicati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence will be examined,<br />
including those referred to by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant trade uni<strong>on</strong>. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government,<br />
this will resolve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining, check-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f facilities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
representati<strong>on</strong> – points raised by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant. While noting that allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning Act No. 6356 have been recently lodged in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r case, which it<br />
will examine <strong>on</strong>ce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s reply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<strong>on</strong> has been received, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
expects that all applicati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence to bargain collectively,<br />
including those menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint, will be examined without delay so as to ensure<br />
that workers can exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir collective bargaining rights, enjoy <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to elect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
representatives, and benefit from check-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f facilities provided for by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant to keep it<br />
informed in this respect. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Plastiform Plastic Industry and Trade Inc., <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, an investigati<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise was taking place and c<strong>on</strong>siders that this<br />
should not preclude <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry from examining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
competence submitted by Petrol-İş.<br />
845. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 35 workers from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Togo Footwear Industry and Trade<br />
Inc., <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> has applied to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Presidency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Grand Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Turkey Human Rights Investigati<strong>on</strong><br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong> and that a labour court case is pending in this regard, no applicati<strong>on</strong> has<br />
been made to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Provincial Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Employment Agency in Ankara.<br />
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The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> is <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most serious violati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, as it may jeopardize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s. The<br />
Government is resp<strong>on</strong>sible for preventing all acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> and it must<br />
ensure that complaints <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> are examined in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
nati<strong>on</strong>al procedures which should be prompt, impartial and c<strong>on</strong>sidered as such by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
parties c<strong>on</strong>cerned [see Digest, op. cit., paras 769 and 817]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusts that any<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged anti-uni<strong>on</strong> nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal will be c<strong>on</strong>sidered by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court bearing in mind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles above and expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> will be handed<br />
down in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very near future. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also expects that if anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong><br />
is established, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers c<strong>on</strong>cerned will be reinstated without loss <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pay. If<br />
reinstatement is not possible for objective and compelling reas<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers c<strong>on</strong>cerned are<br />
paid an adequate compensati<strong>on</strong> which would represent a sufficiently dissuasive sancti<strong>on</strong><br />
for anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong>. It requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court judgment as<br />
so<strong>on</strong> as it is handed down, as well as a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Human Rights<br />
Investigati<strong>on</strong> Commissi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
846. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 workers from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ceha Office Furniture Limited<br />
Company, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong> that an inquiry has been<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Provincial Directorate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Employment Agency in Kayseri,<br />
which determined that while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tracts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 workers were terminated by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
paying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir severance and notice pays, no worker was dismissed due to his or her trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> activities. Referring to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above-cited principles, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to provide a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inquiry’s report.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
847. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing<br />
Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that all applicati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
competence to bargain collectively, including those menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complaint, will be examined without delay so as to ensure that workers can<br />
exercise collective bargaining rights, enjoy <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to elect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
representatives, and benefit from check-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f facilities provided for by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
nati<strong>on</strong>al legislati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant to keep it informed in this respect.<br />
(b) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 35 workers from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Togo Footwear Industry<br />
and Trade Inc., <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusts that any informati<strong>on</strong> relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
alleged anti-uni<strong>on</strong> nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal will be c<strong>on</strong>sidered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> courts<br />
bearing in mind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles above and expects that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> will be<br />
handed down in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very near future. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also expects that if<br />
anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> is established, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers c<strong>on</strong>cerned will be<br />
reinstated without loss <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pay. If reinstatement is not possible for objective<br />
and compelling reas<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
necessary measures to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers c<strong>on</strong>cerned are paid an<br />
adequate compensati<strong>on</strong> which would represent a sufficiently dissuasive<br />
sancti<strong>on</strong> for anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong>. It requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court judgment as so<strong>on</strong> as it is handed down, as well as a copy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Human Rights Investigati<strong>on</strong> Commissi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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(c) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dismissal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 workers from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ceha Office Furniture<br />
Limited Company, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide a copy<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inquiry’s report.<br />
CASE NO. 2254<br />
INTERIM REPORT<br />
Complaint against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian<br />
Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela<br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Organisati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employers (IOE) and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chambers and Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commerce and Producti<strong>on</strong> (FEDECAMARAS)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: Marginalizati<strong>on</strong> and exclusi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employers’ associati<strong>on</strong>s in decisi<strong>on</strong>-making,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby denying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m access to social dialogue,<br />
tripartism and c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> in general<br />
(particularly in respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> highly important<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> directly affecting employers) and by<br />
failing to comply with recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>; acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
violence, discriminati<strong>on</strong> and intimidati<strong>on</strong><br />
against employers’ leaders and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s; legislati<strong>on</strong> that c<strong>on</strong>flicts with<br />
civil liberties and with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members; violent<br />
assault <strong>on</strong> FEDECAMARAS headquarters,<br />
resulting in damage to property and threats<br />
against employers; bomb attack <strong>on</strong><br />
FEDECAMARAS headquarters; favouritism<br />
shown by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities towards n<strong>on</strong>independent<br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
848. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> last examined this case at its March 2012 meeting, when it presented an<br />
interim report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>, paras 1214–1358, approved by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body at its 312th Sessi<strong>on</strong> (March 2012)].<br />
849. The Internati<strong>on</strong>al Organisati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employers (IOE) subsequently sent new allegati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 20 February and 18 September 2012.<br />
850. The Government sent new observati<strong>on</strong>s in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 15 October 2012 and<br />
24 May 2013.<br />
851. The Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
and Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
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A. Previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case<br />
852. In its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case in March 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters still pending [see 363rd <strong>Report</strong>, para. 1358]:<br />
(a)<br />
(b)<br />
(c)<br />
(d)<br />
(e)<br />
(f)<br />
Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abducti<strong>on</strong> and maltreatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS leaders,<br />
Messrs Noel Álvarez, Luis Villegas, Ernesto Villamil and Ms Albis Muñoz (Employer<br />
member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter being wounded by three bullets,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deplores <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences that were committed, emphasizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir seriousness<br />
and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> steps within its power to arrest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
three pers<strong>on</strong>s involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abducti<strong>on</strong>s and wounding, and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
developments in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement<br />
that a public hearing was scheduled for 20 October 2011 and expresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hope that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
pers<strong>on</strong>s guilty <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se crimes will so<strong>on</strong> be c<strong>on</strong>victed and sentenced in proporti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
seriousness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences in order that such incidents will not be repeated and requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this respect. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same time, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
notes with c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s statement in its additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> that Ms Albis<br />
Muñoz, employers’ leader and <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> aggressi<strong>on</strong>, has asserted that nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspects arrested (Mr Ant<strong>on</strong>io José Silva Moyega and Mr Jas<strong>on</strong> Manjares) were<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instigators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aggressi<strong>on</strong>, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s reservati<strong>on</strong>s as to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> idea that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
motive <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aggressi<strong>on</strong> was car <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ft.<br />
Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal investigati<strong>on</strong> ordered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
public declarati<strong>on</strong>s by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS, Mr Noel Álvarez, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to state that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text described by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> declarati<strong>on</strong>s do<br />
not in its opini<strong>on</strong> appear to c<strong>on</strong>tain any criminal c<strong>on</strong>tent and should not normally have<br />
given rise to a criminal investigati<strong>on</strong>. However, so that it can reach its c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s in full<br />
possessi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged attacks <strong>on</strong> FEDECAMARAS headquarters in 2007, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> had requested FEDECAMARAS to file an <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial complaint <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reiterates that recommendati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
indicates that if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong> has not d<strong>on</strong>e so by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s next meeting, it<br />
will not pursue its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this allegati<strong>on</strong> any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r; noting however that an<br />
envir<strong>on</strong>ment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> harassment and lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public authorities is not<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducive to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed lodging <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial complaints.<br />
Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged bomb attack <strong>on</strong> FEDECAMARAS headquarters <strong>on</strong> 24 February<br />
2008, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s charged,<br />
Mr Juan Crisóstomo M<strong>on</strong>toya G<strong>on</strong>zález and Mrs Iv<strong>on</strong>ne Gioc<strong>on</strong>da Márquez Burgos,<br />
have c<strong>on</strong>fessed in full to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public intimidati<strong>on</strong> and unlawful use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> identity<br />
papers, that a preliminary public hearing was set for 4 November 2011 and that, as so<strong>on</strong><br />
as a final ruling <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case was handed down, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> would be duly informed.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guilty parties should be punished in<br />
proporti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seriousness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes committed and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
compensated for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> loss and damage <strong>on</strong> account <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se illegal acts. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is<br />
waiting to be informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sentence handed down.<br />
Observing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence committed against FEDECAMARAS or its<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> again draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental<br />
principle that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s can be exercised <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
in a climate free <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence, intimidati<strong>on</strong> and fear, as such situati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> insecurity are<br />
incompatible with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87.<br />
Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government restore <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> La<br />
Bureche farm to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ leader, Mr Eduardo Gómez Sigala, and compensate him<br />
fully for all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> damage caused by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities in occupying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> farm, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is a c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong> between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
judgment that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expropriated farm <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ leader Mr Eduardo Gómez Sigala<br />
was idle. Be that as it may, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government does not deny<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s allegati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> farm is currently a military training centre (as opposed to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> land rescue procedure is to<br />
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(g)<br />
(h)<br />
(i)<br />
(j)<br />
encourage <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agricultural use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Valle del Río) or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> that Mr Eduardo<br />
Gómez Sigala has not received any compensati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore <strong>on</strong>ce again<br />
calls <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to resp<strong>on</strong>d fully to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s, return <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> farm property<br />
without delay to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ leader and compensate him fully for all losses sustained<br />
as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interventi<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities in seizing his farm.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s to send <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir comments <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
informati<strong>on</strong> and observati<strong>on</strong>s presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expropriati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Agroisleña SA, Owen–Illinois and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Turbio steel plant.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government statement <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> livestock farmer Mr Franklin Brito.<br />
Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong> (“rescue”, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> farms<br />
owned by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ leaders, Mr Egildo Luján, Mr Vicente Brito, Mr Rafael<br />
Marcial Garmendia and Mr Manuel Cipriano Heredia, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that it is<br />
impossible to discount <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are granted fair compensati<strong>on</strong> without delay and to<br />
initiate a frank dialogue with those affected and with FEDECAMARAS <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong>s/rescues referred to and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attacks <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
buildings owned by Mr Carlos Sequera Yépez, former President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS.<br />
Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bipartite and tripartite social dialogue with<br />
FEDECAMARAS, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s new allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval without any tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws that affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government has not resp<strong>on</strong>ded specifically to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE and urges it to<br />
do so without delay. Moreover, observing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> serious shortcomings in social<br />
dialogue c<strong>on</strong>tinue to exist, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reiterates its earlier recommendati<strong>on</strong>, as<br />
follows:<br />
– deeply deploring that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has ignored its recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to establish a high-level joint nati<strong>on</strong>al committee<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> assistance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO, to examine each and every <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s and issues in this case so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems can be solved through direct<br />
dialogue. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusts that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will not postp<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r and urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep<br />
it informed in this regard;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that a forum for social dialogue will be established in<br />
accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO, having a tripartite compositi<strong>on</strong> which<br />
duly respects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representativeness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard and invites<br />
it to request technical assistance from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also requests it<br />
<strong>on</strong>ce again to c<strong>on</strong>vene <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite commissi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> minimum wages provided for<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Organic Labour Act;<br />
– observing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are still no structured bodies for tripartite social dialogue, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes <strong>on</strong>ce more <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance that should be attached to full<br />
and frank c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> taking place <strong>on</strong> any questi<strong>on</strong>s or proposed legislati<strong>on</strong><br />
affecting trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights and that it is essential that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> introducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> affecting collective bargaining or c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment should be<br />
preceded by detailed c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative independent<br />
workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to ensure that any legislati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning labour, social and ec<strong>on</strong>omic<br />
issues adopted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Enabling Act be first subject to genuine, indepth<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative independent employers’ and<br />
workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, while endeavouring to find shared soluti<strong>on</strong>s wherever<br />
possible;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed with regard to social<br />
dialogue and any bipartite or tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s in sectors o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than food and<br />
agriculture, and also with regard to social dialogue with FEDECAMARAS and its<br />
regi<strong>on</strong>al structures in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various sectors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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(k)<br />
(l)<br />
formulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic and social policy and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws which affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>s;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure that as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its policy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
inclusive dialogue (including within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Assembly), FEDECAMARAS<br />
is duly c<strong>on</strong>sulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any legislative debate that may affect employer<br />
interests, in a manner commensurate with its level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> representativeness.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply deplores that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has <strong>on</strong>ce again ignored <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong> despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has been insisting <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m for<br />
years.<br />
Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged discriminati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities against FEDECAMARAS and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> favouritism vis-à-vis parallel organizati<strong>on</strong>s close to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
and lacking in independence, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reiterates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s and principles c<strong>on</strong>tained in its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case and<br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to reply in detail to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> financing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
parallel organizati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> favouritism vis-à-vis EMPREVEN and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “social<br />
producti<strong>on</strong> companies” and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong> against private companies. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
IOE’s new allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sending <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> electr<strong>on</strong>ic mails between senior<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and parallel employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> calls <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
to verify without delay with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> senior <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials c<strong>on</strong>cerned whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r or not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
representatives sent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electr<strong>on</strong>ic mail attached to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s depositi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Political Sovereignty and Nati<strong>on</strong>al Self-Determinati<strong>on</strong> Bill,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> calls <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure respect for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
principle as regards internati<strong>on</strong>al financial assistance to workers’ and employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s so that, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bill does indeed apply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
measures without delay to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bill (or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act) so as to guarantee explicitly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ and workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s to receive internati<strong>on</strong>al financial<br />
assistance without prior authorizati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities for activities related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
promoti<strong>on</strong> and defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members.<br />
(m) Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>’s comments <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central Planning<br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong> Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> had observed in its earlier examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> establishes str<strong>on</strong>g state interventi<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omy and nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
ec<strong>on</strong>omic structure under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aegis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> central planning in order to c<strong>on</strong>struct <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Venezuelan socialist model and had requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s to provide<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relati<strong>on</strong>ship between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Nos 87 and 98. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reiterates this recommendati<strong>on</strong> and indicates that if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s have not d<strong>on</strong>e so by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s next meeting, it will not pursue its<br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r.<br />
(n)<br />
(o)<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recent<br />
IOE communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 20 February 2012 alleging repeated failure to engage in<br />
tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with respect to legislative matters.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> serious and urgent<br />
nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case.<br />
B. Additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> and new allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants<br />
853. In joint communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 22 February and 18 September 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Venezuelan Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chambers and Associati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commerce and Producti<strong>on</strong><br />
(FEDECAMARAS), despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> keenness that FEDECAMARAS has dem<strong>on</strong>strated in<br />
recent m<strong>on</strong>ths to promote genuine social dialogue and tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela, as called for in C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 144 ratified by<br />
Venezuela in 1983 and Recommendati<strong>on</strong> No. 152, no such developments have taken place.<br />
In some cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has merely c<strong>on</strong>vened at its own discreti<strong>on</strong> specific private<br />
sectors o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than FEDECAMARAS, which is widely recognized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO as being <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
most representative employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country; in o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> is a<br />
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mere formality that does not allow time to reply, or else <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> views <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> independent<br />
social partners c<strong>on</strong>sulted are simply ignored. On o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r occasi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r been no<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> whatsoever or else it has been held just with a few hand-picked organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
that support <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government. The complainants observe that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re have been fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
incidents have taken place in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Right to Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite C<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> (Internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Labour Standards) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1976 (No. 144), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minimum Wage-Fixing<br />
Machinery C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1928 (No. 26), ratified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela in<br />
1982, 1983 and 1944 respectively, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se have had negative c<strong>on</strong>sequences for<br />
employers in general and for FEDECAMARAS in particular, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative<br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>,.<br />
854. The complainants recall that, in paragraph 1292(i) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its <strong>Report</strong> No. 359 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> March 2011,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply deplored that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan Government had ignored its earlier<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, in which it requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government:<br />
– to keep it informed with regard to social dialogue and any bipartite or tripartite<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various sectors and also with regard to social dialogue with<br />
FEDECAMARAS and its regi<strong>on</strong>al structures in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various branches <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
activity, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic and social policy and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws which<br />
affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>s;<br />
– to ensure that, as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its policy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inclusive dialogue (including within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative<br />
Assembly), FEDECAMARAS is duly c<strong>on</strong>sulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any legislative debate<br />
that may affect employer’s interests, in a manner commensurate with its level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
representativeness.<br />
855. However, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>tinued adopting a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
measures in 2011 and 2012 which have had a major impact <strong>on</strong> private enterprise in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela, which violate ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 26, 87 and 144 in<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were implemented without undue c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative<br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>, FEDECAMARAS, and which restrict <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> and violate ILO standards c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> increases in minimum<br />
wages. The relevant legal texts are discussed below.<br />
Security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employment Decree<br />
856. In Official Gazette No. 39828 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 26 December 2011 and without holding proper<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eleventh year running, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela promulgated Security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employment Decree No. 8732.<br />
Articles 2 and 3 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree stipulate that workers benefiting from special security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employment may not be dismissed, demoted or transferred without just cause having been<br />
duly certified in advance by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Inspector <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> jurisdicti<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerned. Failure to<br />
observe this procedure automatically entitles workers to request reinstatement in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir jobs<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages due. This special protecti<strong>on</strong> is accorded irrespective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> accrued<br />
wages to: (i) workers <strong>on</strong> open-ended c<strong>on</strong>tracts as from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> third m<strong>on</strong>th <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment;<br />
(ii) workers <strong>on</strong> fixed-term c<strong>on</strong>tracts up to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir c<strong>on</strong>tract; and (iii) workers under<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tract to carry out a specific job or task until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire job or task – or that part for<br />
which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are resp<strong>on</strong>sible – has been completed. In o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r words, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new standard has<br />
extended <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment security to all workers governed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Organic Labour<br />
Act, whatever <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir wage. Article 6 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree specifies that this protecti<strong>on</strong> does not<br />
apply to workers in management positi<strong>on</strong>s and in positi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trust or to temporary, casual<br />
or public-sector workers. The Decree came into effect up<strong>on</strong> its publicati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Official<br />
Gazette <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 26 December 2011, based <strong>on</strong> a decisi<strong>on</strong> taken without any kind <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
even though in recent years FEDECAMARAS had drawn attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
inappropriateness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment security being extended by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Executive without<br />
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c<strong>on</strong>sulting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners – which shows that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no such things as genuine social<br />
dialogue in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela.<br />
New Organic Labour and Workers Act<br />
857. The complainants allege that Official Gazette Special Issue No. 6076 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 7 May 2012 a new<br />
Organic Labour and Workers Act was promulgated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a legislative decree that<br />
was issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Enabling Act adopted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly <strong>on</strong> 17 December 2010, without due c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most<br />
representative employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s and in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 144 (see<br />
below).<br />
858. In December 2011 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic announced <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> creati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Presidential<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to prepare a draft reform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Organic Labour Act. The members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> were:<br />
1. Nicolás Maduro, People’s Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> External Relati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
2. María Cristina Iglesias, People’s Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
3. Jorge Giordani, People’s Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Planning and Finance<br />
4. Wills Rangel, representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Socialist Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Urban, Rural<br />
and Seafaring Workers (CSBT), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recently established government-backed trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state petroleum company<br />
5. Omar Mora, Magistrate, President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme<br />
Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice<br />
6. Francisco Torrealba, deputy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Socialist Party<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela (PSUV), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government party, and Vice-President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Railways<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CSBT<br />
7. Oswaldo Vera, deputy, PSUV President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly’s Integrated Social<br />
Development <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
8. Braulio Álvarez, deputy, PSUV<br />
9. Juan Rafael Perdomo, Magistrate, Vice-President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Social Chamber <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeals<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice<br />
10. Jesús Martínez, labour lawyer with c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> government-inspired<br />
Bolivarian University<br />
11. Ant<strong>on</strong>io Espinoza Prieto, lawyer, adviser to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> PSUV<br />
12. Carlos Sainz Muñoz, lawyer, legal adviser to Oswaldo Vera, deputy, President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly’s <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> Social Affairs<br />
13. Carlos López, government sector trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists, Coordinator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CSBT<br />
14. Orlando Castillo, government sector trade uni<strong>on</strong>ist for public service employees<br />
15. Carlos Escarrá (deceased) and his successor Cilia Flores, Public Prosecutor<br />
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16. For <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector, Miguel Pérez Abad, President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDEINDUSTRIA (a<br />
government-biased parallel body previously denounced by FEDECAMARAS in Case<br />
No. 2254, who was appointed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic as a deputy member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State established by Presidential Decree No. 8937 (Official Gazette<br />
No. 39912 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 30 April 2012) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Higher Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour established by<br />
Presidential Decree No. 9003 (Official Gazette No. 9003 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 22 May 2012) in<br />
pursuance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Organic Labour and Workers Act.<br />
859. It is obvious from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Presidential <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are all part<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Executive, Legislative or Judiciary or are o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rwise supporters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government.<br />
This is notably <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sole representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector (Miguel Pérez<br />
Abad, President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan Federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Craft, Micro, Small and Medium-sized<br />
Business Associati<strong>on</strong>s (FEDEINDUSTRIA) who, as a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Higher Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, is a direct adviser to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan Government <strong>on</strong><br />
matters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State and <strong>on</strong> labour affairs. (Pérez Abad has issued press releases c<strong>on</strong>cerning his<br />
appointment.)<br />
860. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 18 members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Higher Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour 13 are members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Presidential <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, al<strong>on</strong>g with five public <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, three ministers and two viceministers<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> People’s Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Security, which shows that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Presidential <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is very largely made up <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> government supporters, virtually <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>on</strong>ly sector c<strong>on</strong>sulted.<br />
861. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Workers Act c<strong>on</strong>tained in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Presidential Decree was issued as<br />
an Organic Act in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 203 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, as it was not approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
two-thirds majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly required for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an organic act;<br />
instead, it is based <strong>on</strong> an Enabling Act issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly in 2010 to<br />
empower <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President to deal with specific issues arising exclusively from a natural<br />
disaster caused by that year’s heavy rains, but which he has used to legislate <strong>on</strong> any matter<br />
he deems fit.<br />
862. In o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r words, no proper c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative segments <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer<br />
sector was held <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Organic Labour and Workers Act, in blatant violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 144.<br />
863. FEDECAMARAS was nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r c<strong>on</strong>vened nor at any time invited to express its opini<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft law was almost unknown when it was published in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Official Gazette. Before that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social media had <strong>on</strong>ly cited <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> views <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Presidential <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> and government spokespers<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> certain broad aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law.<br />
The text was submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President towards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> April by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> that<br />
had been hand-picked; it was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n approved by him at a public event <strong>on</strong> 30 April and<br />
promulgated <strong>on</strong> 7 May.<br />
864. The Government informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> media that it had received and examined 19,000 proposals,<br />
which <strong>on</strong>e must assume reached <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Presidential <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> from some o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r source<br />
without any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m being <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficially registered. But even if it is true that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were any<br />
number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposals, that is no substitute for genuine social dialogue as understood by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ILO. The kind <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue alluded to in C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 144 cannot be selective; it<br />
cannot be simply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unilateral expressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> opini<strong>on</strong>s or proposals by n<strong>on</strong>-representative<br />
social actors or sectors linked to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and it cannot bypass <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> compulsory<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country, that is,<br />
FEDECAMARAS.<br />
865. FEDECAMARAS naturally informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> media that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law had been passed without any<br />
social dialogue and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong> would apply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO to denounce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite C<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> (Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour Standards) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1976 (No. 144),<br />
and this was in fact recognized by Oswaldo Vera, deputy, member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Presidential<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> and PSUV President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Standing <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> Social Development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly.<br />
866. The worker sector also protested against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed law<br />
and, <strong>on</strong> 26 March 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FADESS trade uni<strong>on</strong> appealed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice<br />
for protecti<strong>on</strong> under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> in a bid to prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative reform being issued<br />
under an Enabling Act. It requested specifically in its appeal that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court submit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
proposed law to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly for more extensive discussi<strong>on</strong>. Moreover, a<br />
number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s (FADESS, CTV and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs) organized a march <strong>on</strong> 1 May to protest<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> passing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Act without any c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
867. This lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue is nothing new for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan Government, which for<br />
over 10 years has failed to comply with its obligati<strong>on</strong> to hold tripartite discussi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong><br />
labour affairs. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last two years particularly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President has used <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Enabling Act to<br />
appropriate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> power <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislature to issue unilaterally a whole set <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative<br />
decrees <strong>on</strong> all kinds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject, as shall be seen below.<br />
868. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour Act is c<strong>on</strong>sidered to be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s<br />
most important social c<strong>on</strong>tract after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, a legislative reform <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
this nature needs both a c<strong>on</strong>sensus <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners and wide support from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
community, which was not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new law was not known or publicized<br />
prior to its <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial promulgati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
869. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Act imposes a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong>al ec<strong>on</strong>omic and political burdens <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> private sector:<br />
(1) For employers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law is highly punitive and discriminatory, since it provides for six<br />
to 15 m<strong>on</strong>ths’ pris<strong>on</strong> or detenti<strong>on</strong> for any employer who refuses to re-employ a<br />
worker, <strong>on</strong> grounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-compliance with administrative orders or n<strong>on</strong>-payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
fines (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sancti<strong>on</strong>s apply to management board members but not to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> state enterprises). Moreover, natural pers<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir capacity as<br />
employers are jointly and severally resp<strong>on</strong>sible with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> shareholders for compliance<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir obligati<strong>on</strong>s vis-à-vis <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers and are liable to have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir assets seized.<br />
Ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r discriminatory aspect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Act is that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government assumes n<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prior debts and liabilities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> companies it expropriates, which have to be met<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> former shareholders and are deducted from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> price paid.<br />
(2) The Act provides for greater state interventi<strong>on</strong> in labour relati<strong>on</strong>s, stipulating as it<br />
does that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principal objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour is to overcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
“capitalist form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> exploitati<strong>on</strong>” (i.e., producti<strong>on</strong>) and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers al<strong>on</strong>e are<br />
“creators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> socially produced wealth”, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby denying capital any value as a<br />
generator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment.<br />
(3) The new Act imposes new restricti<strong>on</strong>s and burdens <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector that are<br />
liable to result in restricti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> investment and producti<strong>on</strong> by Venezuelan<br />
enterprises. For example, it makes social benefits (seniority) retroactive, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
implicati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which are highly negative in an inflati<strong>on</strong>ary c<strong>on</strong>text; it provides for a<br />
shorter working day; it complicates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedure for dismissing workers and imposes<br />
penal sancti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> employers who refuse to re-employ <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m; it institutes employment<br />
security as a legal standard (this also applies for two years in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
newborn children and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> adoptive parents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> children under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> age <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three.<br />
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(4) It institutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cept <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ Councils al<strong>on</strong>gside trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, in some cases<br />
with similar powers, under regulati<strong>on</strong>s issued subsequently in a special law.<br />
(5) The powers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s include supervising and m<strong>on</strong>itoring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
enterprise’s costs and pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>its so as to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prices paid for its goods and<br />
services are fair.<br />
(6) It establishes a Register <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers’ and Employers’ Organizati<strong>on</strong>s within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
People’s Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social Security through which it regulates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir statutes and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appointment and functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir executive<br />
bodies, which must c<strong>on</strong>form to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guidelines set out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Register. Each year <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s must provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Register with a complete list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> affiliated bodies,<br />
al<strong>on</strong>g with any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r informati<strong>on</strong> required. Failure to register limits <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legitimacy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employers’ or workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong> to engage in collective bargaining, which means<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y lose all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir aut<strong>on</strong>omy and severely undermines <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
870. The complainants emphasize that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act’s legal provisi<strong>on</strong>s clearly curtail <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’<br />
exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic freedom and freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> that are provided for in both<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87 and make it increasingly difficult for<br />
enterprises to c<strong>on</strong>tinue to operate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country, especially <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> small and medium-sized<br />
companies that account for 50 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all enterprises.<br />
871. The undermining <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has already had very<br />
serious repercussi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> employers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new<br />
Labour Act will fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r aggravated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong>. In recent years <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
ec<strong>on</strong>omic policies have visibly caused a decline in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> companies operating in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country. In 2002, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial Nati<strong>on</strong>al Statistical<br />
Institute (INE) reported that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were 611,803 active employers. For <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>th <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
January 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> INE’s figures showed 425,404 employers, a drop <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 180,013 since 2002.<br />
By May 2012 some 217,204 private employers had closed down since 2002, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
number c<strong>on</strong>tinues to increase steadily. More than 800,000 people could have found work<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprises that today are closed. An article published by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> former President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
FEDECAMARAS Zulia, Néstor Borjas, comparing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial figures for employers and<br />
employees between 2002 and 2012 c<strong>on</strong>firms that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers fell by 35.5 per<br />
cent during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period.<br />
Approval <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> new legislative decrees <strong>on</strong> ec<strong>on</strong>omic<br />
and social affairs issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Republic under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Enabling Act adopted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly<br />
872. The complainants allege that, during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 18 m<strong>on</strong>ths for which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly<br />
delegated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> power to legislate to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic under article 3 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Enabling Act it passed <strong>on</strong> 17 December 2010, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President issued 38 legislative decrees<br />
between January 2011 and May 2012. On 15 June 2012, just two days before his delegated<br />
powers came to an end <strong>on</strong> 17 June 2012 and when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country was busy preparing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
7 October presidential electi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President issued ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r 14 legislative decrees that<br />
had major implicati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omy – a total <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 52 decrees issued during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period<br />
covered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Enabling Act.<br />
873. N<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s were c<strong>on</strong>sulted <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
52 decrees when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were promulgated by presidential decree, which means that in each<br />
case <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan Government violated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 144.<br />
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874. There was n<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “people’s participati<strong>on</strong>” and “open c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>” <strong>on</strong> legislative<br />
issues that is called for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preamble and in articles 187.4 and 211 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
which do not exclude from its provisi<strong>on</strong>s legislative decrees issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President in<br />
exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative powers delegated to him by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly.<br />
875. In his use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Enabling Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic appropriated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> power to<br />
legislate at his sole discreti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> a whole array <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues that were not delegated to him<br />
under an Enabling Act that was adopted solely to attend to situati<strong>on</strong>s arising from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
heavy rains in 2010. C<strong>on</strong>sequently, because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were drafted without any c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> or<br />
participati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people and because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y went bey<strong>on</strong>d <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters delegated under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Enabling Act, every <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decrees c<strong>on</strong>stituted a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-compliance with ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 144.<br />
Organic Act <strong>on</strong> Community Management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Skills, Services<br />
and O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Attributes, Act to Promote and Regulate New<br />
Forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State, and Legislative<br />
Decree to Determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fair Price <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Real Estate<br />
876. Am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 14 legislative decrees issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <strong>on</strong> 15 June 2012, two were<br />
especially significant as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y modify extensively <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic actors<br />
and employers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Organic Act for Community Management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Skills,<br />
Services and O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Attributes (Legislative Decree No. 9043, Official Gazette Special<br />
No. 6079 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 15 June 2012) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act to Promote and Regulate New Forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State (Legislative Decree No. 9052, Official Gazette No. 39945 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
15 June 2012), a private and community initiative for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
ec<strong>on</strong>omy. A third legislative decree, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Decree to Determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fair Price <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Real Estate for Housing Purposes in Cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Emergency (Legislative Decree No. 9050,<br />
Official Gazette No. 39945 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 15 June 2012), establishes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “fair price” that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government sets unilaterally in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> event <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> emergency expropriati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
877. The first two <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se legislative decrees lay down <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rules and regulati<strong>on</strong>s for<br />
associati<strong>on</strong>s between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State and organized communities or private entrepreneurial<br />
entities. The decree <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fers a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> advantages whose objective is obviously to replace<br />
traditi<strong>on</strong>al private enterprise by new forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> state associati<strong>on</strong>s that follow government<br />
guidelines, since it is a sine qua n<strong>on</strong> that such associati<strong>on</strong>s “promote and extend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> socialist model” – to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exclusi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprise that is not<br />
party to that particular political model. This goes fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> definiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government found in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, where it is described as democratic, participative,<br />
elective, decentralized, alternating, resp<strong>on</strong>sible, pluralist and revocable (article 6).<br />
878. These legislative decrees provide for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> almost total centralizati<strong>on</strong> and c<strong>on</strong>trol <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ec<strong>on</strong>omic activity by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y do not c<strong>on</strong>template <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> harm<strong>on</strong>ious<br />
development in collaborati<strong>on</strong> with private enterprise, as called for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong><br />
(article 299), but ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State should determine how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s ec<strong>on</strong>omy is run<br />
in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guidelines set in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Socialist Plan <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong> and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new<br />
legislative decrees promoting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprises associated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State. It is<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State that plays <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leading role as an ec<strong>on</strong>omic agent in determining how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omy<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country is to functi<strong>on</strong>, ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r unilaterally or in associati<strong>on</strong> with enterprises or<br />
communities that are entitled to certain advantages that are designed to make <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> system<br />
attractive. These privileges that entrepreneurial entities gain from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir associati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State include:<br />
– tax exempti<strong>on</strong>s;<br />
– access to state distributi<strong>on</strong> and marketing networks;<br />
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– access to direct state purchases (without bidding); and<br />
– access to special loans and funds under preferential terms.<br />
879. These privileges obviously give <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>s an unfair advantage in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir ec<strong>on</strong>omic<br />
dealings. C<strong>on</strong>trary to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, entrepreneurs that do not bow to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
and to socialism are excluded, which means that independent entrepreneurial systems will<br />
eventually disappear. Both state enterprises and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir associated entities should compete <strong>on</strong><br />
equal terms with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r ec<strong>on</strong>omic agents. The new system thus discriminates against<br />
employers that do not c<strong>on</strong>form to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> socialist model or set up entrepreneurial associati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State in any case takes all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most important decisi<strong>on</strong>s, According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act<br />
to Promote and Regulate New Forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State, even if a private entity<br />
enters into an associati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State it still has no margin for manoeuvre in its<br />
ec<strong>on</strong>omic activity since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>-taker in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> day-to-day running <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>s is<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State, ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r because it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority shareholder or, if not, because under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se mixed enterprises (in which it holds a minimum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 40 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> shares) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State has power <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> in all strategic matters (a very general c<strong>on</strong>cept).<br />
880. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last two decrees especially, under which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State can set up associati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
with community organizati<strong>on</strong>s and private entities committed to socialism, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> power <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an autocrat in deciding how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country is to<br />
functi<strong>on</strong>, without c<strong>on</strong>sulting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan people ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r individually or as organized<br />
social units; it <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>reby violates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “democratic participati<strong>on</strong>”<br />
and “open c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>” specifically where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s socioec<strong>on</strong>omic<br />
system and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> harm<strong>on</strong>ious development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al ec<strong>on</strong>omy are c<strong>on</strong>cerned<br />
(article 299) and curtails <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al right to ec<strong>on</strong>omic freedom (article 112). Since,<br />
quite apart from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se decrees severely restrict <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, all this points to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s blatant violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 144.<br />
881. The third legislative decree referred to as being significant am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 14 decrees issued <strong>on</strong><br />
15 June 2012 is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Decree to Determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fair Price <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Real Estate for<br />
Housing Purposes in Cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Emergency, according to which any enterprise and even any<br />
individual citizen expropriated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State for housing purposes is paid <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “fair<br />
price” calculated according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formula set out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new system <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State has decided that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fair price will be based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most recent purchase price <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
building indicated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registered document <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ownership, updated according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
following simple arithmetic formulas:<br />
(1) variati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>sumer price index;<br />
(2) nominal interest rate <strong>on</strong> deposits <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> over 90 days; and<br />
(3) nominal weighted average lending rate.<br />
Example <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impact <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2011–12 formula for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>th <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> May<br />
Index title<br />
Value<br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>sumer price index 22.60<br />
Nominal interest rate <strong>on</strong> deposits 16.75<br />
Nominal weighted average lending rate 14.50<br />
Indexati<strong>on</strong> formula (22.6+16.75+14.50)/3<br />
Total 17.95<br />
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882. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree states explicitly that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fair price excludes:<br />
(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> market price or value;<br />
(2) any influence or impact deriving from public or private investment in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area; and<br />
(3) expected rental value from uses scheduled under territorial or urban development<br />
plans.<br />
883. The decree is designed to minimize as far as possible <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amount payable to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s<br />
expropriated, who suffer not <strong>on</strong>ly from having to leave <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> building but also from being<br />
unable to acquire a building <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> similar value with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amount paid in compensati<strong>on</strong>, which<br />
does not take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> market value into account. Refusing to c<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> market value means<br />
ignoring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>etary value that a society operating under a system <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> supply and demand<br />
assigns to a product at any given moment. The new system does away with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
“negotiati<strong>on</strong>” <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a fair price and replaces it by compulsory acquisiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> asset; even <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
possibility that formerly existed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> appealing to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice to set a fair<br />
price when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties c<strong>on</strong>cerned cannot agree no l<strong>on</strong>ger exists. The decree’s inclusi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
this provisi<strong>on</strong> means that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> price paid for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expropriated building is determined<br />
exclusively by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expropriating party. Imposing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> price through administrative channels<br />
(which may apply for any building at all) violates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to private property, is<br />
tantamount to c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong> and is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore unc<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al. if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> indexing does not take<br />
into account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> building’s potential rental value, enterprises will tend not to go ahead with<br />
expansi<strong>on</strong> projects that involve its acquisiti<strong>on</strong>, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> l<strong>on</strong>g-term return <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project is<br />
directly linked to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> building in which it is to take place. The new legal arrangement thus<br />
also violates ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 144, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela, FEDECAMARAS, was not<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sulted and since it severely restricts <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic freedom and freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
884. Of course, it is impossible to say at this stage what repercussi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new legislative<br />
decrees issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic – <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three decrees liable to<br />
have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> greatest impact <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s employer sector have been analysed here – will<br />
have <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> normal operati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s employers.<br />
New Presidential decree <strong>on</strong> minimum wage increases<br />
885. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s allege that Presidential Decree No. 8920 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 24 April 2012<br />
approving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> increase in minimum wages for 2012 was promulgated <strong>on</strong> 27 April, <strong>on</strong>ce<br />
again without any c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
886. In 2012, without c<strong>on</strong>vening <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Tripartite <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, as required explicitly by<br />
articles 167, 168 and 169 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Organic Labour Act that was still in force at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
increase in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum wage for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> year was made <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> People’s Ministry Of<br />
Labour and Social Security sent FEDECAMARAS communicati<strong>on</strong> No. 1179 dated<br />
16 March and received by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 20 March, giving it just 15 days to express its<br />
views <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fixing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mandatory minimum wage. The communicati<strong>on</strong> was an attempt<br />
to claim <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> setting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum wage for 2012,<br />
whereas in fact it violated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basic rights and guarantees, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to a legal defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both physical and to pers<strong>on</strong>s (articles 3 and 4), as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
very structure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a criminal code based <strong>on</strong> subjective resp<strong>on</strong>sibility. The law also<br />
establishes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> joint and several resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprises (article 16),<br />
likewise <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir objective criminal resp<strong>on</strong>sibility, and thus violates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right<br />
to freedom and to all c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al guarantees. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree establishes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprises’ objective criminal resp<strong>on</strong>sibility for acts attributable to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
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dependents, which is a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>s as<br />
well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir individual rights and guarantees. As fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree violates<br />
all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights and guarantees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprises, article 22 claims<br />
competency to c<strong>on</strong>duct criminal investigati<strong>on</strong>s into administrative pers<strong>on</strong>nel not attached<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Judiciary. Yet according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Enabling Act any issue as crucial as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> increase in<br />
minimum wages has to be properly discussed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
887. As FEDECAMARAS has repeatedly noted in complaints presented to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO for more<br />
than ten years, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela has failed to comply with this legal requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fixing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum wage.<br />
888. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Organic Act <strong>on</strong> Labour and Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is now not<br />
menti<strong>on</strong>ed at all. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> annual increase in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum wage <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act merely<br />
states (article 129): “After due c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Executive shall each year fix <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
minimum wage by decree. In doing so it shall c<strong>on</strong>duct a broad c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> views <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various social organizati<strong>on</strong>s and socio-ec<strong>on</strong>omic instituti<strong>on</strong>s”. As can be seen, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new<br />
Act omits any requirement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative employers’ and workers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s should be c<strong>on</strong>sulted, referring merely to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “broad c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>” <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> various<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
889. The preambular paragraphs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Presidential Decree No. 8920 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 24 April 2012 c<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum wage increase for 2012 (Official Gazette No. 39908 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 27 April 2012) states<br />
explicitly that “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela has endorsed and ratified ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 26, 95 and 100 c<strong>on</strong>cerning minimum wage fixing, protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wages<br />
and equal remunerati<strong>on</strong> for men and women for work <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> equal value, respectively”.<br />
890. Notwithstanding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s cited as a basis for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presidential<br />
decree stipulate that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s must be c<strong>on</strong>sulted,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela c<strong>on</strong>tinues to ignore this provisi<strong>on</strong><br />
as it relates to minimum wage fixing, in so far as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no genuine social dialogue <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
subject but, by way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> lip service to this requirement, a mere communicati<strong>on</strong> giving very<br />
little time for a reply which does not c<strong>on</strong>form to nati<strong>on</strong>al and internati<strong>on</strong>al standards and is<br />
in blatant violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 26 and 144.<br />
Costs and Fair Prices Act<br />
891. The complainants allege that during 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>tinued to adopt price c<strong>on</strong>trol<br />
measures under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Costs and Fair Prices Act (Presidential Decree) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 18 July 2011, which<br />
was again issued under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Enabling Act without due c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social partners.<br />
This was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amplified complaint presented to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
Director-General <strong>on</strong> 20 February 2012.<br />
892. According to article 1 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act it is designed to establish regulati<strong>on</strong>s and administrative<br />
and m<strong>on</strong>itoring machinery for maintaining stable prices. For this purpose it creates a<br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Integrated Cost/Price System whose purpose, am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r things, is to “identify<br />
ec<strong>on</strong>omic agents that set excessively high prices in terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> services <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fer or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
products <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y sell”. Given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s insecure investment<br />
climate and its galloping inflati<strong>on</strong> caused by unc<strong>on</strong>trolled public expenditure, this would<br />
suggest that it is to become a police State which, instead <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> punishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> real irregularities<br />
that occur because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> speculative practices <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certain ec<strong>on</strong>omic agents, will carry out ex<br />
ante investigati<strong>on</strong>s into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> financial situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all Venezuelan entrepreneurs in order to<br />
fix <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prices <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir products.<br />
893. A new bureaucratic instituti<strong>on</strong> is to be set up that will attempt to establish a system for<br />
supervising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whole producti<strong>on</strong>, marketing and distributi<strong>on</strong> chain <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> every kind <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> goods<br />
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or services. And a new Nati<strong>on</strong>al Price Register <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Goods and Services is to be added to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
large number that enterprises already have to cope with, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Cost/Price Department. Registrati<strong>on</strong>, which according to article 10 is to be<br />
compulsory, will be required for certain administrative formalities vis-à-vis <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State.<br />
894. The Department established under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act will be able to fix prices that it c<strong>on</strong>siders “fair”,<br />
based <strong>on</strong> informati<strong>on</strong> supplied by enterprises and its own cost structure review. Price<br />
setting depends <strong>on</strong> so many factors that this process will end up being quite arbitrary,<br />
because in practice it is impossible to assess <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cost structure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all Venezuelan<br />
enterprises and all available products fast enough to set <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir price causing a negative<br />
impact <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> availability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> goods for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public. The cost structure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any product<br />
changes c<strong>on</strong>stantly and can be affected by a variety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> factors, and so <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y have to be<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stantly revised. In most cases bodies that are set up to regulate prices are highly<br />
specialized in each sector <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are c<strong>on</strong>cerned with and each regulates a specific group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
products and services. This calls for a very large staff. But <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new law is not c<strong>on</strong>cerned<br />
with regulating a basket <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> products; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same procedure may be applied to any product,<br />
and this will entail a l<strong>on</strong>g-drawn-out process that will encourage <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> growth <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
discreti<strong>on</strong>ary powers and generate a great deal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal uncertainty for producers and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sumers alike. In o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r words, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prime object <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, which is to protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
populati<strong>on</strong>, will prove to be unattainable in practice; faced with such an uncertain situati<strong>on</strong><br />
enterprises will be inclined to reduce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir output, and this which in turn will cause<br />
shortages <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulated products and ultimately penalize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> populati<strong>on</strong> and, fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r down<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> line, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprises’ workers whose jobs will thus be threatened.<br />
895. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act renders <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> private property subject to nati<strong>on</strong>al security and<br />
sovereignty and to public utility and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general and social interest. Article 46, for instance,<br />
provides for enterprises to be sancti<strong>on</strong>ed by temporary occupati<strong>on</strong>, a penalty that already<br />
exists under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pers<strong>on</strong>s in Access to Goods and Services Act (INDEPABIS).<br />
896. It is clear from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whole set <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Costs and Fair Prices Act,<br />
which has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rank, value and force <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, places severe restricti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
citizens to engage in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir chosen ec<strong>on</strong>omic activity, as provided for in article 112 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, and will steadily whittle away free enterprise, entrepreneurship and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al rights and guarantees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan people as a whole. In any case, as<br />
with all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r legislative initiatives referred to here as having implicati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
activity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promulgati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act should first have complied with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al, legal and internati<strong>on</strong>al requirement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> or tripartite dialogue.<br />
897. Since February 2012 a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> products saw <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir maximum price regulated first in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
“regular” form and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir “premium” form, regardless <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m<br />
come in anything from 100 to 300 different versi<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
898. Although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> companies’ manufacturing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> goods were asked for financial details, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
maximum prices set by SUNDECOP, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Costs and Prices Department’s<br />
regulatory body, were based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unit cost without any allowance for o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r costs such as<br />
advertising, taxati<strong>on</strong>, etc. Once prices have been set, companies can submit observati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and ask for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prices to be revised (see Costs and Just Prices Act in Official Gazette<br />
No. 39715 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 18 July 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regulati<strong>on</strong>s made under Presidential Decree No. 8563 in<br />
Official Gazette No. 39802 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 17 November 2011, and SUNDECOP’s Ruling No. 007 in<br />
Official Gazette No. 39805 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 22 November 2011).<br />
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899. Obviously, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s failure to c<strong>on</strong>sult <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s not <strong>on</strong>ly before promulgating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act but also before its implementati<strong>on</strong><br />
(when not even <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprises affected by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measure were c<strong>on</strong>sulted <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> maximum<br />
prices for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir products) eventually had repercussi<strong>on</strong>s impact <strong>on</strong> producti<strong>on</strong> and in many<br />
cases resulted in shortages, as has happened with such basic products as milk, meat, oil,<br />
corn flour, etc.<br />
900. On 7 March 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Commerce and Services Council (CONSECOMERCIO), a<br />
trade associati<strong>on</strong> affiliated to FEDECAMARAS, applied to have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Costs and Just Prices<br />
Act repealed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that it violated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic freedom and free enterprise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector as provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>. The appeal is currently before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice.<br />
Penal Law <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment<br />
901. This law, which was approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly <strong>on</strong> 16 December 2011 (likewise<br />
without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector being c<strong>on</strong>sulted) establishes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cept <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> objective criminal<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both physical and juridical pers<strong>on</strong>s (articles 3 and 4), in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
minimum rights and guarantees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual freedom and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to a judicial<br />
defence in a court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very structure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal law, founded as it is <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
noti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> subjective resp<strong>on</strong>sibility. Moreover, again <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> objective criminal<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibility and again in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al guarantees, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
law provides for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> joint and several resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprises (article 16). It also<br />
declares that enterprises are objectively resp<strong>on</strong>sibility under criminal law for all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir dependents, which is a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to individual freedom and freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights and guarantees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all pers<strong>on</strong>s and associati<strong>on</strong>s. Yet ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law violates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights and guarantees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> individuals and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enterprises is article 22, which empowers administrative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials who are not members<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Judiciary to c<strong>on</strong>duct criminal investigati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Attempt to remove FEDECAMARAS as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’<br />
representative in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Venezuela’s delegati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 101th Sessi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour C<strong>on</strong>ference<br />
902. In deciding <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> compositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s employers’<br />
delegati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 101th Sessi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour C<strong>on</strong>ference in Geneva,<br />
Switzerland, from 30 May to 15 June 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> People’s Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour and Social<br />
Security attempted to replace FEDECAMARAS as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leader <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> delegati<strong>on</strong>. By<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> No. 34/2012 dated 4 May 2012, FEDECAMARAS was invited to a<br />
meeting at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <strong>on</strong> 8 May, al<strong>on</strong>g with o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, to pick <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
delegate and technical adviser(s) who would attend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> annual sessi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>ference.<br />
903. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting, after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry had received an applicati<strong>on</strong> to be designated most<br />
representative employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong> in a communicati<strong>on</strong> from FEDECAMARAS dated<br />
24 April 2012, some o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s announced that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y too had<br />
submitted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own applicati<strong>on</strong> and rejected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposal that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y be represented by<br />
FEDECAMARAS. This positi<strong>on</strong> was adopted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Manufacturers,<br />
Enterprises and Micro-enterprises (COBOIEM), which proposed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’<br />
delegate be Fanny Suárez <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDEINDUSTRIA, who in turn proposed a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> technical<br />
advisers that included Miguel Valderrama, FEDEINDUSTRIA’s Vice-President. During<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting, and without any formal communicati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Entrepreneurs<br />
for Venezuela (EMPREVEN) proposed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> delegati<strong>on</strong> be led by its own<br />
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representative, Keyla de la Rosa. Subsequently, at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> invitati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representative from<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry and after a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discussi<strong>on</strong>s at which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS were not present, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aforementi<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
minority employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Agricultural and<br />
Livestock Workers (CONFAGAN), all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom were present at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting, stated that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y had reached agreement <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> designati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> delegate and technical advisers and<br />
withdrew <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir earlier applicati<strong>on</strong>s. CONFAGAN proposed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer delegate be<br />
Miguel Valderrama, Vice-President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDEINDUSTRIA; his proposal was sec<strong>on</strong>ded by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r organizati<strong>on</strong>s apart from FEDECAMARAS, as noted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minutes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
meeting (as if, added toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country could<br />
claim majority representati<strong>on</strong>). The said organizati<strong>on</strong>s also proposed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own<br />
representatives as technical advisers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>ference, separately from those <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
FEDECAMARAS.<br />
904. After this proposal had been made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parallel organizati<strong>on</strong>s and at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ministry, which FEDECAMARAS challenged in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO as not being representative,<br />
FEDECAMARAS placed <strong>on</strong> record, at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meeting <strong>on</strong> 8 May 2012 and in a<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> from its President to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry dated 9 May 2012, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong><br />
refused to accept that a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> minority employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong> should lead <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
delegati<strong>on</strong> and accordingly c<strong>on</strong>firmed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> designati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its delegati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> posts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employer delegate and technical advisers as per its communicati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry dated<br />
24 April 2012, insisting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y could not be replaced by representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
which were not more representative and which could <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore <strong>on</strong>ly attend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>ference<br />
as observers.<br />
905. During <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 101st Sessi<strong>on</strong> (2012) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour C<strong>on</strong>ference FEDECAMARAS<br />
presented a complaint to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Credentials <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> because, even though <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> candidate<br />
proposed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r organizati<strong>on</strong>s eventually declined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leadership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> delegati<strong>on</strong><br />
which was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore undertaken by FEDECAMARAS, five technical advisers, four special<br />
guests and 11 o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r pers<strong>on</strong>s representing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parallel organizati<strong>on</strong>s also attended <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>ference, that is, 20 people who were not members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most<br />
representative employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela.<br />
Eventually, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry included five technical advisers and a special guest in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
delegati<strong>on</strong> in additi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leader.<br />
906. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s employer delegati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
101st Sessi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>ference, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Credentials <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, as <strong>on</strong> previous occasi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
when an attempt has been made to remove <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> delegati<strong>on</strong> or reduce its<br />
participati<strong>on</strong>, decided in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s most representative<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
907. The membership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s employer delegati<strong>on</strong> has in<br />
fact been discussed again and again in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO and for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> past 68 years <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has never<br />
been any doubt about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong> being <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative organizati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
country’s employer sector. FEDECAMARAS covers every branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s<br />
13 macroec<strong>on</strong>omic sectors: agriculture, banking, c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, energy, fishing, industry,<br />
mining, insurance, social media, telecommunicati<strong>on</strong>s, trade, tourism and transport (see<br />
article 31 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong>’s statutes). It also has a regi<strong>on</strong>al representati<strong>on</strong> in every state in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country through with hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> affiliated Chambers, as has been clearly<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strated to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>ference’s Credentials <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> again and again. No o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country has been able to claim any comparable<br />
representativity and, in its third report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>100th Sessi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>ference in 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>ference <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> stated that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan Government had not dem<strong>on</strong>strated to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>ference, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> objective and verifiable criteria, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representativeness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
any organizati<strong>on</strong> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than FEDECAMARAS, even <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government technical<br />
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assistance in defining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant criteria. Similarly, in a decisi<strong>on</strong> handed down at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
17th American Regi<strong>on</strong>al Meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO <strong>on</strong> 17 December 2010, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Credentials<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> stated that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> participatory democracy<br />
principle did not corresp<strong>on</strong>d to criteria for c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> drawn from principles established<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO and ruled that, that being so, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presence was required <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> greatest representativeness.<br />
908. On several occasi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry has maintained that a delegati<strong>on</strong> can comprise more than<br />
<strong>on</strong>e organizati<strong>on</strong>, but for that to happen <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r organizati<strong>on</strong>s have to prove that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are<br />
as representative as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y claim if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are to be recognized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO as being am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
most representative. This kind <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> mixed delegati<strong>on</strong> can <strong>on</strong>ly be justified when more than<br />
<strong>on</strong>e organizati<strong>on</strong> can dem<strong>on</strong>strate fully to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO that it is equally representative, and this<br />
is not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representativeness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r organizati<strong>on</strong>s, even when all added toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, is in no way equivalent or similar to that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS which, as already menti<strong>on</strong>ed, covers all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Venezuelan ec<strong>on</strong>omy, has regi<strong>on</strong>al organizati<strong>on</strong>s in every state in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country and has<br />
hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chambers directly or indirectly affiliated to it.<br />
909. The facts described above illustrate clearly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan Government’s intenti<strong>on</strong> to<br />
restrict FEDECAMARAS exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights and freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> at<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> annual Sessi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO C<strong>on</strong>ference, in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87.<br />
910. All this points yet again to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue and restricti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> whereby <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan Government has violated ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 26,<br />
87 and 144. In doing so threatens <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> independent employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s, especially that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s most representative<br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>, which was not c<strong>on</strong>sulted prior to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
government measures referred to above, and this has had serious repercussi<strong>on</strong>s not just for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer sector but for all Venezuelan workers. The issues raised here <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore call<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO’s immediate attenti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
911. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s request <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to urge <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela to hold tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s to decide <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dates<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> planned High-level Missi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
C. The Government’s reply<br />
912. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 15 October 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that it has already<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>ded in detail to many <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> points that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants are raising <strong>on</strong>ce again and<br />
that it c<strong>on</strong>firms every <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its previous replies to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO’s supervisory body. Its<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tains a detailed summary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government can say <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
subject; in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> brevity, it <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore presents its partial observati<strong>on</strong>s, while<br />
reserving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to c<strong>on</strong>tinue resp<strong>on</strong>ding to each <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> points separately.<br />
913. The Government begins with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following statement:<br />
(a) This case is linked to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High-level Missi<strong>on</strong> that was agreed up<strong>on</strong> in March 2011 and<br />
whose visit to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country has been held up for reas<strong>on</strong>s outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trol, as noted in informati<strong>on</strong> documents submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 312th (November 2011),<br />
313rd (March 2012) and 316th (November 2012) Sessi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body.<br />
Specifically, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE took advantage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this complaint at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body Sessi<strong>on</strong><br />
in November 2010 to request <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 26 against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela as a matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> urgency. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body<br />
Sessi<strong>on</strong> in February 2011 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government agreed that a High-level Tripartite Missi<strong>on</strong><br />
could visit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country to verify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> points that were still pending with regard to Case<br />
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No. 2254. However, although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> missi<strong>on</strong> was approved 18 m<strong>on</strong>ths ago it has twice<br />
been postp<strong>on</strong>ed for reas<strong>on</strong>s outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s c<strong>on</strong>trol. Abiding strictly by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body’s decisi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has maintained c<strong>on</strong>tact with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office,<br />
collaborated fully <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case, made itself c<strong>on</strong>stantly available, set precise dates,<br />
presented a timetable for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> visit, made logistical arrangements, etc. Despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body’s decisi<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s willingness, however, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> missi<strong>on</strong><br />
has twice been postp<strong>on</strong>ed. On both occasi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has respectfully<br />
accepted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> postp<strong>on</strong>ement.<br />
(b) With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cattle-breeder Franklin Brito,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Agroisleña SA company, Owen – Illinois and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Turbio steelworks, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government recalls that in its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants to send comments <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> and statements sent<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject. It <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore explicitly requests that, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has not received those comments, it state unequivocally that it does not<br />
intend to pursue its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s and that it has c<strong>on</strong>cluded its<br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters at hand. The Government makes this request so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> can maintain <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uniformity, c<strong>on</strong>sistency and<br />
transparency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases that come before it, as it did in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
face <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant in Cases Nos 2674 (paras 1160<br />
and 1165) and 2727 (paras 1179 and 1190(d)) in its 360th <strong>Report</strong> (June 2011).<br />
(c) The Government <strong>on</strong>ce again draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>’s<br />
attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that sufficient grounds do not exist for an objective and impartial<br />
study <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s, and that vague and imprecise accusati<strong>on</strong> cannot be admitted<br />
when, instead <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> being c<strong>on</strong>ducive to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resoluti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> disputes between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>forming to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s fundamental purpose, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are resp<strong>on</strong>sible for<br />
delays in procedure and give rise to unfounded rulings against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government.<br />
(d) Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to review carefully <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s that has been admitted as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> joint IOE and FEDECAMARAS<br />
complaint, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y refer to matters to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has sufficiently<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>ded and are <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore not an extensi<strong>on</strong> but a repetiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
914. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abducti<strong>on</strong> and maltreatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS leaders Noel Álvarez,<br />
Luis Villegas, Ernesto Villamil and Albis Muñoz, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that it has all<br />
ready replied extensively <strong>on</strong> this matter and has taken appropriate acti<strong>on</strong>, as stated in<br />
paragraphs 1257–1263 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s 359th <strong>Report</strong> (March 2011) and paragraph 1304<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 363th <strong>Report</strong> (March 2012). It has supplied <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same informati<strong>on</strong> and details to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s in its<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> No. 340/2010 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1 December 2010, which has been duly registered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ILO’s Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Standards and was referred to by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts in<br />
c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87 in <strong>Report</strong> III (Part IA) to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>ference in 2011<br />
[page 195].<br />
915. In paragraph 1328 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its 363rd <strong>Report</strong> (March 2012) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expresses “its grave<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cern that according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspects have not been identified by Ms Albis<br />
Muñoz as being resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> charges do not include attempted<br />
homicide and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wounding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers leaders”. The Government has already stated<br />
with regard to this unfortunate incident, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>demned from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
outset, that it was originally presumed that five perpetrators were involved and that details<br />
had been supplied <strong>on</strong> each <strong>on</strong>e. That being so, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is a major c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, since <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e hand it says that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> two pers<strong>on</strong>s were not recognized by<br />
Ms Muñoz but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n it goes <strong>on</strong> to express c<strong>on</strong>cern that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were not charged with<br />
attempted murder and causing her bodily harm.<br />
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916. Such a c<strong>on</strong>tradictory analysis is surprising. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first place, although Ms Muñoz did not<br />
recognize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor c<strong>on</strong>sidered that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong><br />
had provided sufficient evidence to charge <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s accused <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> robbing her. When <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> makes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statement referred to, is it c<strong>on</strong>testing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s<br />
charged committed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ft? Does it have any evidence that some o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r pers<strong>on</strong>s were<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incident?<br />
917. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has <strong>on</strong>ce again acted outside its mandate, since it is not<br />
competent in criminal matters and cannot tell a Government whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r or not a pers<strong>on</strong><br />
should face criminal charges following an investigati<strong>on</strong>, which is strictly a matter for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
country’s judiciary. It would be interesting to hear why <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, when it expresses<br />
doubts as to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorship <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime without any grounds for doing so, is c<strong>on</strong>vinced it<br />
knows what charges should be brought against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s in custody. Ought <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> not explain its grounds for such a c<strong>on</strong>tradictory statement?<br />
918. It is worth repeating what <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has already stated, namely, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
has no competence in criminal matters and has <strong>on</strong>ce again g<strong>on</strong>e bey<strong>on</strong>d its mandate by<br />
making such false statements, as if its members were judges, and, even worse, by issuing a<br />
ruling without knowing anything about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial proceedings.<br />
919. The Government appeals to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> to stop exceeding<br />
its mandate, to stop passing judgement <strong>on</strong> matters it knows nothing about and, above all, to<br />
stop commenting <strong>on</strong> penal procedures being c<strong>on</strong>ducted by a country’s own instituti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s judicial system will charge <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people involved in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incident with whatever crimes are appropriate, depending <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> evidence that comes<br />
to light in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings.<br />
920. Notwithstanding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, and in order <strong>on</strong>ce again to clarify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> circumstances, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government requested informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor, who replied that, regarding<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case in which Ant<strong>on</strong>io José Silva Moyega and Jaror Manjares have been charged with a<br />
criminal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11th Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Instance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Judicial Circuit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Metropolitan Caracas set a public hearing for 22 October 2012. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong>, three o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r pers<strong>on</strong>s were presumed to have been implicated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incident,<br />
but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor has stated that no evidence has so far come to light<br />
allowing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir involvement to be established bey<strong>on</strong>d doubt. Moreover, <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerned was killed in a c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>tati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police in 2010.<br />
921. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong> ordered into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public statements made by Noel Álvarez,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office recently stated that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong> was in its preparatory<br />
stage and that it was taking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary steps to clarify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incident and determine who<br />
was resp<strong>on</strong>sible. The Government repeats that it is for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial bodies to clarify<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong>, hand down <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rulings and determine who, if any<strong>on</strong>e, was resp<strong>on</strong>sible for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incident. The matter does not come within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mandate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
922. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> events that allegedly occurred at FEDECAMARAS headquarters in 2007,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong>ce again finds itself obliged to reject <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s subjective<br />
appreciati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> circumstances as being irresp<strong>on</strong>sible and, by referring to an<br />
“envir<strong>on</strong>ment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> harassment and lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public authorities [that] is not<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducive to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed lodging <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ... <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial complaints”, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> being disrespectful. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s partial and subjective appreciati<strong>on</strong>, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government rejects<br />
categorically, calls into questi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very instituti<strong>on</strong>s, authorities and Judiciary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela. The leaders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS systematically use <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
media as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> political strategy which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong>’s executive body pursues as an<br />
oppositi<strong>on</strong> facti<strong>on</strong>. The Government challenges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to produce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> slightest<br />
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evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any incident at FEDECAMARAS’ headquarters in 2007 that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan<br />
people are unaware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>. The Government states clearly and emphatically that it is not for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to cast doubt <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proceedings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s<br />
judicial authorities, which are objective, transparent, entirely lawful and devoid <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
subjectivity and partisan interests dem<strong>on</strong>strated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>. The Government insists<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> show proper respect and objectivity in dealing with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s<br />
instituti<strong>on</strong>s and public authorities and trusts that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re will be no repetiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its<br />
disrespectful, irresp<strong>on</strong>sible and subjective proceedings and judgements. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government wishes to remind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> that, in its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case,<br />
it asked FEDECAMARAS to lodge an <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial complaint with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s<br />
Office and <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> informed it that, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants did not comply with its<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>, it would not pursue its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r. The<br />
Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore expressly requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to rule <strong>on</strong> this point and to reject<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong>ce and for all, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants have not presented any complaint<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor. In doing so, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> will be<br />
acting with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objectivity and lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> prejudice that is required <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> it and will be complying<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its own recommendati<strong>on</strong> in paragraph 1358 (c) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its 363th <strong>Report</strong><br />
(March 2012).<br />
923. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incidents that took place at FEDECAMARAS <strong>on</strong> 24 February 2008, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office has informed it that criminal charges<br />
have been brought against Crisóstomo M<strong>on</strong>toya G<strong>on</strong>zález for public intimidati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> false identity papers and against Iv<strong>on</strong>ne Gioc<strong>on</strong>da Márquez Burgos, his accomplice,<br />
for public intimidati<strong>on</strong> prejudicial to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> community. The 28th Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Instance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Judicial Circuit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Metropolitan Caracas agreed <strong>on</strong> 5 September 2012 to set a<br />
new date for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public hearing, following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> defence’s request for postp<strong>on</strong>ement, and a<br />
new hearing was scheduled for 30 October 2012.<br />
924. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> La Bureche farm and Eduardo Gómez Sigala, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>firms<br />
its previous replies <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject and will send fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r details when it receives <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m from<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> specialized body resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strategic agro-ecological rescue plan for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Turbio Valley. Meanwhile, it is important that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
understand clearly that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> farm has underg<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rescue procedure laid down in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Land<br />
and Agrarian Development Act, as explained previously. The Government categorically<br />
rejects and explicitly denies <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unsubstantiated allegati<strong>on</strong> presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE and<br />
FEDECAMARAS that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> farm is “a military training centre”.<br />
925. The Government would like <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to explain how a feature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s agrarian<br />
development policy to recover land and prevent arable areas from being used for urban<br />
development, which applies equally to all Venezuelan citizens, can c<strong>on</strong>stitute a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>? The fact that Gómez Sigala is or has been a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
FEDECAMARAS does not dispense him from complying with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, unless it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>tenti<strong>on</strong> that a trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists is not subject to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law. Gómez Sigala is a<br />
deputy in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislative power), which is unequivocal pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that<br />
his trade uni<strong>on</strong> and political activities have never been restricted. Can <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
explain why it believes that, in Gómez Sigala’s particular case and not in o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs where it<br />
has been implemented, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Land and Agrarian Development Act is a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>. Is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> aware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act, which it was previously<br />
sent?<br />
926. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases involving lands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Egildo Luján, Vicente Brito, Rafael Marcial<br />
Garmendia and Manuel Cipriano Heredia, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that it is impossible to<br />
discount <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are granted fair compensati<strong>on</strong> without delay and to initiate a frank<br />
dialogue with those affected and with FEDECAMARAS <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong>s/rescues<br />
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referred to and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attacks <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> buildings owned by Mr Carlos<br />
Sequera Yépez, former President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS. On this point <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
states that all acquisiti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> property carried out by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State for purposes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public utility<br />
or social interest c<strong>on</strong>fer an entitlement to due payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fair compensati<strong>on</strong> in accordance<br />
with article 115 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>. The procedure laid down stipulates that all<br />
acquisiti<strong>on</strong>s are preceded by a c<strong>on</strong>ciliatory stage for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties to agree <strong>on</strong> a price for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
property being acquired by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State. Where no agreement as possible, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter is<br />
submitted to a competent tribunal to set a fair price.<br />
927. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instances referred to by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> and in all o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r instances, that has been <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
procedure followed. Is it to be understood from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s insistence that<br />
compensati<strong>on</strong> be paid “without delay” that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerned renounce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right to<br />
have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fair price <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> property set by a tribunal and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y accept <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> price fixed by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State? If that is so, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government would appreciate being informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its decisi<strong>on</strong> in<br />
writing.<br />
928. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged attack <strong>on</strong> buildings owned by Carlos Sequera Yépez, no such<br />
incident has been reported by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police or by any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r instituti<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian<br />
Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject.<br />
929. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bipartite and tripartite social dialogue with<br />
FEDECAMARAS, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s new allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval without any tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws that affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>ded specifically to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE and urges it to do so without delay.<br />
Moreover, observing Moreover, observing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> serious shortcomings in social dialogue<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinue to exist, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reiterates its earlier recommendati<strong>on</strong>. The Government<br />
states that c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> all laws passed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela are<br />
held with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire populati<strong>on</strong> and with social organizati<strong>on</strong>s. Moreover, some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
FEDECAMARAS’ members are deputies in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vast<br />
majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws are discussed. Laws approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Enabling Act adopted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly have also been preceded by public<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>. The C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela provides for a<br />
referendum to revoke any laws that are approved without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requisite support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
populati<strong>on</strong>. FEDECAMARAS, however, has boycotted many <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s or has<br />
limited itself to rejecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m outright in declarati<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> media, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law<br />
has been promulgated in an effort to prevent it from being passed. The Federati<strong>on</strong>’s policy<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> opposing any form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n saying that has not been c<strong>on</strong>sulted has been<br />
its strategy ever since 1998, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan people opposed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government backed<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> and amended labour laws without c<strong>on</strong>sulting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people and in<br />
defiance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> historical rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s workers.<br />
930. The Government recalls that a High-level Tripartite Missi<strong>on</strong> has been scheduled to visit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
country for 18 m<strong>on</strong>ths to verify that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> broadest possible c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong><br />
machinery for approving its law, but that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> missi<strong>on</strong> has twice been postp<strong>on</strong>ed at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE. The most firmly established employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian<br />
Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela participate in all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> procedures <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se laws, usually<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excepti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS for strictly political reas<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
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931. The new C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1999 restored all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ rights that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
had been infringing between 1993 and 1998, whereup<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s members, acting<br />
as if it was a political body, started to campaign against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>. They were,<br />
however, defeated, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> was approved in a referendum by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people.<br />
932. In 2002 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> publicly and infamously fomented a<br />
coup d’état against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>ally elected President and for 40 hours installed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS as de facto President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Bolivarian Republic Venezuela took to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> streets and restored c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al order.<br />
933. This is why today any menti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2002 evokes painful<br />
memories in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan people and is associated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’<br />
and human rights. It is also why <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r laws refer to a broad social<br />
dialogue that transcends <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> so-called tripartite dialogue restricted to an elite that is<br />
divorced from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s social movements; in this new social dialogue all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social<br />
actors are involved in every decisi<strong>on</strong> through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>s or directly through<br />
assemblies.<br />
934. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged discriminati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities against FEDECAMARAS and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> favouritism vis-à-vis parallel organizati<strong>on</strong>s close to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government and<br />
lacking in independence, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reiterates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, recommendati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
principles c<strong>on</strong>tained in its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
to reply in detail to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> financing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> parallel organizati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> favouritism vis-à-vis EMPREVEN and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “social producti<strong>on</strong> companies” and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
discriminati<strong>on</strong> against private companies. The Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no<br />
discriminati<strong>on</strong> whatsoever against any employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>. Ever since it was founded<br />
in 1999, FEDECAMARAS benefited from favouritism and financial and political support<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government which excluded and grossly discriminated against o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country, some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which still exist and can testify to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact. The<br />
Government indicates that, prior to 1999, every employer had to bel<strong>on</strong>g to a chamber that<br />
was affiliated to FEDECAMARAS in order to have access to State loans, c<strong>on</strong>tracts or<br />
purchases. This discriminatory and anti-uni<strong>on</strong> policy was abolished by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong><br />
that was approved by referendum in 1999, since when employers are free to join any<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y wish and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir affiliati<strong>on</strong> or n<strong>on</strong>-affiliati<strong>on</strong> is not a requirement for<br />
engaging in an activity with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State.<br />
935. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>’s reference to an alleged financing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
EMPREVEN has absolutely no basis in fact. The document to which it refers c<strong>on</strong>cerns<br />
resources that are granted to social producti<strong>on</strong> enterprises through that organizati<strong>on</strong>, as is<br />
quite clear from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> document itself. There is no evidence whatsoever to indicate that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
resources were for financing EMPREVEN.<br />
936. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sending <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> electr<strong>on</strong>ic mails between<br />
senior <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and parallel employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> calls <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to verify without delay with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> senior <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials c<strong>on</strong>cerned whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r or not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir representatives sent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electr<strong>on</strong>ic mail attached to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s depositi<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
Government states emphatically that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> would<br />
appear not to have read its reply <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter; it <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore feels obliged <strong>on</strong>ce again to refer<br />
to paras 1323 and 1324 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s 363th <strong>Report</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> March 2012 in which it is<br />
reproduced. Once more <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government rejects and repudiates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s attempts to give<br />
credence to electr<strong>on</strong>ic mail that emanates nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government nor from any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its<br />
representatives.<br />
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937. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is ill advised to “call <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to verify without delay with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
senior <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials c<strong>on</strong>cerned whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r or not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir representatives sent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electr<strong>on</strong>ic<br />
mail attached to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s depositi<strong>on</strong>” as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> circumstances are obvious from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
paragraphs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its 363rd <strong>Report</strong> referred to above, unless <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> simply wishes to<br />
delay matters. If it wanted to act coherently, juridically, objectively and in keeping with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
basic legal principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> burden <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>, it would ask <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE to explain where it dug<br />
up, forged or invented <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> so-called electr<strong>on</strong>ic mail involving government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials. Given<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has already denied <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any such mail, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> burden <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
lies with IOE to defend its allegati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
938. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> should realize that it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE that it must ask<br />
to explain this delicate matter, since ascribing this electr<strong>on</strong>ic mail to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
(which <strong>on</strong>ce again emphatically denies that it emanated from any government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial or<br />
representative) is such a serious accusati<strong>on</strong> as to have criminal implicati<strong>on</strong>s. The case is<br />
especially serious because it seeks to incriminate <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s diplomatic<br />
representatives, who has categorically denied any knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> email, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government can <strong>on</strong>ly assume emanates from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE. It is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE to provide<br />
a full explanati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, which warns that it reserves<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to take any appropriate legal acti<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter<br />
939. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Political Sovereignty and Nati<strong>on</strong>al Self-Determinati<strong>on</strong> Bill, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> calls <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure respect for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed principle as<br />
regards internati<strong>on</strong>al financial assistance to workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s so that,<br />
if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bill does indeed apply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures without delay to<br />
amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bill (or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act) so as to guarantee explicitly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ and<br />
workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s to receive internati<strong>on</strong>al financial assistance without prior<br />
authorizati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities for activities related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promoti<strong>on</strong> and defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members. The Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spirit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bill is not to<br />
prevent any organizati<strong>on</strong> from receiving financing for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> promoti<strong>on</strong> and defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its<br />
affiliates, since if that is what <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> funds are for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no reas<strong>on</strong> to hide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir origin or<br />
how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were used to promote <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir affiliates. The purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future<br />
law is to prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> financing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> political activity – or, worse still, clandestine activities –<br />
by certain organizati<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> detriment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r organizati<strong>on</strong>s, as a form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong><br />
aimed at excluding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m and promoting <strong>on</strong>e set <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> opti<strong>on</strong>s against ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r. The<br />
Government states that it will take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO’s observati<strong>on</strong>s into account in drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
future law.<br />
940. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central Planning Commissi<strong>on</strong> Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government recalls that, in its<br />
previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relati<strong>on</strong>ship between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98 and stated that, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y did not<br />
do so by its next meeting, it would not pursue its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s any<br />
fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r. The Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore explicitly requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to rule <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter<br />
and, if it has not received <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> it requested from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
that it decide not to pursue its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r. It makes this<br />
request so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> can maintain can maintain <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uniformity, c<strong>on</strong>sistency and<br />
transparency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases that come before it, as it did in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> face <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant in Cases Nos 2674 (paras 1160 and 1165)<br />
and 2727 (paras 1179 and 1190(d)) in its 360th <strong>Report</strong> (June 2011).<br />
941. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 February 2012 c<strong>on</strong>cerning an alleged<br />
absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> in legislative matters (Security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employment Decree,<br />
Organic Labour and Workers Act, Costs and Fair Prices Act, Penal Law <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>ment), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government provides <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
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exhorts <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> not to allow government bodies be discredited without a proper<br />
reas<strong>on</strong> for doing so.<br />
942. The Security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employment Decree is a legal measure introduced under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ferred <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic to protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working class and<br />
individual workers from any arbitrary acti<strong>on</strong> by private sector employers. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
capitalist system unemployment is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bane <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working class and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore used by<br />
certain big employers to trample <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers underfoot by denying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m social benefits<br />
and violating all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rights and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> itself. The purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree is to<br />
protect workers’ rights as a fundamental means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> promoting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> welfare <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a just and peace-loving society. The Government categorically rejects<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public declarati<strong>on</strong>s by FEDECAMARAS spokespers<strong>on</strong>s against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree, which<br />
originated precisely in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> events surrounding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> coup d’état <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> April 2002 and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ec<strong>on</strong>omic sabotage between December 2002 and February 2003 in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CTV,<br />
FEDECAMARAS and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r sectors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bourgeoisie openly participated by dismissing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> some 100,000 workers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> private sector. The fundamental objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree is<br />
to guarantee security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment and to protect workers from employers who use<br />
unjustified dismissal as a means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> punishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir political, class-c<strong>on</strong>scious and<br />
revoluti<strong>on</strong>ary views.<br />
943. As to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Organic Labour and Workers Act <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that, pursuant to<br />
Decree No. 8661 published in Official Gazette No. 39818 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 December 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
President established a <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> committee to draft a new Act redefining labour relati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> a<br />
just and balanced basis according to guidelines that are appropriate to a social state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law<br />
and justice in which workers are <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> counterpart to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir employer. On 1 May saw a new,<br />
revoluti<strong>on</strong>ary Organic Labour and Workers Act was promulgated in whose drafting a<br />
committee composed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all sectors – workers, peasants, employers,<br />
Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Judiciary and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislature – had participated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> single objective<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> presenting a Bill that reflects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> will <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people, is an expressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> community<br />
interests and respects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> intangible and progressive nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
944. The new law is a syn<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ten years <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly meetings with various<br />
sectors. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> six m<strong>on</strong>ths preceding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law’s promulgati<strong>on</strong> al<strong>on</strong>e, over 19,000 proposals<br />
were submitted directly to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to be studied and debated publicly. It was this<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structive nati<strong>on</strong>al debate that gave rise to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Labour and Workers Act.<br />
945. The new Act shows that <strong>on</strong>ly through social dialogue is it possible to establish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws<br />
and labour relati<strong>on</strong>s that our countries so desperately need, laws that fully respect human<br />
rights. Thanks to direct dialogue with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir employers it leaves possible in<br />
it was possible to draft a law that was heralded by every<strong>on</strong>e even before its promulgati<strong>on</strong><br />
and has been a key element in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sustained ec<strong>on</strong>omic development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country and in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unemployment to under 8 per cent, thus … <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> gloomy forecasts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> closed<br />
enterprises and high unemployment and dem<strong>on</strong>strating that guaranteeing and protecting<br />
workers’ rights are fundamental to a countries ec<strong>on</strong>omic stability.<br />
946. The Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela is an example <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’<br />
rights and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, collective bargaining and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to<br />
strike, where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> family is protected by extending women’s entitlement to postnatal leave<br />
to 6 m<strong>on</strong>ths and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a child’s parents is established until he or<br />
she is two years’ old.<br />
947. The Organic Labour and Workers Act does away with child labour, prohibits outsourcing,<br />
shortens <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working week to 40 hours, guarantees employment security for all workers,<br />
grants equal workers’ rights to domestic workers and c<strong>on</strong>solidates a social security system<br />
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whose coverage includes n<strong>on</strong>-dependent workers and which recognizes women’s work as<br />
homemakers.<br />
948. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s social welfare system pensi<strong>on</strong>s are equal to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum wage. Enterprises are required to provide traineeships and apprenticeships to<br />
stimulate youth employment. The fundamental rights and historic struggles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working<br />
class that were denied by capitalism and unbridled globalizati<strong>on</strong> are now recognized.<br />
949. This is a far cry both from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> former law, which had been imposed by closed and<br />
discriminatory form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite that prevailed in 1997, and from ec<strong>on</strong>omic models that<br />
today are causing structural crises and a marked regressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> earlier working-class<br />
attainments.<br />
950. The Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela provides clear evidence that social dialogue with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social actors must be direct so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y cannot be blackmailed by self-serving group<br />
interests, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective welfare must be guarded against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> manipulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> individual<br />
groups and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al objective must be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> advancement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ rights, because<br />
labour is fundamental to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> achievement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a peace-loving society.<br />
951. As <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Vice-Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour stated in plenary at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 101st Sessi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Labour C<strong>on</strong>ference, “this was a nati<strong>on</strong>al, a magnificent, a c<strong>on</strong>structive debate that gave<br />
rise to a revoluti<strong>on</strong>ary Labour and Workers Act that was penned by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves and signed by our President, Hugo Chávez. It left aside those who chose not to<br />
take part in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public debate, those prop<strong>on</strong>ents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> old-style tripartism who claim for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves a representativity that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y no l<strong>on</strong>ger possess and a voice in public affairs that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y do not deserve”.<br />
952. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Costs and Fair Prices Act <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government emphasizes that it is designed to<br />
favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan people. The law stems from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need to prevent speculati<strong>on</strong>, a<br />
recurrence phenomen<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela that has severely affected<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> price <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certain products in recent years. The Act sets out to reduce speculati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
hoarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> basic commodities – <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main cause <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inflati<strong>on</strong> – by regulating, administering,<br />
m<strong>on</strong>itoring and c<strong>on</strong>trolling prices. The price adjustments are based <strong>on</strong> a survey <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
producti<strong>on</strong> processes, transport and storage, so as to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> manufacturers do not<br />
lose m<strong>on</strong>ey but do not speculate <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people’s basic needs ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r. The Act has many<br />
advantages:<br />
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It establishes price c<strong>on</strong>trols for enterprises whose pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>its are excessive in terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cost structure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> goods <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y produce or market and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> services <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y provide.<br />
It identifies ec<strong>on</strong>omic agents that demand excessive prices for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> services or<br />
products <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y provide.<br />
It establishes exchange criteria that are fair.<br />
It encourages fair prices by providing a mechanism for calculating real costs and<br />
expenditure.<br />
It promotes administrative practices that are based <strong>on</strong> equity and social justice.<br />
It increases ec<strong>on</strong>omic efficiency, a decisive factor in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> producti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> goods and<br />
services to meet people’s needs.<br />
It helps to raise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> standard <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> living <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan people.<br />
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It facilitates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inserti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan ec<strong>on</strong>omy at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regi<strong>on</strong>al and internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
level by promoting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> integrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Latin America and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Caribbean and by<br />
defending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s ec<strong>on</strong>omic and social interests.<br />
It provides <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> obtaining informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> technical criteria for following up<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sumers’ complaints <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> speculati<strong>on</strong> and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r irregular practices that hamper <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
access to goods and services.<br />
953. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Penal Act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment, and notably<br />
articles 3, 4, 16 and 22, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government makes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following points to dem<strong>on</strong>strate how<br />
important <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act is for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al agreements and for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lifegiving<br />
envir<strong>on</strong>ment itself:<br />
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Article 3: criminal resp<strong>on</strong>sibility. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> envir<strong>on</strong>mental crimes, penal<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibility is an objective criteri<strong>on</strong> based <strong>on</strong> an administrative standard. Criminal<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibility is determined by pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, not by pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
culpability.<br />
Article 4: criminal resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> juridical pers<strong>on</strong>s. Juridical pers<strong>on</strong>s are<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir acti<strong>on</strong>s or omissi<strong>on</strong>s if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime entails <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
standards or provisi<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>tained in laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, resoluti<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r general or specific administrative rules that are compulsory.<br />
Article 16: joint resp<strong>on</strong>sibility. Juridical pers<strong>on</strong>s are held jointly and severally<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y enter into an agreement whereby <strong>on</strong>e carries out a specific piece <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
work for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> or for use by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r and whose implementati<strong>on</strong> results in<br />
risks or damage to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> envir<strong>on</strong>ment or to natural resources.<br />
Article 22: criminal investigati<strong>on</strong> bodies. Officials identified in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act to establish a<br />
Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigati<strong>on</strong> Department as well as in special laws and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong>s made under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m are empowered to c<strong>on</strong>duct criminal investigati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
into envir<strong>on</strong>mental crimes. They include:<br />
(1) technical and administrative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>itoring and c<strong>on</strong>trol<br />
activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ministry c<strong>on</strong>cerned with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> envir<strong>on</strong>ment, for all envir<strong>on</strong>mental<br />
issues;<br />
(2) technical and administrative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>itoring and c<strong>on</strong>trol<br />
activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ministries c<strong>on</strong>cerned with energy, petrol, mines, health,<br />
agriculture, housing and infrastructure, for matters coming within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir purview;<br />
(3) technical and administrative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials resp<strong>on</strong>sible for m<strong>on</strong>itoring and c<strong>on</strong>trol in<br />
areas under special administrative authority;<br />
(4) competent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> governorships and mayoral <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fices, within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir sphere <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
competence.<br />
954. The Government goes <strong>on</strong> to state that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spirit, purpose and objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act is to<br />
prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ecological equilibrium or against any species<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> envir<strong>on</strong>ment. The Act comes under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s criminal jurisdicti<strong>on</strong> and, as such,<br />
lists certain acti<strong>on</strong>s that are punishable in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> specific domain <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> envir<strong>on</strong>ment. The Act<br />
provides for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preservati<strong>on</strong> and protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s natural resources and for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
welfare <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> populati<strong>on</strong>, which is part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s basic mandate.<br />
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955. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that it is completely unaware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any link between this Act<br />
and C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98 with which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is c<strong>on</strong>cerned. It <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore<br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to explain that link explicitly or to insist that any allegati<strong>on</strong><br />
presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s be related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose, mandate and purview<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> and be duly supported by evidence.<br />
956. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 24 May 2013, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government refers to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s in<br />
relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Enabling Act c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> new legislative decrees <strong>on</strong><br />
ec<strong>on</strong>omic and social affairs issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic. The Government<br />
states that FEDECAMARAS is a civil associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> entrepreneurs, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which<br />
are <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a political and n<strong>on</strong>-trade uni<strong>on</strong> nature. The enabling Act was passed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Assembly with an overwhelming majority and was called into questi<strong>on</strong> by political sectors<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> oppositi<strong>on</strong> who voted against its approval, which is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir right.<br />
957. N<strong>on</strong>e<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, for strictly political reas<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> political sectors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> oppositi<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tinued<br />
to c<strong>on</strong>test this Act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occasi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any activity or fact that occurred in its framework.<br />
For instance, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> elaborati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> several decrees issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President<br />
during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period for which he was empowered to do so, various organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
life interested in submitting proposals and recommendati<strong>on</strong>s were c<strong>on</strong>sulted, but political<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> oppositi<strong>on</strong> refrained from participating. FEDECAMARAS, which<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r reflects political positi<strong>on</strong>s than pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al interests, declined to participate<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong> menti<strong>on</strong>ed above. Thus, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s view, it is absurd for<br />
FEDECAMARAS to argue that it was not c<strong>on</strong>sulted <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se issues, when in reality it<br />
refused to participate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> debate and to present proposals or recommendati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
958. As for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged shifting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS when establishing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> delegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 101st annual C<strong>on</strong>ference <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that, every year <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occasi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> celebrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour C<strong>on</strong>ference, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry for Labour and Social Security calls a<br />
meeting with various business organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country to discuss and agree <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
formati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ representati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> delegati<strong>on</strong> attending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>ference. The<br />
Government emphasizes that it respects and promotes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> democratic principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Bolivarian resoluti<strong>on</strong>. Therefore, while not negating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS, it<br />
also recognizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, regardless <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
political positi<strong>on</strong>, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y illustrate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing political pluralism in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country. The<br />
Government has never and will never negate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
but it also has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligati<strong>on</strong> not to allow for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disavowal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
959. As to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Presidential Decree <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minimum Wage Increases<br />
(2012), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that, during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period 1991–99, a Nati<strong>on</strong>al Tripartite<br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong> was set up, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> duty <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>, inter alia, annually revising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
minimum wage. Throughout this period, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum wage was raised <strong>on</strong>ly twice in nine<br />
years, in exchange for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eliminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r workers’ rights such as social benefits. The<br />
new C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> approved by referendum <strong>on</strong> 15 December 1999 establishes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> obligati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State to review and fix annually <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al minimum wage, i.e. through a<br />
mechanism over and above <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> political interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic elite. In this framework,<br />
at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beginning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> each year, at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, or in some cases <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
own initiative, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social, ec<strong>on</strong>omic and trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s submit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir views and<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fixing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al minimum wage. All proposals are received<br />
and analysed, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are presented individually by those organizati<strong>on</strong>s or as a result<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> joint meetings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> several organizati<strong>on</strong>s. However, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> annual fixing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
minimum wage is a c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al guarantee, it is not permitted to exchange, like <strong>on</strong> a<br />
market, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> setting and value <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum wage against o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r labour rights or claims.<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
D. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
960. Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (a). Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abducti<strong>on</strong> and maltreatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS<br />
leaders Noel Álvarez, Luis Villegas, Ernesto Villamil and Albis Muñoz (Employer member<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter being wounded by three bullets, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> in its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case deplored <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences that were<br />
committed, emphasized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir seriousness and requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
steps within its power to arrest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r three pers<strong>on</strong>s involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abducti<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
wounding, and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
noted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that a public hearing had been scheduled for<br />
20 October 2011 and expressed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hope that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s guilty <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes would so<strong>on</strong><br />
be c<strong>on</strong>victed and sentenced in proporti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seriousness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences in order that<br />
such incidents would not be repeated and requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in<br />
that respect. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same time, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> noted with c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s statement in its<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> that Ms Albis Muñoz, employers’ leader and <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
aggressi<strong>on</strong>, had asserted that nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspects arrested (Ant<strong>on</strong>io José Silva Moyega<br />
and Jas<strong>on</strong> Manjares) were <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instigators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aggressi<strong>on</strong>, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s<br />
reservati<strong>on</strong>s as to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> idea that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> motive <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aggressi<strong>on</strong> was car <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ft<br />
961. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e hand, states <strong>on</strong>ce again that<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very outset it c<strong>on</strong>demned this incident in which five perpetrators were allegedly<br />
involved and, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r hand, draws attenti<strong>on</strong> to a major c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, since it says that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> two pers<strong>on</strong>s were not recognized by<br />
Ms Muñoz but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n goes <strong>on</strong> to express c<strong>on</strong>cern that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were not charged with attempted<br />
murder and causing this employers’ leader bodily harm. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> informs <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> four employer’s leaders, <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom, Albis Muñoz,<br />
received three gunshot wounds, fully justifies <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>cern and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government has not informed it <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any charges having been brought for causing bodily<br />
harm or attempted murder. C<strong>on</strong>trary to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s asserti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s<br />
expressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cern does not exceed its mandate but testifies to its critical assessment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong> into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wounding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an employer’s leader by bullets.<br />
962. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s<br />
Office has informed it that two pers<strong>on</strong>s, Ant<strong>on</strong>io José Silva Moyega and Jaror Manjares,<br />
are being held in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incident and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11 th Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Instance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Judicial Circuit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Metropolitan Caracas ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir public hearing to be<br />
held <strong>on</strong> 22 October 2012. Three o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r pers<strong>on</strong>s were menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigati<strong>on</strong> as being implicated, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Prosecutor’s Office has stated that so far no<br />
evidence has been found establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir involvement with any degree <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certainty and<br />
that <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> three died in a c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>tati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> police in 2010.<br />
963. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is not such as to<br />
dispel <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cerns it expressed in its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case and it <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore<br />
reiterates its previous recommendati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
964. Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (b). Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal investigati<strong>on</strong> ordered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor’s Office into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public declarati<strong>on</strong>s by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS, Noel<br />
Álvarez, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s Office recently informed it<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong> was at a preparatory stage, which implies that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Prosecutor’s<br />
Office is making <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary enquiries to clarify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incident and determine<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities, and that it is for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial bodies and not for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> to do so. In its previous examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
noted that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> declarati<strong>on</strong>s did not in its opini<strong>on</strong> appear to c<strong>on</strong>tain any<br />
criminal c<strong>on</strong>tent and should not normally have given rise to a criminal investigati<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
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handed down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities (Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial<br />
authority) in this case.<br />
965. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged bomb attack <strong>on</strong> FEDECAMARAS headquarters <strong>on</strong> 24 February<br />
2008, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor has informed it that: (1) criminal charges were brought against Crisóstomo<br />
M<strong>on</strong>toya G<strong>on</strong>zález for public intimidati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> false identity papers and against<br />
Iv<strong>on</strong>ne Gioc<strong>on</strong>da Márquez Burgos, his accomplice, for public intimidati<strong>on</strong> prejudicial to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> community; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 28th Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> First Instance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Judicial Circuit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Metropolitan Caracas agreed <strong>on</strong> 5 September 2012 to set a new date for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
hearing following a request by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> defence for its postp<strong>on</strong>ement, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new hearing was<br />
scheduled for 30 October 2012. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> stresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators<br />
being sancti<strong>on</strong>ed in a manner commensurate with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes committed and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong> receiving compensati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> losses and damage resulting from<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se illegal acts. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is waiting to be informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sentence handed down.<br />
966. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence committed against FEDECAMARAS and its<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> again draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental<br />
principle that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s can be exercised <strong>on</strong>ly in<br />
a climate free <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence, intimidati<strong>on</strong> and fear, as such situati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> insecurity are<br />
incompatible with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87.<br />
967. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ leader Eduardo Gómez Sigala and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
La Bureche farm, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>firms its earlier<br />
replies and states that it will send fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r details. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also takes note that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government categorically denies <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE and FEDECAMARAS that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
farm is a military training centre. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has not<br />
denied that this uni<strong>on</strong> leader has not received compensati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his<br />
farm. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s argument that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law applies to an<br />
employers’ leader (who is, moreover, a deputy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly) in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same way<br />
as it applies to any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r citizen and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government w<strong>on</strong>ders why <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case is<br />
classified as a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that it has<br />
already twice examined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this allegati<strong>on</strong>, refers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to its<br />
previous c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s and recalls that it is competent to examine acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong><br />
against employers’ leaders. It recalls, moreover, that when it is alleged that an act is<br />
prejudicial to an employers’ or workers’ leader it applies <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reversal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> burden <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> and that it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s resp<strong>on</strong>sibility to dem<strong>on</strong>strate<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incident had nothing to do with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ leader or with his activities in that<br />
capacity. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tinues to await <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter<br />
and requests it <strong>on</strong>ce again to return Eduardo Gómez Sigala’s farm to him without delay<br />
and to compensate him fully for all damages resulting from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> farm by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities.<br />
968. Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (k). The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
electr<strong>on</strong>ic mail communicated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE was not sent by any government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial or<br />
representative. As to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged financing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> parallel organizati<strong>on</strong>s, favouritism towards<br />
EMPREVEN and “social producti<strong>on</strong> enterprises” and discriminati<strong>on</strong> against private<br />
enterprises, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been no such discriminati<strong>on</strong> against any<br />
employer’s organizati<strong>on</strong> whatsoever. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
supposed financing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> EMPREVEN is completely unfounded, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> document to which<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> refers has to do with resources granted to social producti<strong>on</strong> enterprises that<br />
went through EMPREVEN in its capacity as administrator, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> document itself<br />
indicates, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no evidence whatsoever that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resources are for funding<br />
EMPREVEN itself..<br />
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969. Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (i). Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong> (“rescue”, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> farms owned by employers’ leaders Egildo Luján, Vicente Brito,<br />
Rafael Marcial Garmendia and Manuel Cipriano Heredia, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sidered that<br />
it is impossible to discount <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are granted fair compensati<strong>on</strong> without delay and to initiate<br />
a frank dialogue with those affected and with FEDECAMARAS <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong>s/rescues referred to and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
also requested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attacks <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> buildings<br />
owned by Carlos Sequera Yépez, former President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS.<br />
970. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that no reference to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged<br />
attack <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> buildings owned by Carlos Sequera Yépez, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> former President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
FEDECAMARAS, has been found in any report by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also<br />
notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that all Venezuelan state acquisiti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> property <strong>on</strong><br />
grounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public utility or social interests entitle <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir former owner to due payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
fair compensati<strong>on</strong>, as provided for in article 115 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> established<br />
procedure in all such acquisiti<strong>on</strong>s is that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re should be a c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> stage for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
parties to agree <strong>on</strong> a price for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> property being acquired by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State and that, where no<br />
agreement as possible, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter is submitted to a competent tribunal to set a fair price.<br />
971. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government does not provide any informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> frank<br />
dialogue that it had requested it to enter into with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> four employers’ leaders c<strong>on</strong>cerned<br />
and, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government refers <strong>on</strong>ly in general terms to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedure in cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
“rescue” without indicating whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fair compensati<strong>on</strong> has been decided<br />
<strong>on</strong>, it must <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore reiterate its earlier recommendati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government <strong>on</strong>ce again to provide informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject, to engage in a frank<br />
dialogue with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interested parties and with FEDECAMARAS and to grant <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interested<br />
parties fair compensati<strong>on</strong> without delay.<br />
972. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE and FEDECAMARAS<br />
regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> compositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s employers’<br />
delegati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 101th Sessi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour C<strong>on</strong>ference, in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Federati<strong>on</strong>’s greater representativeness was challenged, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
reply. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> informs <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> compositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> delegati<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>ference is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Credentials <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, which has repeatedly ruled<br />
in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> will <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore not examine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
though it notes that it raises an issue which c<strong>on</strong>firms <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
in this report.<br />
973. Recommendati<strong>on</strong> (j) (social dialogue). The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> numerous<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE and FEDECAMARAS regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
persistent rejecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> and social dialogue with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ and workers’<br />
representative organizati<strong>on</strong>s and its c<strong>on</strong>tinuing disregard <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s. The complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s have linked <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dialogue and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
legal steps taken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities to a serious increase in unemployment, ec<strong>on</strong>omic<br />
problems and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> difficulty for enterprises to c<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir business and note that between<br />
2002 and 2012 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> private employers dropped by 35.5 per cent and that<br />
217,204 employers closed down.<br />
974. The complainants, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir allegati<strong>on</strong>s, reiterate that, despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> keenness that<br />
FEDECAMARAS has dem<strong>on</strong>strated in recent m<strong>on</strong>ths to promote genuine social dialogue<br />
and tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela, no such developments<br />
have taken place. In some cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has merely c<strong>on</strong>vened at its own discreti<strong>on</strong><br />
specific private sectors o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than FEDECAMARAS, which is widely recognized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ILO as being <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country; in o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> is a mere formality that does not allow time to reply, or else <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> views <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
independent social partners c<strong>on</strong>sulted are simply ignored. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
<strong>on</strong> yet o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r occasi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r been no c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> whatsoever or else it has been<br />
held just with a few hand-picked organizati<strong>on</strong>s that support <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government. The<br />
complainants allege that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se incidents violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and Protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite C<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong><br />
(Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour Standards) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1976 (No. 144), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minimum Wage-<br />
Fixing Machinery C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1928 (No. 26), all ratified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Venezuela, The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants point out that, since January<br />
2011, 52 legislative decrees <strong>on</strong> crucial issues have been issued without c<strong>on</strong>sulting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
representative employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s and without any citizens’ participati<strong>on</strong> or open<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decrees have harmed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omy and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
functi<strong>on</strong>ing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> private enterprises, which have faced discriminati<strong>on</strong> and sancti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
975. Taking into account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presidential decrees, whose<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>ality <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s challenge as going bey<strong>on</strong>d <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mandate<br />
and issues initially agreed to (deriving from a natural disaster caused by heavy rainfall),<br />
are set out in detail in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> will <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore highlight here just<br />
some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> points alleged by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s, namely: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decree <strong>on</strong><br />
security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment was promulgated without any c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eleventh year<br />
running and now applies to all workers except those at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> management level, those in<br />
positi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trust, temporary and casual workers and public <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Organic<br />
Labour Act (which, to be qualified as “organic” should have been approved by a twothirds<br />
majority in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly) was drafted by a Presidential <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
authorities and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r pers<strong>on</strong>s linked to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government (for instance, a representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
FEDEINDUSTRIA but not <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS or <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ representative<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s). According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Act places additi<strong>on</strong>al ec<strong>on</strong>omic and<br />
political burdens <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> private sector, introduces pris<strong>on</strong> sentences o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> state enterprises, provides for a damaging system <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> retroactivity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
social benefits for seniority, institutes workers’ councils al<strong>on</strong>gside trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, requires<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong>s to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Register with a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members and imposes its guidelines<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, etc.; moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act does away with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Tripartite <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong><br />
Minimum Wages; (2) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Organic Act <strong>on</strong> Community Management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Skills, Services and<br />
O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Attributes and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act to Promote and Regulate New Forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State are subject to government guidelines and are designed to promote or extend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
socialist model by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> widespread centralizati<strong>on</strong> and state c<strong>on</strong>trol <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omy,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> granting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> special advantages to entrepreneurial associati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State and<br />
discriminati<strong>on</strong> against o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r enterprises; (3) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Decree to Determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fair<br />
Price <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Real Estate for Housing Purposes in Cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Emergency is designed to minimize<br />
as far as possible <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> amount payable to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>s expropriated by ignoring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> market<br />
value and violating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to private ownership; (4) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new presidential decree <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
minimum wage, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s, introduces <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cept <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> objective criminal<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibility to renders enterprises resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir dependence and<br />
gives administrative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials powers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>; (5) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Costs and Fair Prices Act<br />
entails a l<strong>on</strong>g-drawn-out and laborious process that may be applied to any product at all<br />
so as to c<strong>on</strong>trol <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> chain <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> producti<strong>on</strong>, marketing and distributi<strong>on</strong> and so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Department set up for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose can fix <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> maximum prices that it c<strong>on</strong>siders “fair”, and<br />
provides for sancti<strong>on</strong>s such as temporary occupati<strong>on</strong>; (6) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Penal Act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>ment is c<strong>on</strong>trary to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very structure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> penal law based <strong>on</strong> subjective as opposed<br />
to objective resp<strong>on</strong>sibility.<br />
976. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government c<strong>on</strong>firms its previous replies and states that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s are not an extensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint but a repetiti<strong>on</strong>. On<br />
this point <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to point out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new allegati<strong>on</strong>s refer to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> new presidential legislative decrees.<br />
256 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
977. In additi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that FEDECAMARAS is a civil associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
entrepreneurs <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which are <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a political nature, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong>: (1) that all laws in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela are<br />
subject to broad c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire populati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social organizati<strong>on</strong>s; that<br />
some members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS are deputies in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly, where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> great<br />
majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws are discussed; that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> populati<strong>on</strong> was also c<strong>on</strong>sulted <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws<br />
approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic under an Enabling Act adopted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Assembly; and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela provides for a<br />
referendum to revoke any laws that are approved without <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requisite support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
populati<strong>on</strong>; (2) that FEDECAMARAS chose not to take part in many <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and restricted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its views to outright rejecti<strong>on</strong> in statements it made to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
media, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act was published in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> belief that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong> could prevent it<br />
from being approved; FEDECAMARAS’s attitude <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> opposing any form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong><br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n saying that it has not been invited to take part has been its strategy since 1998<br />
when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela rose against a Government<br />
backed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, which without any c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> had amended labour<br />
laws and trespassed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> historical rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela’s<br />
working class; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dominant employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country take part in all<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> legislati<strong>on</strong>, in most cases with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excepti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS for<br />
strictly political reas<strong>on</strong>s; (3) that any menti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tripartite <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those years<br />
(from 1991 to 1999, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum wage was raised <strong>on</strong>ly twice) brings back painful<br />
memories for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan people and is associated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’<br />
and human rights and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> coup d’état <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2002; that that is why <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
laws refer to a broad social dialogue which transcends so-called tripartite dialogue that is<br />
restricted to an elite divorced from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country’s social movements, as all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social actors<br />
are involved in every decisi<strong>on</strong> through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>s or directly through assemblies;<br />
(4) that, as to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s regarding presidential decrees issued under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Enabling<br />
Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> should not allow government bodies to be discredited without a proper<br />
reas<strong>on</strong> for doing so; and (5) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government receives and analyses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> views and<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social and ec<strong>on</strong>omic organizati<strong>on</strong>s with respect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum wage.<br />
978. Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Political Sovereignty and Nati<strong>on</strong>al Self-Determinati<strong>on</strong> Bill<br />
calling <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure respect for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles governing internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
financial assistance to workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s (so that, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bill does<br />
indeed apply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, it can take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures without delay to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bill<br />
(or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act) and thus guarantee explicitly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ and workers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s to receive internati<strong>on</strong>al financial assistance for activities involving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
promoti<strong>on</strong> and defence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government’s statement that it is not in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spirit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act to prevent any organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
from receiving funding to promote and defend its members since, if that were so, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<br />
would be no reas<strong>on</strong> to c<strong>on</strong>ceal <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> source <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> funds and how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were used “to promote<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members”; according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> object <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bill is to<br />
prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> financing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> political or, worse, clandestine activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certain<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> detriment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs, in a discriminatory and exclusive manner that is<br />
designed to favour some opti<strong>on</strong>s over o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s<br />
statement that it will take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO’s observati<strong>on</strong>s into account in drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future Act.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> hopes to be able to note progress <strong>on</strong>ce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> has been adopted.<br />
979. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following statements by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government:<br />
(1) The purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Employment Decree is to protect workers’ rights as a<br />
fundamental means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> promoting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> welfare <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
just and peace-loving society, to guarantee workers’ security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment and to<br />
protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m from employers who use unjustified dismissal as a means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> punishing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir political, class-c<strong>on</strong>scious and revoluti<strong>on</strong>ary views.<br />
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(2) As to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Organic Labour and Workers Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers participated in a<br />
committee composed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all sectors – workers, peasants, employers,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Judiciary and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislature – with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> single objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
presenting a Bill that would reflect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> will <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people, be an expressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
community interests and respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> intangible and progressive nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’<br />
rights under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Act is a syn<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 10 years <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Assembly meetings with various sectors, and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> six m<strong>on</strong>ths preceding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law’s<br />
promulgati<strong>on</strong> over 19,000 proposals were submitted directly to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> committee to be<br />
studied and debated publicly; this was a nati<strong>on</strong>al and c<strong>on</strong>structive debate, a direct<br />
dialogue with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers; according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act c<strong>on</strong>solidates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
fundamental rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers, does away with child labour, prohibits outsourcing,<br />
shortens <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working week to 40 hours, guarantees employment security for all<br />
workers, grants equal workers’ rights to domestic workers and c<strong>on</strong>solidates a social<br />
security system whose coverage includes n<strong>on</strong>-dependent workers and which<br />
recognizes women’s work as homemakers; it requires enterprises to provide<br />
traineeships and apprenticeships to stimulate youth employment and reclaims <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
fundamental rights and historic struggles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working class that were denied by<br />
capitalism and unbridled globalizati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
(3) The purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Costs and Fair Prices Act is to regulate, administer, m<strong>on</strong>itor and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trol prices in order to put an end to speculati<strong>on</strong> and hoarding, which is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> main<br />
cause <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inflati<strong>on</strong> in Venezuela; a study was first carried out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> producti<strong>on</strong> processes,<br />
transport and storage in order to ensure that enterprises would not lose m<strong>on</strong>ey in<br />
manufacturing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir products but that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would not speculate <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> needs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
people, ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act introduces prior c<strong>on</strong>trol mechanisms for enterprises whose<br />
pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>its are excessive in terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cost structure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> goods <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y produce or<br />
market or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> services <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y provide; it identifies ec<strong>on</strong>omic agents who demand<br />
excessive prices for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> services or products <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fer; it establishes exchange<br />
criteria that are fair; it provides <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> obtaining informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> technical<br />
criteria for following up c<strong>on</strong>sumers’ complaints <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> speculati<strong>on</strong> and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r irregular<br />
practices that hamper <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir access to goods and services, etc.<br />
(4) The Penal Act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment is crucial to Venezuela’s compliance with<br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al agreements and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> life-giving envir<strong>on</strong>ment itself; it introduces <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>cept <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> objective penal resp<strong>on</strong>sibility for envir<strong>on</strong>mental crimes as well as an<br />
administrative standard whereby resp<strong>on</strong>sibility is determined by pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an<br />
infringement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, not by pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> culpability; it renders juridical pers<strong>on</strong>s<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir acti<strong>on</strong>s or omissi<strong>on</strong>s if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime entails <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
standards or rules c<strong>on</strong>tained in administrative or legislative provisi<strong>on</strong>s; juridical<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>s are held jointly and severally resp<strong>on</strong>sible if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y enter into an agreement<br />
whereby <strong>on</strong>e carries out a specific piece <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> work for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> or for use by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r and whose implementati<strong>on</strong> results in risks or damage to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> envir<strong>on</strong>ment or to<br />
natural resources; investigati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers identified by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Scientific, Penal and<br />
Criminal Investigati<strong>on</strong> Department and in special laws and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong>s made<br />
under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m are empowered inter alia to c<strong>on</strong>duct criminal investigati<strong>on</strong>s into<br />
envir<strong>on</strong>mental crimes; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act provides for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preservati<strong>on</strong> and protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
country’s natural resources and for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> welfare <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> populati<strong>on</strong>; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
explicitly requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to explain what <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act<br />
have to do with its mandate. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> informs <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s allege that FEDECAMARAS was not c<strong>on</strong>sulted, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> this and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r laws is discriminatory and that, from its<br />
standpoint, its wording is unfair and prejudicial.<br />
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980. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to point out that it is not called up<strong>on</strong> to rule <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
laws and legislative decrees that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s claim have been adopted<br />
without FEDECAMARAS being c<strong>on</strong>sulted, even though it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative<br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>, unless <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y c<strong>on</strong>tain provisi<strong>on</strong>s that c<strong>on</strong>stitute a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers’ and employers’ trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights, discriminati<strong>on</strong> between organizati<strong>on</strong>s or<br />
favouritism vis-à-vis certain organizati<strong>on</strong>s or have been drafted without any tripartite<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>. That said, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> substance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws and<br />
decrees under examinati<strong>on</strong> do affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government has not sent it a timetable <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with FEDECAMARAS <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
numerous laws and presidential decrees adopted in recent years and it <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore does not<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> argument c<strong>on</strong>cerning FEDECAMARAS’ so-called self-exclusi<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> process to be justified. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> regrets that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Tripartite <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> Minimum Wages has not been maintained in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Organic<br />
Labour Act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that its functi<strong>on</strong>ing and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2002 coup d’état were<br />
reprehensible in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1990s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cludes that social dialogue with employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s has c<strong>on</strong>tinued to deteriorate, especially as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enabling acts that give<br />
rise to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issuance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> new presidential decrees without FEDECAMARAS being involved<br />
even though <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Federati<strong>on</strong>’s interests and are adopted independently <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Parliament. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is examining this matter, al<strong>on</strong>g with a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tained in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Organic Labour and Workers Act in this report, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
case (Case No. 2968).<br />
981. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to draw <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that it has <strong>on</strong> many<br />
occasi<strong>on</strong>s emphasized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance that should be attached to full, frank,<br />
comprehensive, detailed and unfettered c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> taking place with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most<br />
representative workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> matters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> comm<strong>on</strong> interest,<br />
including matters relating to working c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s and any legislati<strong>on</strong> or measure relating to<br />
those c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, as well as any draft labour legislati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has repeatedly<br />
stressed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties c<strong>on</strong>cerned must make a sufficient effort to reach, as far as<br />
possible, soluti<strong>on</strong>s that are acceptable to all. It has also drawn attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance<br />
that c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s take place in good faith and mutual trust and respect and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
parties have sufficient time to express <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir views and discuss <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m in full with a view to<br />
reaching a suitable compromise [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006, paras 1065–1088; see also, for<br />
example, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 353th <strong>Report</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, Case No. 2254 (Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Venezuela), para. 1381].<br />
982. That being so, and observing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grave shortcomings in matters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social dialogue –<br />
especially with FEDECAMARAS – and its deteriorati<strong>on</strong> in recent years, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
reiterates its earlier recommendati<strong>on</strong>s as follows:<br />
– Deeply deploring that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has ignored its recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to establish a high-level joint nati<strong>on</strong>al committee in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> assistance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO, to examine every <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s and issues in this<br />
case so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems can be solved through direct dialogue. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusts<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will not postp<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures any<br />
fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r and urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard.<br />
– The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that a forum for social dialogue will be established in<br />
accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO, with a tripartite compositi<strong>on</strong> that duly<br />
respects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representativeness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard and invites it to<br />
request technical assistance from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
<strong>on</strong>ce again to c<strong>on</strong>vene <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite commissi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> minimum wages provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Organic Labour Act.<br />
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– Observing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are still no structured bodies for tripartite social dialogue, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes <strong>on</strong>ce more <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance that should be attached to full and<br />
frank c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> taking place <strong>on</strong> any questi<strong>on</strong>s or proposed legislati<strong>on</strong> affecting trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> rights and that it is essential that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> introducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft legislati<strong>on</strong> affecting<br />
collective bargaining or c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment be preceded by detailed c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative independent workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure that any legislati<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning labour, social and ec<strong>on</strong>omic issues adopted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Enabling<br />
Act be first subjected to genuine, in-depth c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative<br />
independent employers’ and workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, while endeavouring to find shared<br />
soluti<strong>on</strong>s wherever possible.<br />
– The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed with regard to social<br />
dialogue and any bipartite or tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s in sectors o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than food and<br />
agriculture, and also with regard to social dialogue with FEDECAMARAS and its<br />
regi<strong>on</strong>al structures in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various branches <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> formulati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic and social policy and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws that affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
– The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure that as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its policy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inclusive<br />
dialogue (including within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Assembly), FEDECAMARAS is duly c<strong>on</strong>sulted<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any legislative debate that may affect employers’ interests, in a manner<br />
commensurate with its level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> representativeness.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply deplores that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has <strong>on</strong>ce again ignored <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
recommendati<strong>on</strong> despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has been insisting <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m for years.<br />
983. With regard to its earlier recommendati<strong>on</strong>s (g), (h) and (m) requesting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s for informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Planning Commissi<strong>on</strong> Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s regarding<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> livestock farmer Franklin Brito and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expropriati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Agroisleña SA, Owen –<br />
Illinois and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Orinoco steel plant, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government points<br />
out that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requested informati<strong>on</strong> has not been received and, invoking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>sistency with o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r cases, requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to c<strong>on</strong>sider that it has c<strong>on</strong>cluded its<br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> will not pursue its examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r.<br />
984. Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> High-level<br />
Tripartite Missi<strong>on</strong> approved in March 2011, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government agreed could look into<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues that were still pending with regard to Case No. 2254, has twice been postp<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
for reas<strong>on</strong>s outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s c<strong>on</strong>trol. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is str<strong>on</strong>gly <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> view that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Missi<strong>on</strong> should take place in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> near future and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office to c<strong>on</strong>tact <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to that effect. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Missi<strong>on</strong> should be able to<br />
make a c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> to resolving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems raised.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
985. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing interim c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abducti<strong>on</strong> and maltreatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS leaders<br />
Noel Álvarez, Luis Villegas, Ernesto Villamil and Albis Muñoz (Employer<br />
member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter being wounded by<br />
three bullets, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> – which had taken note that two <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspects<br />
had been arrested – deplores <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences that were committed, emphasizes<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir seriousness and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to take all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> steps within its<br />
power to arrest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r three pers<strong>on</strong>s involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abducti<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
wounding, and to keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statements <strong>on</strong> developments in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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proceedings and expresses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hope that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perpetrators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se crimes will<br />
so<strong>on</strong> be c<strong>on</strong>victed and sentenced in a manner commensurate with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
seriousness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences so that such incidents are not repeated, and<br />
requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this respect. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same<br />
time, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s observati<strong>on</strong>s are not<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducive to dissipating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cern it had expressed in its previous<br />
examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case (according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers leader Albis<br />
Muñoz asserted that nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suspects arrested by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
(Ant<strong>on</strong>io José Silva Moyega and Jas<strong>on</strong> Manjares) were <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instigators <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
aggressi<strong>on</strong>).<br />
(b) Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal investigati<strong>on</strong> ordered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Prosecutor’s<br />
Office into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public declarati<strong>on</strong>s by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> FEDECAMARAS,<br />
Noel Álvarez, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to state <strong>on</strong>ce again that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text<br />
described by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> declarati<strong>on</strong>s do not in its opini<strong>on</strong> appear to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tain any criminal c<strong>on</strong>tent and should not normally have given rise to a<br />
criminal investigati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to send it<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s handed down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities (Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public<br />
Prosecutor, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authority) in this case.<br />
(c) Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged bomb attack <strong>on</strong> FEDECAMARAS headquarters <strong>on</strong><br />
24 February 2008, c<strong>on</strong>cerning which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government had stated that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
pers<strong>on</strong>s charged (Juan Crisóstomo M<strong>on</strong>toya G<strong>on</strong>zález and Mrs Iv<strong>on</strong>ne<br />
Gioc<strong>on</strong>da Márquez Burgos) c<strong>on</strong>fessed in full to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crimes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
intimidati<strong>on</strong> and unlawful use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> identity papers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
informati<strong>on</strong> sent by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se developments in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminal<br />
proceedings. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guilty<br />
parties be punished in a manner commensurate with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> seriousness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
crimes committed and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employer’s organizati<strong>on</strong> be compensated for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> losses and damages sustained as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se illegal acts. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is waiting to be informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sentence handed down.<br />
(d) Observing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence committed against FEDECAMARAS<br />
and its <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental principle that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and<br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s can be exercised <strong>on</strong>ly in a climate free <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence,<br />
intimidati<strong>on</strong> and fear, as such situati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> insecurity are incompatible with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87.<br />
(e) Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government restore<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> La Bureche farm to employers’ leader Eduardo Gómez Sigala and<br />
compensate him fully for all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> damage caused by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities in<br />
occupying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> farm, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is a c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong><br />
between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s reply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effect that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
expropriated farm <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ leader Eduardo Gómez Sigala was idle. Be<br />
that as it may, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government does not deny<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IOE’s allegati<strong>on</strong> that Eduardo Gómez Sigala has not received any<br />
compensati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> looks forward to receiving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong><br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government says it will send and again calls <strong>on</strong> it to return <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> farm<br />
without delay to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ leader and to compensate him fully for all<br />
losses sustained as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities’ seizure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his farm.<br />
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(f) Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong> (“rescue”, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government)<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> farms owned by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers’ leaders Egildo Luján, Vicente Brito,<br />
Rafael Marcial Garmendia and Manuel Cipriano Heredia, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>siders that it is impossible to discount <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong><br />
and <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are granted fair<br />
compensati<strong>on</strong> without delay, to initiate a frank dialogue with those affected<br />
and with FEDECAMARAS <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong>s/rescues referred to and to<br />
keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government<br />
to indicate whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> compensati<strong>on</strong> has been decided.<br />
(g) Regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> alleged lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bipartite and tripartite social dialogue and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with FEDECAMARAS, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes with c<strong>on</strong>cern <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
IOE’s new allegati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval without tripartite<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> numerous presidential legislative decrees and laws that<br />
affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>s. Observing that<br />
serious shortcomings in social dialogue c<strong>on</strong>tinue to exist and have even<br />
grown, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> reiterates its earlier recommendati<strong>on</strong>, as follows:<br />
– deeply deploring that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has ignored its recommendati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> urges <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> assistance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO, to establish a highlevel<br />
joint nati<strong>on</strong>al committee in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country to examine every <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and issues in this case so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems can be solved through direct dialogue. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> trusts that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will not postp<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary<br />
measures any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r and urges it to keep <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> informed in this regard;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> expects that a forum for social dialogue will be established in<br />
accordance with ILO principles, with a tripartite compositi<strong>on</strong> that duly respects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
representativeness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed in this regard and invites it to request technical<br />
assistance from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> also requests it <strong>on</strong>ce again to c<strong>on</strong>vene <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
tripartite commissi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> minimum wages provided for in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Organic Labour Act;<br />
– observing that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are still no structured bodies for tripartite social dialogue, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes <strong>on</strong>ce more <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance that should be attached to full and<br />
frank c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> taking place <strong>on</strong> any questi<strong>on</strong>s or proposed legislati<strong>on</strong> affecting<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights and that it is essential that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> introducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft legislati<strong>on</strong><br />
affecting collective bargaining or c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment be preceded by detailed<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative independent workers’ and employers’<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>ce again requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure that any<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning labour, social and ec<strong>on</strong>omic issues adopted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Enabling Act be first subjected to genuine, in-depth c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most<br />
representative independent employers’ and workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, while<br />
endeavouring to find shared soluti<strong>on</strong>s wherever possible;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to keep it informed with regard to social<br />
dialogue and any bipartite or tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s in sectors o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than food and<br />
agriculture, and also with regard to social dialogue with FEDECAMARAS and its<br />
regi<strong>on</strong>al structures in c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various branches <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
formulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic and social policy and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws that affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir organizati<strong>on</strong>s;<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to ensure that as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its policy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inclusive<br />
dialogue (including within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Assembly), FEDECAMARAS is duly<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any legislative debate that may affect employers’ interests,<br />
in a manner commensurate with its level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> representativeness.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply deplores that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has <strong>on</strong>ce again ignored<br />
its recommendati<strong>on</strong>s despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> has been insisting<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m for years.<br />
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(h) Finally, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes note <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
High-level Tripartite Missi<strong>on</strong> approved in March 2011, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government had agreed could look into issues that were still pending with<br />
regard to Case No. 2254, has twice been postp<strong>on</strong>ed. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> is<br />
str<strong>on</strong>gly <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> view that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Missi<strong>on</strong> should take place in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> near future<br />
and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office to c<strong>on</strong>tact <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to that effect. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Missi<strong>on</strong> should be able to make a c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong><br />
to resolving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems raised.<br />
(i) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> special attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governing Body to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
extreme seriousness and urgent nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matters dealt with in this case.<br />
CASES NOS 2917 AND 2968<br />
INTERIM REPORT<br />
Complaints against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela<br />
presented by<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela (CTV)<br />
(Case No. 2917) and<br />
– <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Teachers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central University<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela (APUCV) (Case No. 2968)<br />
Allegati<strong>on</strong>s: Adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Basic Act <strong>on</strong><br />
Labour and Workers (LOTTT) without<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representative<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s and with c<strong>on</strong>tent that is in<br />
violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining<br />
986. The complaint relating to Case No. 2917 was made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Venezuela (CTV) in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 9 January 2011 and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint relating to<br />
Case No. 2968 by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Teachers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central University <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela<br />
(APUCV); <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter organizati<strong>on</strong> transmitted additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> and fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
in a communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 16 November 2012.<br />
987. The Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s in communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 1 October 2011 and<br />
22 February 2013.<br />
988. The Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela has ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1948 (No. 87), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Right to Organise<br />
and Collective Bargaining C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, 1949 (No. 98).<br />
A. The complainants’ allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
989. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 9 January 2011, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CTV alleges that Decree No. 8661, dated<br />
6 December 2011, was published in Official Gazette No. 39818 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 December 2011, which created <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Presidential Commissi<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Creati<strong>on</strong> and Drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Basic Labour Act”. This Commissi<strong>on</strong>, in additi<strong>on</strong> to<br />
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being exclusive and closed, failed to include <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CTV, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan workers. All <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commissi<strong>on</strong> (secti<strong>on</strong> 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree) are representatives or pers<strong>on</strong>s tied to <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial circles in <strong>on</strong>e way or ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
(ministers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Attorney-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Bolivarian Socialist<br />
Central Organizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> City, Rural and Maritime Workers, appointed pers<strong>on</strong>ally and<br />
without electi<strong>on</strong> and who is part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong> bureaucracy designated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a federati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers (FEDEINDUSTRIA),<br />
magistrates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice, certain labour experts, deputies in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly, and representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial circles). However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was no<br />
representati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> real social partners who, in a democratic society, should be included,<br />
particularly when a new Basic Labour Act is to be discussed and drawn up to regulate<br />
labour relati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country.<br />
990. The CTV, never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, observes that articles 21(1) and 89(5) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela provide for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prohibiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any type <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>on</strong> grounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> politics, age, race, sex, belief or any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore,<br />
recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> set out in ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 144<br />
requires <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan State, in accordance with Article 2(1), “to operate procedures<br />
which ensure effective c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s … between representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers”. The CTV suffered discriminati<strong>on</strong> by not being represented <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Presidential Commissi<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Basic Labour Act. There was also<br />
discriminati<strong>on</strong> against o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r pluralist and democratic trade uni<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
country. All <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this is in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98, particularly taking into<br />
account that under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> secti<strong>on</strong> 3(8) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Presidential Commissi<strong>on</strong> for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Creati<strong>on</strong> and Drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Basic Labour Act shall include in its functi<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
“reviewing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current situati<strong>on</strong> with regard to social benefits, rest periods, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working<br />
day, stability and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trial period, subc<strong>on</strong>tracting, trade uni<strong>on</strong> membership and collective<br />
agreements, as well as any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour regulati<strong>on</strong> that it is necessary to adapt to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> paradigms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a social State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law and justice, as well as proposing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
new social instituti<strong>on</strong>s which dignify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour as an element <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> society”.<br />
991. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> third and fourth preambular paragraphs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree, reference is<br />
made to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a socialist foundati<strong>on</strong> and a workers’ socialist government,<br />
which is in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> article 112 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> respecting ec<strong>on</strong>omic freedom and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State. Finally, it was decided that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Act would not be adopted through<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ordinary legislative procedures, but through an enabling act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative<br />
Assembly in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic.<br />
992. In its communicati<strong>on</strong>s dated 24 May 2012 and 16 November 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> APUCV alleges<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Basic Act <strong>on</strong> Labour and Workers (LOTTT) is in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
associati<strong>on</strong>. The Act was adopted by a Decree <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic without any<br />
dialogue being held with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representative organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers and employers, with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excepti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recently created and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial “Socialist Central Organizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> City,<br />
Rural and Maritime Workers”. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end, a legal text was imposed in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exclusive<br />
ideological positi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> governing party is visible to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> detriment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> plurality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ideas existing am<strong>on</strong>g Venezuelan workers.<br />
993. Moreover, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has ignored <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
supervisory bodies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO, which urged it to amend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> to bring it into line<br />
with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98, <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right<br />
to collective bargaining, in c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representative organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers<br />
and employers. The reports <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Standards <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour C<strong>on</strong>ference record <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> repeated occasi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Government has undertaken to comply with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se recommendati<strong>on</strong>s. Never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less: (1) it<br />
failed to hold c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s and dialogue with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representative trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
264 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan workers, which are distinct from <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial organizati<strong>on</strong>s; (2) in open violati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela, it refused to allow <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT<br />
to be discussed and approved by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly, which is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent body for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws; and (3) a brief review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> chapter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT <strong>on</strong><br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> shows that its rules are incompatible with C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87 <strong>on</strong><br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
994. In this respect, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> APUCV alleges that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong>s set out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ideological aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certain rules give rise to serious uncertainties c<strong>on</strong>cerning trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
activity, since trade uni<strong>on</strong>s are assigned resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities which are those <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State. By<br />
way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> example, secti<strong>on</strong> 367(2) and (3) respecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attributi<strong>on</strong>s and objectives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s, reads as follows:<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 367. Trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers shall have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following attributi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and objectives:<br />
1. […]<br />
2. C<strong>on</strong>tributing to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> producti<strong>on</strong> and distributi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> goods and services for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> satisfacti<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> needs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people.<br />
3. Exercising c<strong>on</strong>trol and vigilance over costs and earnings, so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prices <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> goods<br />
and services produced are just for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people.<br />
995. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> APUCV, such obligati<strong>on</strong>s are completely inc<strong>on</strong>sistent with ILO<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87, which provides that trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s shall be free to<br />
determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir programmes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State shall refrain from any interference<br />
which limits this right. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, it is also <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case that if a trade uni<strong>on</strong> does not fulfil<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mandate set out in secti<strong>on</strong> 367, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government will refuse to register it, as indicated in<br />
secti<strong>on</strong> 387(1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT:<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 387. The Nati<strong>on</strong>al Registrar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong> Organizati<strong>on</strong>s may refuse to register<br />
a trade uni<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following cases:<br />
1. If <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> does not have as its objective <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attributi<strong>on</strong>s and objectives envisaged<br />
in this Act.<br />
996. With regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong>s to draw up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rules and to elect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
representatives in full freedom, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> APUCV alleges that: (1) trade uni<strong>on</strong>s are required to<br />
set out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir by-laws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “replacement” <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir executive boards<br />
(secti<strong>on</strong>s 399 and 403 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT) and “a system <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> balloting which includes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
electi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive board by a single vote and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proporti<strong>on</strong>al representati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
minorities” (secti<strong>on</strong> 403(e)); (2) despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reducti<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> powers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Electoral Council (CNE) in trade uni<strong>on</strong> electi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re remain serious doubts c<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> notificati<strong>on</strong> that has to be made by trade uni<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
decide to hold electi<strong>on</strong>s (secti<strong>on</strong> 405 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT); (3) in clear c<strong>on</strong>traventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
rights envisaged in C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87, trade uni<strong>on</strong> leaders are required to submit a “sworn<br />
declarati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> property” to a state body, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Office <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Comptroller-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Republic. This requirement, which exists in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country <strong>on</strong>ly for pers<strong>on</strong>s who are public<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials or who administer public property, undermines <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> private nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir assets: in o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r words, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis is being established to qualify trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong>s as legal pers<strong>on</strong>s in public law, subject to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>trol <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State; moreover <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
possibility for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>troller to carry out audits <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> accounts is also envisaged<br />
(secti<strong>on</strong>s 416–417); and (4) secti<strong>on</strong> 2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transiti<strong>on</strong>al provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT requires<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s to “adapt <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir by-laws” to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act “before 31 December 2013”.<br />
997. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 16 November 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> APUCV indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Presidential<br />
Decree approved <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s that are in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> which had<br />
been noted with c<strong>on</strong>cern for years by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supervisory bodies, and particularly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>, and set out new rules which may also be c<strong>on</strong>trary<br />
to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, as described below.<br />
998. The Legislative Decree explicitly lays down, in c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO supervisory bodies:<br />
(a) The “electoral abeyance” <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, and particularly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir leaders (secti<strong>on</strong>s 402,<br />
401, 399, 395, 387(8) and 384(11)). In accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se secti<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive board <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a trade uni<strong>on</strong> have to be elected for a maximum period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
three years (for uni<strong>on</strong>s and federati<strong>on</strong>s) or five years (c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong>s and central<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s). If this period elapses without new electi<strong>on</strong>s being held, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leaders<br />
automatically remain “in abeyance” and, as a result, can <strong>on</strong>ly carry out simple acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
administrati<strong>on</strong> and, accordingly, cannot represent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> in collective bargaining.<br />
This means that <strong>on</strong>ce abeyance has been declared, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> leaders are incapacitated to act<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uni<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers, and from joining within <strong>on</strong>e year <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>al leadership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a new organizati<strong>on</strong> (secti<strong>on</strong> 387(8)). The trade uni<strong>on</strong> is<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore left a rudderless ship. Moreover, from this moment, a vicious circle arises<br />
which makes it difficult to hold new trade uni<strong>on</strong> electi<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
(b) Inadmissible and interventi<strong>on</strong>ist requirements for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
which is indispensable for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m to have legal pers<strong>on</strong>ality (secti<strong>on</strong>s 387(1) and 518).<br />
(c) Interference in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pers<strong>on</strong>al data <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, as for each<br />
stage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedures that have to be undertaken by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> it is required to<br />
provide a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its members, with a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> specificati<strong>on</strong>s. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> representative status is based in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first place <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> list<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members recorded in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Register <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s (secti<strong>on</strong> 438). It<br />
should be recalled that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se lists have a very unsavoury history in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country, as<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y have been used in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> past for trade uni<strong>on</strong> dismissals or can be used to deny<br />
employment in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public service or in state enterprises.<br />
(d) As indicated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> APUCV c<strong>on</strong>cerning interference<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour in trade uni<strong>on</strong> electi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re would appear<br />
to be acceptance in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Decree <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> viewpoints <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO supervisory<br />
bodies, as it is envisaged that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE should provide advice and logistical support to<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong>ly if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y so request (secti<strong>on</strong> 405). Never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE maintains its<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trol over trade uni<strong>on</strong> electi<strong>on</strong>s in a much more subtle but real manner since, in<br />
accordance with secti<strong>on</strong>s 407–408, in all cases:<br />
■<br />
■<br />
■<br />
■<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong>s are required to notify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y hold electi<strong>on</strong>s, so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE<br />
can publish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> respective call for electi<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Electoral Gazette;<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Decree creates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirement to establish a trade uni<strong>on</strong> electoral<br />
commissi<strong>on</strong>, but defines <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its acti<strong>on</strong> and c<strong>on</strong>verts <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
arbitrator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> electoral decisi<strong>on</strong>s, as it hears appeals made against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this commissi<strong>on</strong>;<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE is resp<strong>on</strong>sible for “ensuring” observance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proper procedures, and<br />
possibly intervening if so requested by “those c<strong>on</strong>cerned”;<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electoral commissi<strong>on</strong> has to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE with documentati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
procedure followed, with a view to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> publicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results. Even when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> does not request <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “advice and support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE”, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Decree<br />
complicates and renders bureaucratic trade uni<strong>on</strong> electoral procedures, especially for<br />
small trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, which make up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> great majority, and particularly those in cities<br />
and locati<strong>on</strong>s distant from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instituti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “electoral authority”. Moreover, all<br />
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trade uni<strong>on</strong> electoral processes have to comply with a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirements and<br />
procedures in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour, which applies double standards in<br />
relati<strong>on</strong> to trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, depending <strong>on</strong> whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are independent or promoted by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government;<br />
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■<br />
moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rules <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE remain in force to guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> human rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers in trade uni<strong>on</strong> electi<strong>on</strong>s (Resoluti<strong>on</strong> No. 090528-0265, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 28 May 2009),<br />
which have been criticized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s and Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
and which have turned out to be an effective instrument for paralysing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electoral<br />
procedures <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> independent trade uni<strong>on</strong>s through appeals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all types, and particularly<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to call electi<strong>on</strong>s;<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vicious circle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interference is completed by obstacles to collective bargaining,<br />
particularly in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government taking advantage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its own<br />
negligence (failure to calculate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cost <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bargaining, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> instructi<strong>on</strong>s for<br />
negotiati<strong>on</strong>s, or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministers, secti<strong>on</strong>s 443, 444,<br />
446 and 447) to oppose negotiati<strong>on</strong>, in an approach that it has adopted systematically<br />
over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> years. And, as if all this were not enough, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trols in a<br />
discreti<strong>on</strong>ary manner <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspectors to “approve” collective<br />
agreements, without which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are not c<strong>on</strong>sidered to be in force (secti<strong>on</strong>s 450–451).<br />
999. The APUCV adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Decree refers to workers’ councils, which are<br />
undefined, but in any case distinct from trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, and requires both workers’ councils<br />
and trade uni<strong>on</strong>s to develop initiatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> support, coordinati<strong>on</strong>, supplementary acti<strong>on</strong> and<br />
solidarity in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour, intended to streng<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n awareness and unity<br />
(secti<strong>on</strong>s 497–498). The precise scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se provisi<strong>on</strong>s is not clear although,<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> systematic anti-uni<strong>on</strong> attitude <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y give rise to doubts<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir implicati<strong>on</strong>s for freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
1000. The APUCV alleges that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Decree has been added to a legal framework<br />
which severely restricts <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
public freedoms, and which is made up <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> rules which limit and allow <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> repressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom to dem<strong>on</strong>strate and call strikes, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminalizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade<br />
uni<strong>on</strong> activities is now beginning to be carried out by military tribunals. For example, <strong>on</strong><br />
13 August 2012, Hictler William Torres, Luis Arturo G<strong>on</strong>zález, José Martín Mora,<br />
Wilander Pedro Operaza and Ramiro Parada, trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sector,<br />
were detained and referred to military tribunals, and were required to appear every week<br />
before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> military penal judicial circuit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11th Supervisory Military Tribunal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Táchira. They have to be added to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundred or so workers who have faced<br />
criminal charges for exercising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights. In this case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers were<br />
detained for having protested to demand <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir social benefits by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> private<br />
enterprise Xocobeo CA, under c<strong>on</strong>tract with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Housing and Envir<strong>on</strong>ment for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> housing units in a military z<strong>on</strong>e, Murachí Fort. “The crimes with which<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were charged were: failure to respect a sentry and failure to respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> armed forces,<br />
secti<strong>on</strong>s 502 and 505 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Basic Code <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Military Justice, and violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> security<br />
z<strong>on</strong>e established by secti<strong>on</strong> 56 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Basic Act <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>.”<br />
1001. With reference to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> high-level missi<strong>on</strong> that is to visit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country so<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> APUCV<br />
indicates that, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new LOTTT, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government is not <strong>on</strong>ly failing to take steps to<br />
resolve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems that gave rise to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to send <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> missi<strong>on</strong>, but has aggravated<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m.<br />
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1002. Finally, it indicates that, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e hand, independent trade uni<strong>on</strong>s are being asphyxiated<br />
and, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, parallel trade uni<strong>on</strong>s are being promoted and workers are coming under<br />
pressure to migrate to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se new trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, and that a new c<strong>on</strong>federati<strong>on</strong> has been<br />
created under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> title <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Socialist Central Organizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> City, Rural and Maritime<br />
Workers”, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> patr<strong>on</strong>age <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic himself.<br />
B. The Government’s reply<br />
1003. In its communicati<strong>on</strong> dated 1 October 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government sent its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
complaint by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CTV, alleging that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Presidential Commissi<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Creati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Basic Labour Act” is exclusive, closed and in additi<strong>on</strong> did not include<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CTV, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong> which, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CTV, is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most<br />
representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuelan workers.<br />
1004. In this respect, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> citizen President, through Decree<br />
No. 8661, published in Official Gazette No. 39818, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 December 2011, established a<br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Creati<strong>on</strong> and Drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Basic Labour Act, with a view to<br />
adapting, balancing and redefining labour relati<strong>on</strong>s existing in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> jurisdicti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela in accordance with a social State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law and justice, in<br />
which workers are in a situati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> balance in relati<strong>on</strong> to employers.<br />
1005. On 1 May 2012, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> modern and revoluti<strong>on</strong>ary LOTTT was adopted; a commissi<strong>on</strong><br />
composed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all sectors – workers, rural workers, employers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial and legislative authorities – participated in its drafting, with a<br />
single objective: to put forward a bill reflecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> people and which<br />
expressed collective interests and respected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inviolability and progressive nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers as set out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
1006. The Government indicates that ten years <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> meetings held in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly with<br />
various sectors were syn<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sized, and that during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last six m<strong>on</strong>ths prior to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act, over 19,000 proposals were transmitted directly to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commissi<strong>on</strong>, which were<br />
examined and publicly debated. A nati<strong>on</strong>al and c<strong>on</strong>structive debate gave rise to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour<br />
Act.<br />
1007. The Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Act dem<strong>on</strong>strates that <strong>on</strong>ly through social dialogue is it<br />
possible to build <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws and labour relati<strong>on</strong>s that are needed urgently by countries, with<br />
full respect for human rights. A direct dialogue with workers and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir employers meant<br />
that an Act which was welcomed by all even before being adopted and which has been key<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sustained ec<strong>on</strong>omic growth experienced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country and an unemployment rate<br />
below 8 per cent, proved wr<strong>on</strong>g those doubters who had warned <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> closure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
enterprises and unemployment, and dem<strong>on</strong>strated that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> guarantee and protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
labour rights is a basic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic stability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a country.<br />
1008. The Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela is an example <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour laws,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong>, collective bargaining and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike.<br />
Protecti<strong>on</strong> is afforded to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> family, extending <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to post-natal leave for women to<br />
six m<strong>on</strong>ths and establishing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fa<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mo<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
child has reached two years <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> age.<br />
1009. The Government adds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act eradicates child labour, prohibits subc<strong>on</strong>tracting,<br />
reduces working hours to 40 a week, guarantees <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employment security <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all workers,<br />
grants equal labour rights to domestic workers and c<strong>on</strong>solidates a system <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social security<br />
which includes self-employed workers and recognizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> women as housewives.<br />
In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social protecti<strong>on</strong> system provides that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
pensi<strong>on</strong> received shall be equal to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum wage. The requirement is placed <strong>on</strong><br />
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enterprises to allow traineeships and apprenticeships to stimulate youth employment. The<br />
Act recognizes fundamental rights and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> historical struggle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working class in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
face <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> capitalism and savage globalizati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
1010. There is a clear difference, not <strong>on</strong>ly with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> repealed Act imposed by a closed and<br />
exclusive tripartism in 1997, but also in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omic models throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
world which are today giving rise to structural crises with a substantial regressi<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>quests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> working class.<br />
1011. The Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> illustrati<strong>on</strong> that social dialogue has to be held<br />
directly with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> social actors, avoiding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> blackmail <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> underhand and group interests,<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective interest has to be placed above <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> manipulati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> groups, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
progressive nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ rights has to be our objective, as work is a fundamental<br />
process in achieving a peace-loving society.<br />
1012. As indicated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Vice-Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Labour during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> plenary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 101st Sessi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Labour C<strong>on</strong>ference, “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was a positive and c<strong>on</strong>structive nati<strong>on</strong>al debate,<br />
which gave rise to this revoluti<strong>on</strong>ary Labour Act written by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves and<br />
signed by our President, Hugo Chávez. Those who excluded <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves from this public<br />
debate remained <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sidelines: supporters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> old tripartite system who claim<br />
a representativeness <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y no l<strong>on</strong>ger enjoy and a voice to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are no l<strong>on</strong>ger entitled<br />
…”.<br />
1013. Taking into account <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental aspects and great progress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Basic Act <strong>on</strong><br />
LOTTT, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>s for which this complaint was admitted<br />
have to be set aside, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act was discussed and adopted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country, for which reas<strong>on</strong><br />
it calls <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> to close <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present complaint as it now lacks any basis or<br />
validity.<br />
1014. In reply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> APUCV alleging violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> in<br />
relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government reiterates in its communicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
22 February 2013 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> declarati<strong>on</strong>s made in its previous communicati<strong>on</strong> and emphasizes<br />
that all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> points and c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s made by ILO bodies with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> were c<strong>on</strong>sidered in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Basic Labour Act, which is in c<strong>on</strong>formity with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98 <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective<br />
bargaining. In view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government rejects and is unable to understand <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
arguments <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> APUCV, which are so blasphemous against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act, and it rebuts each<br />
and every issue raised by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new LOTTT guarantees and broadly<br />
protects freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining.<br />
C. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
1015. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that in this complaint <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s object to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
procedure followed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new LOTTT, and more<br />
specifically <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mechanism <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an enabling law by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Assembly to<br />
empower <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic to legislate, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
most representative trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s, in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 144 <strong>on</strong><br />
tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s. One <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s, which presented its<br />
complaint after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT, also alleges that its c<strong>on</strong>tent is in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98 and that it retains <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal provisi<strong>on</strong>s that are c<strong>on</strong>trary to<br />
freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> as indicated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO supervisory bodies, as well as provides for<br />
new provisi<strong>on</strong>s which are also c<strong>on</strong>trary to those C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
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1016. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statements according to which: (1) <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> citizen<br />
President, by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Decree No. 39818, published <strong>on</strong> 12 December 2011, established a<br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Creati<strong>on</strong> and Drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a new Basic Labour Act, composed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all sectors (workers, rural workers, employers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
judicial and legislative authorities); (2) ten years <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> meetings with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various sectors in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly were syn<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sized and, during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> six m<strong>on</strong>ths prior to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT), over 19,000 proposals were transmitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commissi<strong>on</strong> which<br />
were examined and discussed in a c<strong>on</strong>structive nati<strong>on</strong>al debate; (3) all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues raised<br />
and c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s put forward by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO supervisory bodies in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong> were c<strong>on</strong>sidered in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Act which, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government, is in<br />
accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98 <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong><br />
and collective bargaining; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government denies and rebuts each and every issue raised<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> APUCV and emphasizes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Act respects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
inviolability and progressive nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers as set out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>;<br />
and (4) in c<strong>on</strong>trast with what happened with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> former Basic Labour Act, which was<br />
imposed by a closed and exclusive tripartism, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process followed in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
LOTTT those who excluded <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public debate remained <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sidelines,<br />
namely <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prop<strong>on</strong>ents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an old tripartism who claim a representativeness that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y no<br />
l<strong>on</strong>ger enjoy and a voice to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are not entitled.<br />
1017. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government refers to a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> achievements and<br />
progressive steps c<strong>on</strong>tained in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT in various areas, but recalls that its competence<br />
is c<strong>on</strong>fined to issues relating to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining, and it<br />
examines below <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues raised by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
1018. In this respect, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that, in its observati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s made <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following comments in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new LOTTT:<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 87<br />
…<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s indicati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enactment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Basic Act <strong>on</strong> labour and [men and women] workers (LOTTT) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 30 April 2012. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> welcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Act takes into account a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> observati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
made during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> technical assistance provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ILO and as requested by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
For example, foreign nati<strong>on</strong>als are no l<strong>on</strong>ger required to be resident for ten years to hold<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> functi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE are limited in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous situati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers required to establish a uni<strong>on</strong> is reduced.<br />
However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers (ten) required to<br />
establish an employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong> (secti<strong>on</strong> 380) has not been reduced, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enumerati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objectives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>tinues to be too extensive<br />
(secti<strong>on</strong>s 367 and 368), including for example <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objectives according to which organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
need to guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> producti<strong>on</strong> and distributi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> goods and services at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> correct price in<br />
accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, undertaking studies <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> characteristics <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> respective<br />
industrial branch, providing reports as requested by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities in c<strong>on</strong>formity with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
law, c<strong>on</strong>ducting campaigns to combat corrupti<strong>on</strong> actively, etc.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Act provides, as indicated above, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
logistical support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> organizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong>s is <strong>on</strong>ly provided at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> executive boards. Never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE (which is<br />
not a judicial body) c<strong>on</strong>tinues to be competent to examine any complaints which may be made<br />
by members. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, in breach <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> independence, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act also maintains <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle that delays in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electoral process (including when<br />
complaints are lodged with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> CNE) prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerned from engaging in<br />
collective bargaining. The Act also imposes a system <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ballots which includes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> electi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> executive board by single vote and proporti<strong>on</strong>al representati<strong>on</strong> (secti<strong>on</strong> 403), while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Act c<strong>on</strong>tinues to require trade uni<strong>on</strong>s to provide to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complete list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
270 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx
GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
members, and to supply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y request <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
statutory obligati<strong>on</strong>s (secti<strong>on</strong> 388). The Act also interferes in numerous matters that should be<br />
regulated by uni<strong>on</strong> statutes, for example, by indicating that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
bargaining is to achieve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objectives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State (secti<strong>on</strong> 43), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eligibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
leaders is subject to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m having called trade uni<strong>on</strong> electi<strong>on</strong>s within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time limits when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
were leaders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r organizati<strong>on</strong>s (secti<strong>on</strong> 387), and a referendum is required to be held to<br />
revoke those holding trade uni<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice (secti<strong>on</strong> 410).<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r notes that, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> event <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a strike, it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> competence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
People’s Minister resp<strong>on</strong>sible for Labour (and not <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authorities or an independent<br />
body, particularly in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strikes in public enterprises or instituti<strong>on</strong>s) to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
areas or activities which cannot be paralyzed during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strike <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would<br />
affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> producti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> goods or essential services, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> stoppage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which would harm <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
populati<strong>on</strong> (secti<strong>on</strong> 484). The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s statement that referring this<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial authorities would delay <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes that in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public sector <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> administrative authorities are an interested party in relati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
determinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum services. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> system for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appointment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> arbitrati<strong>on</strong> boards in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> event <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> strikes in essential services does not guarantee<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> system since, where agreement is not reached by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
parties, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are appointed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspector (secti<strong>on</strong> 494). The Act also recognizes<br />
workers’ councils, although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir functi<strong>on</strong>s are not determined clearly, even though it is<br />
provided in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y may not encroach up<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> functi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong>s. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to provide additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> this subject.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> No. 98<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> new Basic Labour Act No. 6076 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 7 May 2012<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning labour and [men and women] workers (LOTTT), which c<strong>on</strong>tains provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
providing full protecti<strong>on</strong> for workers against acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti-uni<strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
interference, with sufficiently dissuasive sancti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Article 4 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>. Free and voluntary negotiati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> observes<br />
that secti<strong>on</strong> 449 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT provides that “discussi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposals for collective bargaining<br />
shall take place in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a labour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial, who shall chair <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> meetings”. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that this amounts to interference in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> negotiati<strong>on</strong>s between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties<br />
and is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore c<strong>on</strong>trary to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> free and voluntary negotiati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aut<strong>on</strong>omy<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> amending this provisi<strong>on</strong> to<br />
bring it into full c<strong>on</strong>formity with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed principles and requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to indicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures taken or c<strong>on</strong>templated in this respect.<br />
Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that secti<strong>on</strong> 450 c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> registrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreements states that “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspector shall verify its c<strong>on</strong>formity with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> applicable<br />
public order regulati<strong>on</strong>s, with a view to granting approval”. Secti<strong>on</strong> 451 c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
granting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval states that “if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspector c<strong>on</strong>siders it appropriate, he or she<br />
shall make <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate observati<strong>on</strong>s or recommendati<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties instead <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
granting approval, and such observati<strong>on</strong>s and recommendati<strong>on</strong>s must be complied with within<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next 15 working days”. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that, in general terms, making <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entry<br />
into force <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective agreements c<strong>on</strong>cluded by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties dependent <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir approval by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities is c<strong>on</strong>trary to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective bargaining established by C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong><br />
No. 98. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders that provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this sort are compatible with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> that refusal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval is restricted to cases in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective<br />
agreement c<strong>on</strong>tains flaws regarding its form or does not comply with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> minimum standards<br />
laid down by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> general labour legislati<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
provide fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> secti<strong>on</strong>s 450 and 451.<br />
Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that secti<strong>on</strong> 465 c<strong>on</strong>cerning mediati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
arbitrati<strong>on</strong> states, with regard to bargaining by branch <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity, that “if c<strong>on</strong>ciliati<strong>on</strong> is not<br />
possible, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial, at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> request <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties or <strong>on</strong> his or her own initiative, shall<br />
submit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute to arbitrati<strong>on</strong> unless <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> participating trade uni<strong>on</strong> organizati<strong>on</strong>s state <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
intenti<strong>on</strong> to exercise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to strike”. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r notes that secti<strong>on</strong> 493 states<br />
that “should a dispute be submitted to arbitrati<strong>on</strong>, an arbitrati<strong>on</strong> board composed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three<br />
members shall be established. One member shall be chosen by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> employers from a list<br />
submitted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers; ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r shall be chosen by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers from a list submitted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
employers; and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> third member shall be chosen by mutual agreement. If no agreement is<br />
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reached <strong>on</strong> nominati<strong>on</strong>s at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> five successive days, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspector shall designate<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives”. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that arbitrati<strong>on</strong> ordered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities should<br />
be restricted to essential services in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> strict sense <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> term and cases involving public<br />
servants exercising authority in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> name <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State and c<strong>on</strong>siders that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> designati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
members by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> labour inspector does not ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties will have c<strong>on</strong>fidence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
board that is established. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to indicate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures<br />
c<strong>on</strong>templated to abolish arbitrati<strong>on</strong> ordered <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initiative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authorities (except in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
abovementi<strong>on</strong>ed cases) and to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> compositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> arbitrati<strong>on</strong> board enjoys<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parties.<br />
1019. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siders it indispensable that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government submit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
criticized above to tripartite dialogue with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
workers and employers with a view to bringing those provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT into full<br />
c<strong>on</strong>formity with C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to<br />
take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary measures in this respect.<br />
1020. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> wishes to emphasize that over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> years when examining various<br />
complaints relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bolivarian Republic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Venezuela it has noted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use in many<br />
cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enabling legislati<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Assembly empowering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Republic to adopt many decrees and laws which affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers’ and<br />
employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s without a parliamentary debate being held. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present case,<br />
through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enabling Act, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Republic established a special Commissi<strong>on</strong><br />
to draft <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new LOTTT, however, al<strong>on</strong>gside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state<br />
authorities it <strong>on</strong>ly included <strong>on</strong>e representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a workers’ central organizati<strong>on</strong> (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
representativeness and independence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which is questi<strong>on</strong>ed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong> APUCV) and a representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an employers’ federati<strong>on</strong> (when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re exists<br />
a more representative federati<strong>on</strong> (FEDECAMARAS) in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country), with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> result that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative organizati<strong>on</strong>s did not participate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commissi<strong>on</strong>. The<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> deeply deplores <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> so described and expects that, in future, in-depth<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s will be held with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers and<br />
employers <strong>on</strong> draft legislati<strong>on</strong> covering labour or social matters which affect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
interests and those <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members, prior to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong>, and that it is<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Legislative Assembly, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> parliamentary debate, which adopts labour and<br />
social legislati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
1021. Under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> draws <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government’s attenti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle<br />
that tripartite c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> should take place before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government submits a draft to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Legislative Assembly or establishes a labour, social or ec<strong>on</strong>omic policy, and that it is<br />
essential that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> introducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> draft legislati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> labour matters should be preceded by<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s with organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers and employers [see Digest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Freedom</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Associati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>, fifth (revised) editi<strong>on</strong>, 2006,<br />
paras 1070 and 1075]. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> recalls that such c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s should be full, frank<br />
and detailed [see Digest, op. cit., paras 1074–1075], and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>on</strong> labour and minimum wages helps to give laws, programmes and measures adopted or<br />
applied by public authorities a firmer justificati<strong>on</strong> and helps to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are well<br />
respected and successfully applied. The Government should seek general c<strong>on</strong>sensus as<br />
much as possible, given that employers’ and workers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s should be able to<br />
share in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> securing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> well-being and prosperity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> community as a<br />
whole. This is particularly important given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> growing complexity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problems faced<br />
by societies. No public authority can claim to have all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> answers, nor assume that all its<br />
proposals will naturally achieve all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir objectives [see Digest, op. cit., para. 1076].<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se principles in full in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> future.<br />
1022. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> notes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government rejects all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complainant organizati<strong>on</strong> APUCV, it wishes to emphasize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> gravity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> criminalizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities through military<br />
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tribunals, and in particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> detenti<strong>on</strong> and referral to military courts, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
requirement to report every week to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial military authorities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> five trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sector (for having called for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social benefits by a private<br />
enterprise Xocobeo CA, working under c<strong>on</strong>tract for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Housing and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>ment), in additi<strong>on</strong>, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundred or so workers<br />
facing criminal charges for exercising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong> rights. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to reply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s without delay.<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
1023. In light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its foregoing interim c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> invites <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Governing Body to approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following recommendati<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
(a) Regretting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Commissi<strong>on</strong> entrusted with drafting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new LOTTT<br />
excluded <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most representative workers’ and employers’ organizati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to submit to tripartite dialogue with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
most representative organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers and employers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> LOTTT respecting freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associati<strong>on</strong> and collective bargaining<br />
criticized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Experts with a view to bringing those<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s into full c<strong>on</strong>formity with ILO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s Nos 87 and 98 and to<br />
keep it informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> developments in this respect. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government to comply in future with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles relating to c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong><br />
and social dialogue set out in its c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
(b) The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> emphasizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> gravity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
criminalizati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trade uni<strong>on</strong> activities through military tribunals, and in<br />
particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> detenti<strong>on</strong> and referral to military tribunals, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> impositi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> requirement to report periodically every week to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> military judicial<br />
authorities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> five trade uni<strong>on</strong>ists in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sector (for having<br />
demanded <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> payment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> social benefits by a private enterprise<br />
Xocobeo CA, working under c<strong>on</strong>tract for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Housing and<br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>ment), in additi<strong>on</strong>, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong>s, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundred or so<br />
workers who have faced criminal charges for exercising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir trade uni<strong>on</strong><br />
rights. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Committee</str<strong>on</strong>g> requests <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government to reply to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se allegati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
without delay.<br />
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GB.318/INS/5/1<br />
Geneva, 7 June 2013<br />
(Signed) Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essor Paul van der Heijden<br />
Chairpers<strong>on</strong><br />
Points for decisi<strong>on</strong>: Paragraph 189<br />
Paragraph 201<br />
Paragraph 214<br />
Paragraph 229<br />
Paragraph 248<br />
Paragraph 261<br />
Paragraph 280<br />
Paragraph 290<br />
Paragraph 299<br />
Paragraph 322<br />
Paragraph 364<br />
Paragraph 379<br />
Paragraph 410<br />
Paragraph 424<br />
Paragraph 496<br />
Paragraph 506<br />
Paragraph 520<br />
Paragraph 544<br />
Paragraph 566<br />
Paragraph 583<br />
Paragraph 594<br />
Paragraph 610<br />
Paragraph 653<br />
Paragraph 671<br />
Paragraph 686<br />
Paragraph 699<br />
Paragraph 761<br />
Paragraph 769<br />
Paragraph 787<br />
Paragraph 798<br />
Paragraph 810<br />
Paragraph 826<br />
Paragraph 847<br />
Paragraph 985<br />
Paragraph 1023<br />
274 GB318-INS_5-1_[NORME-130605-1]-En.docx