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

The Committee takes note of the first report sent by the Government.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes that the “protective services” – which comprise the fire services and the prison officers – are excluded from the Registration, Status and Recognition of Trade Unions and Employers’ Organizations Act 1999. The Committee recalls that these categories of workers are covered by the Convention and requests the Government to provide information, in its next report, on their rights. On a more general basis, the Committee requests the Government to indicate if the provisions of the Convention are applicable to all categories of workers and, if this is not the case, to provide information on the categories of workers that are excluded from its application. If specific provisions are applicable to the public service, please provide the relevant texts.

2. Article 2. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the matters which, according to the legislation or the practice, can be the subject of collective bargaining.

3. Article 6. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the available framework of conciliation and/or arbitration machinery or institutions for collective bargaining purposes.

4. Article 7. The Committee requests the Government to indicate any measures taken by the public authorities to encourage and promote the development of collective bargaining (circulars, seminars, publications, incentives, etc.). The Government is requested to specify if and how the measures taken have been the subject of prior consultations and agreement between the public authorities and workers’ and employers’ organizations.

5. Application of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the number of collective agreements signed, the economic sectors concerned, the number of workers covered and matters dealt with by such agreements.