Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Latvia (RATIFICATION: 1994)

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Articles 1, 2 and 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee welcomes the comprehensive information provided in the Government’s report. The Government indicates that the institutional system of the National Tripartite Cooperation Council has changed over time, observing that, at present, there are ten sub-councils: the Sub-Council for Tripartite Cooperation on Budget and Tax Policy; the Sub-council for Tripartite Cooperation in Labour Affairs; the Sub-Council on Social Security; the Sub-Council for Tripartite Cooperation on Vocational Education and Employment; the Sub-Council for the Health Care Sector; the Sub-Council for Tripartite Cooperation in the Transport and Communications Sector; the Sub-Council for Tripartite Cooperation in Environmental Protection Affairs; the Sub-Council for Tripartite Cooperation on Regional Development; the Sub-Council on Public Security; and the Sub-Council for Tripartite Cooperation on Competitiveness and Sustainability. The Government also indicates that the articles of the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (FTCUL) and those of the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia (ECL) were modified and approved by their respective bodies. The Committee welcomes the copies of the updated texts of the articles provided by the Government. The Committee notes that consultations with the FTUCL and the ECL, as the most representative organizations of workers and employers, took place regularly during the reporting period. With respect to the application of Article 5 of the Convention, the Committee notes with interest the detailed information provided by the Government with respect to the frequency and content of tripartite consultations held with the FTUCL and the ECL on the matters related to international labour standards, including with respect to: government responses to questionnaires concerning items on the agenda of the International Labour Conference (Article 5(1)(a)); the re-examination of unratified Conventions and Recommendations to which effect has not yet been given (Article 5(1)(c)); questions arising out of reports to be made to the Office under article 22 of the ILO Constitution (Article 5(1)(d)); and proposals for the denunciation of ratified Conventions (Article 5(1)(e)). In particular, the Committee notes the tripartite consultations held each year to prepare for the participation of the Latvian delegation to the International Labour Conference. It further notes the information provided by the Government regarding the nature and outcome of consultations carried out with the FTCUL and the ECL in 2021 regarding the Government reports prepared pursuant to article 22 of the ILO Constitution for 25 ratified Conventions. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on the matters covered by Article 5 of the Convention.

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Effective tripartite consultations required by the Convention. The Committee notes the report provided by the Government in September 2012 on the application of the Convention. The Committee invites the Government to provide detailed information on the effective consultations held during the next reporting period on each of the matters related to international labour standards listed in Article 5(1) of the Convention.

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Tripartite consultations required by the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in September 2008 and the detailed information provided on the content of the 11 meetings of the National Tripartite Cooperation Council (NTCC) held between June 2006 and June 2008. The Committee reiterates its interest in receiving information in the Government’s next report on the tripartite consultations held on each of the items relating to international labour standards set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention, and on the reports or recommendations issued as a result of these consultations.

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Tripartite consultations required by the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in September 2006 and the information it contains on the amendments made to the law in September 2005 and January 2006. It notes with interest the ratification in 2006 of Conventions Nos. 29, 133, 138, 180 and 182. It again notes the progress made in 2006 regarding the obligation to submit to Parliament (the Saeima) the instruments adopted by the Conference (Article 5, paragraph 1(b), of the Convention). The Committee notes that following a resolution adopted on 14 September 2005 by the National Tripartite Cooperation Council (NTCC), three new sub-councils have been established: the Tripartite Sub-Council on Transport, Communications and Information Issues (TSCTCI), the Tripartite Sub-Council on Environment Protection Issues (TSCEP) and the Tripartite Sub-Council on Regional Development (TSCRD). It also notes the questions discussed by the NTCC between 1 July 2004 and 12 April 2006, and again requests the Government to provide in its next report up to date information on the content and outcome of the consultations held, in particular in the NTCC or one or other of the sub-councils, on the subjects related to international labour standards listed at Article 5 of the Convention.

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Tripartite consultations required by the Convention. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the issues examined in 2003 by the National Tripartite Cooperation Council (NTCC). It asks the Government to provide in its next report indications on the consultations held on the matters set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention and on the nature of any reports or recommendations adopted by the NTCC on the matters covered by the Convention. In this respect, the Committee recalls its comments on the constitutional obligation to submit the instruments adopted by the Conference to Parliament (Saeima) and hopes that the Government will report on the tripartite consultations required by Article 5, paragraph 1(b), of the Convention.

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1. The Committee is grateful for the detailed information provided by the Government on the activities of the National Tripartite Cooperation Council. It would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide reports on the consultations held on the matters covered by the Convention and, in particular, on the consultations held during the period covered by the next report by the National Tripartite Cooperation Council on the issues set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention and, as appropriate, on the nature of any reports or recommendations adopted by the above Council.

2. In relation to its previous direct request, the Committee notes the Government’s observations concerning the communication dated 15 September 1999 of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Latvia (LBAS) denouncing the violation of the rules of procedure of the National Tripartite Cooperation Council on the occasion of the revision of the national legislation on public pensions. According to the Government’s reply, the amendments to the law had to be adopted in a very short period of time and this made it impossible to hold the consultations on that particular situation but, in 1999, the Government prepared new amendments to the legislation on public pensions taking into account the proposals of LBAS. The Committee notes that these amendments were accepted by the National Tripartite Cooperation Council on November 1999 and the amendments came into force on 8 December 1999.

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The Committee notes with interest the Government's report, and particularly the information provided in reply to its previous direct request on the frequency of the consultations held in the Tripartite Cooperation Council on the matters covered by the Convention. It requests the Government to continue providing such detailed information in future reports on the application of the Convention.

The Committee notes the communication from the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Latvia (LBAS) denouncing the violation of the rules of procedure of the National Tripartite Cooperation Council on the occasion of the revision of the national legislation on public pensions. The Government is requested to provide any observations which it considers appropriate concerning the allegations made by the LBAS.

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The Committee takes note of the Government's first report on the application of the Convention. It notes with interest the information concerning consultations on the matters set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention in the Tripartite Consulting Council of employers, the State and trade unions of Latvia. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide additional information in its next report on the following points.

Article 4. The Government indicates that the Ministry of Social Protection is responsible for providing administrative support for the consultation procedures that take place in the Council referred to above. It is asked to indicate whether arrangements have been made or are contemplated for financing any necessary training of participants in these procedures (paragraph 2).

Article 5. The Government is asked to provide, as requested in paragraph 2, information on the frequency of consultations. It is also asked to indicate the nature of any reports or recommendations resulting from these consultations. In this regard, the Committee notes that, under the rules of procedure of the Tripartite Consulting Council, the summary records of meetings must be sent to the participants. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would as far as possible provide copies of these documents.