Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Togo (Ratification: 1960)

With reference to its previous comment concerning the provisions of Ordinance No. 77-5 of 4 March 1977 and of Decree No. 77-66 of 14 March 1977, which provide for the compulsory deduction of trade union dues for the National Confederation of Workers of Togo (CNTT), designated by name in the legislation, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report to the effect that it has noted the Committee's observations and that the appropriate measures will be taken in order to bring the legislation into conformity with the Convention.

The Committee recalls that the legislation respecting the compulsory deduction of trade union dues, in its current form, has the effect of limiting the principle of trade union pluralism that is recognised in the national legislation even though, as the Government indicated in a previous report, the system for the deduction of trade union dues for the CNTT was introduced in the legislation after the agreement of the members of the CNTT.

Given that the issue of compulsory deduction of union dues in favour of the CNTT has been raised for several years, the Committee urges the Government to take steps to amend the legislation on this point. It points out, in this connection, that the Government could envisage the adoption of a provision making it possible, without naming them, for representative trade union organisations (according to the current law or practice) to request, following the agreement of their members, to benefit from the deduction from wages of trade union dues.

The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the measures that have been taken or are contemplated in this respect.