Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Papua New Guinea (Ratification: 1976)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters raised in its pevious direct request:

Article 1(c) and (d), of the Convention. In previous comments, the Committee noted that under section 7(1)(a), (c), (d) and (e) of the Seamen (Foreign) Act, Ch. 177, a seaman belonging to a foreign ship who deserts or commits certain other disciplinary offences is liable to imprisonment (involving an obligation to perform work). Under section 8 of the same Act and section 165 of the Merchant Shipping Act, foreign seamen deserting their ship may be forcibly returned on board ship. The Government had indicated that the Seamen (Foreign) Act was in the process of being repealed and the comments regarding section 165 of the Merchant Shipping Act were noted and would be considered during review of the Act. The Committee noted the Government's information in its report for the period ending 30 June 1989 that it was the intention of the Department of Labour and Employment to recommend to the Department of Transport the changes required to bring legislation into conformity with the Convention. The Committee again expresses the hope that the Government will soon be in a position to indicate that the necessary measures have been taken.