Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Papua New Guinea (Ratification: 1976)

With reference to its previous observations the Committee takes note of the Government's report.

The Committee had asked the Government to amend the national legislation which gives the authorities discretionary power to cancel arbitration awards or declare wages agreements void when they are contrary to government policy or national interest (section 42 of the Industrial Relations Act and section 52 of the Public Service Conciliation and Arbitration Act), contrary to Article 4 of the Convention.

The Committee notes that the Government states that due to the acute shortage of manpower in the relevant department the drafting of the amendments has not yet been attended to. Noting that the Government requires the full-time input of an official to look into further amendments as well, the Committee considers that this is a case where the technical assistance of the ILO should be drawn on. It thus hopes that the Government will take up this offer as soon as possible and, with direct help in the drafting of the necessary documents, will be able to report in its next report that the necessary amendments have been tabled and adopted.