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

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Burundi (Ratification: 1963)

The Committee notes with interest the new Constitution of March 1992 which recognizes the freedom of the press and the various other texts transmitted by the Government.

1. It notes with satisfaction that several texts on which it had commented (Act No. 1/136 of 25 June 1976; Legislative Decree No. 1/4 of 28 February 1977 and Legislative Order No. 001/34 of 23 November 1966) were formally repealed by Legislative Decree No. 1/01 of 4 February 1992 issuing regulations respecting the press and by Legislative Decree No. 1/010 of 15 April 1992 on political parties.

2. The Committee notes the Government's statement in its report that subsequent texts and those issued under the new Constitution will take due account of the requirements of the Convention.

3. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that no legislative provision contained either in the Penal Code or in the legislation on prison labour made it possible to exempt political detainees from prison labour.

With reference to its 1979 General Survey on the Abolition of Forced Labour, and particularly paragraph 133, the Committee considers it necessary to recall that the Convention prohibits the use of forced or compulsory labour as a means of political coercion or education or a punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system.

The Committee noted previously the Government's statement that consultations were being pursued with a view to revising the legislation on prison labour to explicitly exclude political prisoners from its scope.

The Committee hopes that, in view of its previous observations and direct requests, and in the current context of the harmonization of the legislation, the revision referred to above will be implemented and it requests the Government to supply information on the measures taken in this respect.