Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Pakistan (Ratification: 1952)

The Committee takes note of the Government's report of 2 October 1992 and of several communications from the All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions (APFTU) dated 8 July 1992 and 11 January and 11 October 1993. It further notes the discussions in the Conference Committee in 1992 and 1993, and that a direct contacts mission took place from 15 to 22 January 1994, between a representative of the Director-General and the Government.

The Committee's previous observations referred to inconsistencies between the national legislation and various Articles of the Convention:

- Article 4 of the Convention, limitations on free collective bargaining in the banking and financial sector (sections 38A to 38I of the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 1969); and

- denial of the rights guaranteed by Articles 1, 2 and 4 for workers in export processing zones (section 25 of the Export Processing Zones Authority Ordinance, 1980) and employees of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (section 10 of the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Act, 1956).

The Committee takes note of the report of the direct contacts mission, during which all these issues were discussed with the authorities and the various workers' and employers' organizations. It further notes that the Government expressed its continued interest in receiving technical assistance from the Office on these matters.

The Committee also notes that a tripartite task force was established recently, with a wide mandate on labour and industrial relations issues. The Committee hopes that this initiative, together with the recommendations of the direct contacts mission, will soon lead to substantial progress on the above-mentioned issues, for which the Office may provide technical assistance.

REQUESTS The Government is asked to report in detail for the period ending 30 June 1994. #REPORT_DATE:30:06:1994