Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - New Caledonia

The Committee notes the Government's report and the information it contains in reply to its previous direct request. It notes the information concerning the apportionment of powers between the French mainland, the territory of New Caledonia and its three provinces. The Government indicates that the Advisory Labour Commission set up under Order No. 5-1181 of 13 November 1985 is consulted on any draft law or order on labour-related matters. In addition, it specifies that the Commission met on nine occasions in 1995, eight occasions in 1996 and once in February 1997. The Committee, which appreciates the information provided, notes once again that no consultations have been held to date on any of the matters relating to the standard-setting activities of the ILO listed in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention. It therefore feels that it is useful to emphasize once again the need, under Article 2, to implement effective tripartite consultation procedures on the matters referred to above. The Committee hopes that the Government's next report will provide details of the progress made in this regard. For this purpose, the Committee requests the Government to envisage the possibility of conducting the tripartite consultations in question within the Advisory Labour Commission.

Finally, the Committee requests the Government to keep the ILO informed of any changes in the status of the territory of New Caledonia resulting from the referendum on self-determination scheduled to take place in the course of 1998.