Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

Plantations Convention, 1958 (No. 110) - Philippines (Ratification: 1968)

The Committee notes the information of the Government that both the "Magna Carta for Rural Workers" and the Bill providing for the inclusion in the Labour Code of a specific chapter on plantation workers are still in the Labour Committee of the House of Representatives. The Committee hopes that the above legal instruments will soon be enacted in order to give effect to the provisions of the Convention, in particular to Articles 11, paragraph 2 (Medical Examination), 12 (Transport), 13 (Expenses), 14 and 15 (Repatriation), 16 (Advances of Wages); Part VII (Maternity Protection -- Articles 47, paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, and 48, paragraphs 1 and 3); and Part XII (Housing: Articles 85 to 88) of the Convention. It also requests the Government to report on any progress achieved in this respect and to supply copies of the relevant legal texts when adopted.

Article 19. Further to its previous comments the Committee requests once more the Government to communicate copies of extracts of collective agreements or of any other documents making provision for medical services for workers covered by this provision and of the members of their families.

Article 24, paragraphs 2 and 3. The Committee refers to its comments of 1998 under Convention No. 99.

Article 49. The Committee had noted in its previous comments that the attachment referred to in the Government's report received in 1992 had not been received. It had requested the Government to communicate the legislative provisions, regulations or collective agreements which give effect to this Article of the Convention, and to provide the text thereof. The Committee observes that the last report of the Government does not reply to this demand. The Committee therefore requests the Government to supply the information on the above legal texts and to communicate copies of the relevant texts.

Parts IX and X. Right to organize and collective bargaining; freedom of association. The Committee refers to its comments of 1998 under Convention No. 87.

Part XI. Labour inspection. The Committee refers to its previous comments and hopes that the Rural Workers Development Authority will be established after enactment of the Bill providing for the inclusion in the Labour Code of a specific chapter on plantation workers, to give effect to the provisions of this Part of the Convention, in particular to Articles 73 and 74, paragraphs 1(b), 1(c) and 2, and to Articles 75 to 77 and 79 to 81. It requests the Government to report on any progress achieved in this respect.

Finally, the Committee takes note that the Government may consider denouncing the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to study this question, and to carry out exhaustive consultations with the employers' and workers' organizations concerned.