Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Bulgaria (Ratification: 1932)

The Committee notes the Government’s reply to its earlier comments. It notes, in particular, the adoption of the Alternative Military Service Act, of 6 November 1998.

Article 2(2)(c) of the Convention.  The Committee notes that section 61 of the Serving Punishments Act allows prisoners to work for trading companies, other legal entities and individual proprietorships, under the conditions provided for by the Minister of Justice. The Government states in its report that performing labour is a right of prisoners, but it is not deemed obligatory. The Committee requests the Government to indicate, in its next report, the provisions in the national laws or regulations showing that the work of prisoners is not compulsory, and more particularly, as regards the abovementioned section 61, how the voluntary consent of the prisoners to work for private parties is guaranteed, so that it is free from the menace of any penalty, including any loss of privileges or other disadvantages following from a refusal to work.

The Committee also notes section 62 and requests that the Government also describe the conditions in which work of prisoners for private employers takes place, including payment of normal wages, social security and observance of occupational safety and health legislation (e.g. through labour inspection), and indicate how those conditions are determined. Please supply copies of complete texts of the Serving Punishments Act (together with the regulations on its application) and the Juvenile Delinquency Act, 1958, as amended. Please also communicate copies of any other texts issued by the Ministry of Justice concerning the conditions under which prisoners may work for private parties, to which reference is made in section 61(1) of the Serving Punishments Act.