Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Syrian Arab Republic (Ratification: 1958)

The Committee has noted the information supplied by the Government in reply to its earlier comments in May 2000 and July 2001.

Article 1(a), (c) and (d) of the Convention.  Over a number of years the Committee has been referring to certain provisions of the Economic Penal Code, the Penal Code, the Agricultural Labour Code and the Press Act, under which prison sentences involving compulsory labour can be imposed as a means of political coercion or as a punishment for expressing views opposed to the established political system, and as a punishment for breaches of labour discipline and for the participation in strikes. The Committee previously noted the Government’s repeated indications in its reports that a draft legislative decree amending certain provisions of the Penal Code so as to eliminate all obligation to perform prison labour was being examined by the competent authorities. The Government indicates in its latest report that the draft legislative decree amending the Penal Code has been prepared by the Ministry of Justice in response to the economic and social developments witnessed by the country and to fulfil the request made by the Committee of Experts.

The Committee has noted from the Government’s explanations and from the text of the draft legislative decree received in the ILO in July 2001 that the terms "imprisonment with labour", "life imprisonment with hard labour" or "temporary hard labour" shall be removed from the Penal Code. The Committee hopes that, following the adoption of the draft legislative decree, persons convicted for activities coming under the purview of the Convention, and, in particular, persons convicted under the provisions referred to in the Economic Penal Code, the Penal Code, the Agricultural Labour Code and the Press Act, will no longer be under an obligation to perform labour, although they might be allowed to engage in work. The Government is requested to supply a copy of the legislative decree, as soon as it is adopted.