Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

Dock Work Convention, 1973 (No. 137) - Uruguay (Ratification: 1980)

The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending May 2002. In reply to the direct request of 1998, the Government states that the National Administration of Stevedoring Services (ANSE) was abolished by section 33 of Emergency Act No. 17243 of 29 June 2000. Employees with one year’s service at the ANSE are being redeployed in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, a subprogramme having been established under the General Inspectorate of Labour and Social Security. The Committee recalls that Act No. 16246 of 8 April 1992 already abolished the monopoly over port services, thus allowing their provision by private firms or operators as well and introducing free competition in this sector. In that connection, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the employment conditions of dockworkers employed on a casual basis by private stevedore companies (under the authority of the ANSE) and, more specifically, the measures taken to assure minimum periods of employment or minimum income for this category of workers in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Convention. In view of the reforms introduced since 2000, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate how the "national policy" required by Article 2 encourages all concerned to provide permanent or regular employment for dockworkers, and the measures taken to prevent or minimize any detrimental effects of the reforms on permanent or regular employment for dockworkers.

Articles 3 and 4. The Government states that no registers of dockworkers have been established by the National Ports Administration (ANP), although there are operational categories, but not covered by a registration system. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate how it intends to give effect to these provisions of the Convention.

Parts III and V of the report form. The Committee again asks the Government to provide general information on the practical application of the Convention and, to that end, to send extracts from reports by the authorities responsible for enforcing laws and regulations, including particulars of the numbers of dockworkers under the authority of the ANP and of those employed by private companies.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2004.]