Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Paid Educational Leave Convention, 1974 (No. 140) - Afghanistan (Ratification: 1979)

The Committee takes note of the information contained in the Government’s report received in June 2006, as well as the content of the Afghanistan Compact that was adopted during the London Conference on Afghanistan on 31 January to 1 February 2006, and for which economic and social development is one of the three pillars of activity. The Committee also takes note of the comments formulated by the Workers and Employees National Union of Afghanistan on the application of the Convention. 

Articles 2, 3 and 6 of the Convention. Policy for the promotion of paid educational leave and participation of the social partners. The Committee notes that the 2006 Draft Labour Code contains a number of provisions concerning vocational guidance and training in Chapter VI of the Code entitled “Vocational training and raising skills of the workers”. The Committee refers to its comments under the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), on this issue. While no specific provisions for the granting of paid educational leave for the purpose of training at any level, general, social and civic education and trade union education have been included, the Committee nevertheless notes the provisions of article 94 of the Draft Labour Code that provide for opportunities granted to a worker for training purposes during working hours with adequate financial entitlements. The Committee looks forward to receiving from the Government more information on its policy and on the provisions in force granting paid educational leave for the purposes set out in Article 2(a), (b) and (c) of the Convention. Furthermore, having taken note of the comments of the Workers and Employees National Union of Afghanistan to the effect that the provisions of the Convention have not yet been implemented in practice, the Committee asks the Government to describe the manner in which employers’ and workers’ organizations are associated with the formulation and application of the policy for the promotion of paid educational leave.