Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Botswana (Ratification: 1997)

1. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee notes the Government’s reply received in May 2007 to its previous observation indicating that no consultations had been held on matters set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention. The Government was consulting the social partners and other stakeholders on the establishment of consultative machinery for the purpose of implementing the Convention. The Committee recalls that in paragraph 21 of the conclusions of the 11th ILO African Regional Meeting (Addis Ababa, April 2007), it was highlighted that “effective tripartism is a mechanism of governance that enables labour markets to function efficiently and equitably. … Tripartism furthermore can make a major contribution to improving the effectiveness and accountability of government. Ratification and application of the Convention is an important support to the development of tripartism.” The Committee hopes that the Government will establish appropriate tripartite social dialogue procedures in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention. It requests again the Government to report on the content of consultations which are held during the period covered by the next report on each of the matters set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, indicating their frequency and the nature of any reports or recommendations resulting from these consultations. Please also supply information on the financing of training necessary for persons participating in the consultative procedures (Article 4, paragraph 2) and on consultations held with the representative organizations concerning the operation of the procedures (Article 6).

2. The Committee recalls that the Government can call upon, if it considers it appropriate, the advice and assistance of the Office on the matters raised by this observation so that effective tripartite consultations can be held on the subjects on international labour standards covered by the Convention.