Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Syrian Arab Republic (Ratification: 1960)

Articles 1(1) and 2(1) of the Convention. Freedom of career members of the armed forces to leave their service. Over a number of years, the Committee has been referring to the provisions of Legislative Decree No. 53 of 1962, under which the resignation of a member of the armed forces who has received a scholarship can only be accepted after ten years of service if the scholarship has lasted longer than one year.

In its latest report, the Government reiterates its earlier statement that Legislative Decree No. 18 of 2003 has repealed and replaced Legislative Decree No. 53 of 1962, and therefore the above provision has been repealed. The Government also refers to section 129 of Legislative Decree No. 18 of 2003, and section 51 of the Commander-in-Chief’s Decision No. 5 of 2005, under which a military person sent on mission for studies inside or outside the country shall serve in the armed forces for a period of time which is equivalent to the period of the mission and will be entitled to submit the resignation only after the expiration of this period. Otherwise, the resignation can be accepted only upon the reimbursement of the expenses incurred by the State. The Committee requests the Government once again, to provide with its next report, a copy of Legislative Decree No. 18 of 2003, as well as a copy of the Commander-in-Chief’s Decision No. 5 of 2005 referred to above.