Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Nicaragua (Ratification: 1967)

Article 4 of the Convention. Promotion of collective bargaining. In its previous comments the Committee asked the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the exercise of trade union rights in the export processing zones (EPZs). In this respect, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that a total of 10,719 persons are members of 59 active trade union organizations at national level in the EPZs. The Government also states that a total of 20 collective agreements have been signed at national level in the EPZs and that 48,180 workers are covered by such agreements and benefit from them. The Committee notes the measures taken by the Government to promote collective bargaining in the EPZs, particularly the establishment in 2010 of the Tripartite Labour Committee for Export Processing Zones and the signing in December 2012 of a tripartite agreement on labour and production stability in the EPZs. The agreement, which was concluded between the workers’ organizations and the Nicaraguan Textile and Clothing Industry Association (ANITEC), the Federation of Nicaraguan Private Export Processing Zone Associations (FCNZFP), the Ministry of Labour, and the National Commission for Export Processing Zones (CNZF), sets out the agreed percentage increases in minimum wages for the 2014–17 period. The Committee notes with interest this information and requests the Government to continue taking steps to promote collective bargaining at national level in all spheres, including the EPZs, and to provide information on any developments in this respect.