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

Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention, 1978 (No. 151) - Gabon (Ratification: 2009)

Article 4 of the Convention. Protection of the right to organize. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that there were no specific provisions in the legislation which ensured protection for public employees against discrimination in their performance of trade union activities. The Committee notes the Government’s reply, in which it undertakes to provide information on the measures it may adopt to ensure protection for public employees against acts of anti-union discrimination. The Committee trusts that the Government will, in the near future, take the necessary measures, in consultation with the representative organizations concerned, to ensure that the legislation specifically sets out provisions that ensure adequate protection against discrimination due to the exercise of trade union activities, as well as rapid and impartial procedures and sufficiently dissuasive sanctions.

Article 5. Protection against acts of interference. The Committee also noted that Act No. 18/92 establishing conditions for the establishment and operation of trade unions for public employees contains no specific provisions prohibiting acts of interference by the public authorities in the internal affairs of trade unions, except for section 8 indicating that public employees enjoy the rights that are essential to the normal exercise of the right to organize. The Committee notes that, in its reply, the Government confirms the absence of provisions in this respect and undertakes to provide information on the measures it may adopt to ensure adequate protection against acts of interference by the authorities in trade union activities. The Committee trusts that the Government will take the necessary measures, in the near future, in consultation with the representative organizations concerned to ensure that the legislation specifically includes supplementary provisions that ensure adequate protection for trade union organizations against acts of interference by the public authorities in their training, operation and administration, including rapid and impartial procedures and sufficiently dissuasive sanctions.

Article 7. Procedure for determining terms and conditions of employment. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous comments on the negotiations held by the public service advisory bodies, which have led to agreements. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information illustrating the development of the collective bargaining with public employees’ organizations, as required by the Convention.

Finally, noting that the Government reiterates its intention of adopting a text to establish the composition and operation of the National Council for Social Dialogue, in accordance with the objectives set out in the National Social Dialogue Charter of 2012, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on any developments in this respect.