Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Bulgaria (Ratification: 1998)

The Committee notes the observations of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (KNSB/CITUB), received on 1 September 2016, referring to a 2015 amendment to section 3 of the Labour Code, which regulates tripartite consultations. The KNSB/CITUB explains that the amendment will enable organizations of employers and workers to initiate the signing of agreements on labour relations and social security matters following an assessment by or at the suggestion of the Government. The KNSB/CITUB considers that the amendment will contribute to improving tripartite cooperation between the social partners and to timely discussions on the adoption of regulations on labour relations matters.

Article 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee welcomes the information supplied by the Government with regard to coordination procedures and tripartite consultations held by the National Council for Tripartite Consultations (NCTC) between 2014 and 2016. The Committee notes with interest that various meetings were held by the Labour Law Committee of the NCTC in order to examine bills aimed at bringing Bulgarian legislation in line with ratified ILO Conventions, namely the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98), and to determine whether national legislation is in conformity with the Seafarers’ Pensions Convention, 1946 (No. 71). The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated information on the content and outcome of the consultations held on all matters concerning international labour standards covered by the Convention.