Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Liberia (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes the observations of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) received on 1 September 2017 concerning issues that have been raised since 2012 and which are examined in the present observation, as well as matters that are being dealt with by the Committee on Freedom of Association in the framework of Cases Nos 3081 and 3202.

Legislative developments. The Committee recalls that for many years it has been commenting on the need to amend or repeal the following provisions of Title 18 of the Labour Act, which are not in conformity with the Convention: (i) section 4506, prohibiting workers in state enterprises and the public administration from establishing trade unions; (ii) section 4601-A, prohibiting agricultural workers from joining industrial workers’ organizations; and (iii) section 4102(10) and (11), providing for the supervision of trade union elections by the Labour Practices Review Board. The Committee notes with satisfaction that, as indicated by the Government in its report, Title 18 of the Labour Practices Law has been repealed by the Decent Work Act 2015 (the Act) which came into force on 1 March 2016. The Committee wishes to raise the following points with respect to the Act.

Scope of application. The Committee notes that section 1.5(c)(i) and (ii) of the Act excludes from its scope of application work falling within the scope of the Civil Service Agency Act. The Committee recalls, in this respect, that in its previous comment, it had noted the Government’s indication that the legislation guaranteeing the right of public employees to establish trade unions (the Public Service Ordinance) was being revised with the technical assistance of the Office. The Committee notes that no new information has been provided by the Government in that respect. The Committee expects that the revision of the Ordinance will make it possible to give full effect to the Convention in relation to public employees and requests the Government to report any developments in this regard.

The Committee notes that section 1.5(c)(i) and (ii) of the Act also excludes from its scope of application, officers, members of the crew and any other persons employed or in training on vessels. Noting that no information has been provided by the Government on the legislation guaranteeing the right to establish and join organizations to those working on vessels, the Committee requests the Government to indicate how maritime workers, including trainees, are ensured the rights enshrined in the Convention, including any laws or regulations adopted or envisaged covering this category of workers.

Article 1 of the Convention. Right of workers, without distinction whatsoever, to establish and join organizations. The Committee notes that section 2.6 of the Act provides that all employers and workers, without distinction whatsoever, may establish and join organizations of their own choosing without prior authorization, and subject only to the rules of the organization concerned. The Committee also notes that section 45.6 of the Act recognizes the right of foreign workers to join organizations. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether, in addition to the right to join organizations, foreign workers are entitled to establish organizations of their own choosing.

Article 3. Determination of essential services. The Committee notes that the National Tripartite Council (established by virtue of section 4.1 of the Act) has the function to identify and recommend to the Minister services that are to be considered essential (section 41.4(a) of the Act). The Committee notes with interest that essential services are defined in section 41.4 of the Act as services which, if interrupted, would endanger the life, personal safety or health of the whole or any part of the population. The section also provides that the President shall, upon considering the recommendations of the National Tripartite Council, decide whether or not to designate any part of a service as an essential service and publish a notice of designation of that essential service in the Official Gazette. The Committee notes that the final decision on the determination of a service as essential rests with the President, who is neither bound by nor obliged to follow the recommendations of the National Tripartite Council. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether, in determining services which are to be considered essential, the President is bound by the definition of essential services set out in section 41.4 of the Act. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on how section 41.4 has operated in practice with respect to the designation of essential services.