Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Zambia (Ratification: 1978)

Article 5(1)(a)–(e) of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. In its 2017 comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information regarding tripartite discussions covered under the Convention, including those on unratified instruments, such as the Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183). The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) and in collaboration with the ILO, it has undertaken broad-based stakeholder consultations on key parameters that will form the foundation of the maternity and paternity protection policy design in Zambia. The Committee notes the main issues discussed in the consultations, including the shared cost of maternity between employers and workers, entitlement to a one-hour nursing break per day, and the extension to domestic workers of equal paid maternity leave benefits. The Government adds that some of the subjects agreed upon have been incorporated into the proposed Labour Code and the National Social Protection Bill. While the Committee welcomes the information provided, it nevertheless recalls that the purpose of the procedures required under the Convention are effective tripartite consultations on the matters set out in Article 5. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide updated detailed information concerning the content and outcome of tripartite discussions held on the matters related to international labour standards within the scope of Article 5(1) of the Convention, particularly relating to the questionnaires on the Conference agenda items (Article 5(1)(a)); the submission of instruments adopted by the Conference (Article 5(1)(b)); the re-examination at appropriate intervals of unratified Conventions and Recommendations to which effect has not yet been given (Article 5(1)(c)); and reports to be presented on the application of ratified Conventions (Article 5(1)(d)). The Committee refers to its 2017 Observation on the obligation of submission established under article 19 of the ILO Constitution, in which it requested information on the submission to the National Assembly of the instruments adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 99th, 100th, 101st, 103rd and 104th Sessions (2010–15). The Committee therefore requests the Government to report on the content and outcome of tripartite consultations held on the proposals submitted to the National Assembly in relation to the submission of these instruments.