Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Belgium (Ratification: 1982)

Previous comment

The Committee notes the observations of the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB), received on 25 August 2023. It requests the Government to send its comments in this regard.

Article 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government on the tripartite consultations held in the National Labour Council (CNT). The Committee also notes that the Government considers that the 2019 collaboration protocol on tripartite exchanges in the National Labour Council helps to maintain a close and regular tripartite dialogue and to involve the social partners in the reporting exercise at an early stage. However, the Government continues to report difficulties with the regular reporting process and points to a lack of staff in the CNT in this respect. As to the observations of the social partners, the Committee notes that FEB criticizes the lack of consultation of the social partners prior to the sending of a letter on behalf of the Member States of the European Union, asking the Director-General of the ILO to include on the agenda of the ILO Governing Body the question of referring to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on the interpretation of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87). The Committee requests the Government to respond to the observations of FEB and to continue to provide detailed and up-to-date information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held in the CNT. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the challenges and measures identified to optimize the application of the Convention, including by increasing the staff of the CNT.

COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee takes note of the information provided, which responds to its previous comment on the challenges and good practices identified during the COVID-19 pandemic.