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Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body
Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body
- 21. This case was last examined by the Committee at its March 2007 meeting and involves allegations of interference by the authorities in the activities of the National Trade Union of Workers of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Administrative Reform (SG/SYNTRA/MFPTRA) and discriminatory measures (transfers, restrictions on the right to hold meetings) against the trade union organization’s leaders [see 344th Report, paras 332–352]. On that occasion, the Committee made the following recommendations:
- (a) With regard to the allegations concerning the transfer of trade union officials and members belonging to the complainant organization, the Committee requests the Government to examine, with the complainant organization, how best to limit the impact of the transfer of the trade union members in question and requests the Government to engage in full and frank consultation whenever it deems it necessary to transfer significant numbers of workers, including trade union members.
- (b) With regard to the alleged restrictions on the right to hold meetings, the Committee, bearing in mind the Government’s statement that trade union meetings have never been prohibited at the Ministry, requests the Government to respect fully the right to hold trade union meetings without demanding the communication of the agenda, which should remain an internal trade union matter.
- (c) With regard to the allegations concerning: (1) acts of favouritism on the part of the authorities towards the SYNATRA trade union (which allegedly has close links to the Director of the Office of the Minister); and (2) the reduction or withholding of the retraining allowances of nine trade union members because of their participation in a strike, the Committee requests the Government to clarify these matters with the complainant organization, with a view to ensuring full respect for the principles of freedom of association. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed in this regard.
- 22. In a communication dated 25 March 2008, the Government states that it has taken note of the Committee’s recommendation regarding the need to guarantee the full right to hold meetings. It adds that an advisory committee, made up of representatives of the administration and the representative organizations of the workers of the Ministry, has been put in place in order to issue opinions on the transfers envisaged or requested by the workers themselves. Finally, the Government states that talks are currently under way with SYNTRA/MFPTRA on the issue of the transfer of trade union members referred to in the complaint, in order to reach a negotiated settlement.
- 23. The Committee notes with interest the information relating to the steps taken by the Government to seek, in consultation with the complainant organization, a negotiated settlement concerning the issues at hand. The Committee hopes that the talks will quickly lead to a solution that is satisfactory to all parties, in accordance with the principles of freedom of association it previously recalled.
