Definitive Report - Report No 157, June 1976

Case No 732 (Togo) - Complaint date: 11-DEC-72 - Closed

1. 26. The Committee already examined this case in May 1974 and February 1975 and submitted a report to the Governing Body at each of its sessions. These reports are reproduced in paragraphs 61-75 of its 144th report and paragraphs 31-43 of its 149th report.
2. 27. Togo has ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) but has not ratified the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

A. A. The complainants' allegations

1. 28. The allegations still outstanding concerned the position of trade union leader Innocent Toovi, who, according to the complainants, was in custody or hiding. At its session in May 1974, the Committee recommended the Governing Body, in particular, to request the Director-General to maintain all appropriate contacts with the Government with a view to obtaining information on the situation of Mr. Innocent Toovi.
2. 29. The Government submitted certain observations in a communication of 18 November 1974, but did not provide any information concerning the trade union leader in question. In February 1975, the Committee, therefore, made the same recommendation to the Governing Body. During its session of 10 November 1975, the Committee noted that no information had been received. It therefore requested the Director-General to continue to maintain all appropriate forms of contact with the Government and made a new appeal to the Government to provide the information requested (see paragraph 11 of the 153rd report of the Committee). However, during the examination of this report at its November 1975 session, the Governing Body was informed that the Government had subsequently submitted a communication (dated 19 November 1975) in which it stated that Mr. Toovi had never been arrested. According to that communication, he was director of a large school in Lomé, a post which he had always held.
3. 30. In addition, the WCL stated in a letter of 12 December 1975 that since the submission of its complaint, the trade union situation had improved considerably in Togo and that it would not have submitted such a complaint at the present time.

31. The Committee notes this information with interest and under these conditions recommends the Governing Body to decide that the case does not call for further examination.