Effect given to the recommendations of the committee and the Governing Body - Report No 305, November 1996

Case No 1623 (Bulgaria) - Complaint date: 29-JAN-92 - Closed

Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body

1. 14. During its last examination of this case in March 1994 (see 292nd Report, paras. 333-352), the Committee requested the Government to make every effort for a new law to be enacted defining the principles for the redistribution of trade union assets confiscated from the former Bulgarian trade unions, with a view to allowing the Working Group to continue its work and ensuring that all the measures already taken and those yet to be taken will in the near future result in a definitive allocation of the assets and funds covered by the law of 1991. The Committee further requested the Government to ensure that the voluntary contributions paid in by members of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) since February 1990 be included in the share of the confiscated assets to be transferred to the CITUB.
2. 15. In a communication dated 20 May 1996, the Government indicates that a circular was addressed to the two trade union organizations in order to obtain information about the actual number of trade union members. Furthermore, the Minister of Finance issued an order and instructions to the Regional Governors related to the improvement of management of the State property included in the assets of Sofis Ltd., of which CITUB is a shareholder. According to the Government, these documents do not infringe trade union rights and freedoms and correspond to the state duties for fund control of the state budget for social needs and state property management. Furthermore, the Government indicated that it is always ready to take into account the claims and to satisfy the demands of trade union and employers' organizations which are connected to their needs in the framework of the current legislation, and the Government has relied and will rely on a useful dialogue with all of the social partners at national level.
3. 16. The Committee takes note of this information. It notes with regret, however, that the Government has not provided any information concerning the progress made in enacting a new law defining the principles for a definitive allocation of the trade union assets and funds confiscated from the former Bulgarian trade unions. The Government is requested to keep the Committee informed of any developments in this regard and to provide copies of the final decisions concerning redistribution as soon as they are enacted.