Effect given to the recommendations of the committee and the Governing Body - Report No 309, March 1998

Case No 1920 (Lebanon) - Complaint date: 11-FEB-97 - Closed

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

1. 24. At its meeting in November 1997, the Committee requested the Government to indicate whether the contested results of the elections of the officials of the General Labour Confederation of Lebanon (CGTL) on 24 April 1997 was currently the subject of judicial recourse and to keep it informed of the results of any such proceedings. Furthermore, as concerns the arrest of trade union leaders Mr. Abou-Rizk and Mr. Yasser Nehmi and their subsequent prosecution, the Committee urged the Government to do everything in its power to ensure that the charges brought against them were withdrawn immediately. (See 308th Report, para. 525.)
2. 25. In a communication dated 9 January 1998, the Government indicated that the Beirut Court had rejected, for error in form, the appeal to annul the CGTL elections. The appeal was considered not receivable for non-conformity with the law since the executive board of the complainant union had not introduced legal action.
3. 26. The Committee notes this information. It observes that the Government has not provided any information on the situation of Mr. Abou-Rizk or Mr. Yasser Nehmi. The Committee is obliged once again to express its deep concern regarding the prosecution undertaken against these two trade union leaders, in particular given that the charges appear to be directly linked to the fact that they submitted a complaint to the ILO. The Committee urges the Government to do everything in its power to ensure that the charges are immediately withdrawn. It requests the Government to keep it informed of any developments in this situation.