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Compilation of decisions of the Committee on Freedom of Association

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Right of workers and employers, without distinction whatsoever, to establish and to join organizations3

Distinctions based on occupational category

Self-employed workers and the liberal professions

  1. By virtue of the principles of freedom of association, all workers with the sole exception of members of the armed forces and the police should have the right to establish and join organizations of their own choosing. The criterion for determining the persons covered by that right, therefore, is not based on the existence of an employment relationship, which is often non-existent, for example in the case of agricultural workers, self-employed workers in general or those who practise liberal professions, who should nevertheless enjoy the right to organize.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2423El Salvador342479
2602Republic of Korea359365
2602Republic of Korea363461
2757Peru360990
2786Dominican Republic359453
2888Poland3631084
3042Guatemala376532
Digest: 2006254
  1. The Committee requested a government to take the necessary measures to ensure that self-employed workers fully enjoyed freedom of association rights, in particular the right to join the organizations of their own choosing.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2786Dominican Republic376349
  1. It is contrary to Convention No. 87 to prevent trade unions of self-employed workers who are not subordinate to, or dependent on, a person.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2868Panama3631005
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