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Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Syrian Arab Republic (RATIFICATION: 1960)

The Committee notes with concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments.

Repetition

The Committee notes that in its reply to the 2012 observations of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) alleging the use of police and paramilitary force in dealing with protests, deaths, arrests and imprisonment of political and human rights activists, the Government indicates that: (i) the ILO has no constitutional mandate to interfere in countries’ internal political affairs, rather its mandate is to examine allegations of economic nature or dealing with working conditions; (ii) the matter raised by the ITUC is being discussed by the Human Rights Council since 2011; (iii) the Government categorically refutes the use of violence against its citizens; the protests, killings and acts of vandalism were carried out by armed terrorist groups in order to destabilize the country; and (iv) the right to strike is provided for in article 44 of the Constitution (2012), which specifies that citizens have the right to assemble, to peacefully demonstrate and to strike. The Committee recalls that freedom of association is a principle with implications that go well beyond the mere framework of labour law. It further recalls that the ILO supervisory bodies have unceasingly stressed the interdependence between civil liberties and trade union rights, emphasizing that a truly free and independent trade union movement can only develop in a climate free from violence, pressure and threats of any kind against the leaders and members of such organizations (see the 2012 General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, paragraph 59). The Committee expects the Government to ensure respect for this principle.

Article 2 of the Convention. Scope of application. The Committee had previously requested the Government to indicate whether independent workers, civil servants, agricultural workers, domestic workers and similar categories, casual workers and part-time workers whose hours of work do not exceed two hours per day enjoy the rights provided for in the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that by virtue of section 5(b) of the Labour Act No. 17 of 2010, domestic workers and similar categories, workers in charity associations and organizations, casual workers and part-time workers (workers whose hours of work do not exceed two hours per day) shall be subjected to the provisions of their employment contracts, which may not, under any circumstances, prescribe fewer entitlements than those prescribed by the Labour Act, including the provisions of the Law on Trade Union Organizations. The Committee considers, however, that the right to organize of the abovementioned categories of workers excluded from the scope of application of the Labour Act should be explicitly protected in law. Therefore, the Committee requests the Government to take measures, in consultation with social partners, to adopt the necessary legislative provisions so as to ensure that these categories of workers enjoy the rights provided for in the Convention. The Committee further notes that agricultural workers and agriculture work relationships, including collective bargaining, are governed by Agricultural Relations Law No. 56 of 2004, that domestic workers are governed by Law No. 201 of 2010, and that civil servants are governed by Basic Law on State Employees No. 50 of 2004. The Committee requests the Government to indicate specific legislative provisions that regulate particular aspects of freedom of association rights of civil servants, agricultural workers, and domestic as well as independent workers, and to provide a copy thereof.

Trade union monopoly. For several years, the Committee has been referring to the need for the Government to amend or repeal the legislative provisions which establish a trade union monopoly (sections 3, 4, 5 and 7 of Legislative Decree No. 84; sections 4, 6, 8, 13, 14 and 15 of Legislative Decree No. 3, amending Legislative Decree No. 84; section 2 of Legislative Decree No. 250 of 1969; and sections 26–31 of Act No. 21 of 1974). The Committee takes note of the Government’s indication that workers have the right to establish independent trade unions if the union is affiliated to the General Federation of Trade Unions in Syria (GFTU). According to the Government, the application of trade union pluralism in several countries weakened trade unions and diminished workers’ rights. Observing that all workers’ organizations must belong to the GFTU and that any attempt to form a trade union must be subject to the consent of this Federation, the Committee considers that although it is generally to the advantage of workers and employers to avoid a proliferation of competing organizations, the right of workers to be able to establish organizations of their own choosing, as set out in Article 2of the Convention, implies that trade union diversity must remain possible in all cases. The Committee considers that it is important for workers to be able to change trade unions or to establish a new union for reasons of independence, effectiveness or ideological choice. Consequently, trade union unity imposed directly or indirectly by law is contrary to the Convention (General Survey 2012, op. cit., paragraph 92). The Committee reiterates its previous request and expects that all necessary measures will be taken by the Government, in full consultations with the social partners, so as to bring the national legislation into conformity with Article 2 of the Convention. It requests the Government to inform it of any progress made in this regard.

Article 3. Financial administration of organizations. The Committee recalls that its previous comments related to the need to amend section 18(a) of Legislative Decree No. 84, as amended by section 4(5) of Legislative Decree No. 30 of 1982, so as to lift the power of the Minister to set the conditions and procedures for the investment of trade union funds in financial services and industrial sectors. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, in accordance with the rights afforded to them by the Constitution, the GFTU and other unions are financially independent and have the right to conclude agreements and labour contracts in accordance with section 17 of the Law on Trade Union Organizations and the right to dispose of their funds and income in accordance with their internal regulations and decisions. Noting with regret the absence of any new development in this regard, the Committee expects the Government to undertake, as soon as possible, the revision of section 18(a) of Legislative Decree No. 84, as amended by section 4(5) of Legislative Decree No. 30 of 1982, in full consultations with the social partners. It also requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged in this regard.

Right of organizations to elect their representatives in full freedom. The Committee had previously requested the Government to provide specific information on the measures taken or contemplated to repeal or amend section 1(4) of Act No. 29 of 1986, amending Legislative Decree No. 84 which determines the composition of the GFTU Congress and its presiding officers. The Committee has stated on multiple occasions that it should be up to trade union constitutions and rules to establish the composition and presiding officers of trade union congresses. Noting with regret the absence of any new development in this regard, the Committee expects that the Government will take the necessary measures, as soon as possible, in order to amend or repeal the above-mentioned provision in consultation with the social partners so as to ensure that organizations are able to elect their representatives in full freedom. It requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged in this respect.

Right of organizations to formulate their programmes and organize their activities. In its previous comments, the Committee had requested that the Government take the necessary measures to amend legislative provisions that restrict the right to strike by imposing heavy sanctions including imprisonment (sections 330, 332, 333 and 334 of Legislative Decree No. 148 of 1949, issuing the Penal Code). The Committee had further observed that no reference was made to the possibility for workers to exercise their right to strike in the chapter on collective labour disputes of the Labour Act. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that section 67 of the Labour Act provides protection against dismissals of unionized workers for taking part in trade-union activities. Recalling that in the past, the Government had indicated that the GFTU was working to modify the Labour Act to ensure coherence with articles of the Constitution granting workers the right to strike, the Committee expects that the law will be amended so as to bring it into line with the Convention and requests the Government to provide information in this regard. While noting the Government’s indication that the agricultural sector is now governed by Law No. 56 of 2004, the Committee also requests the Government to indicate whether workers of this sector enjoy the right to strike and identify the relevant legislative provisions.

While acknowledging the complexity of the situation prevailing on the ground due to the presence of armed groups and armed conflict in the country, the Committee trusts that the Government will make all efforts to bring its law and practice into conformity with the Convention.

The Committee expects that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.