Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Ukraine (Ratification: 1956)

The Committee has noted the information provided by the Government in reply to its earlier comments. It has noted, in particular, the information concerning the organization of auxiliary labour in agriculture, which, according to the regulations on the procedure of the organization of seasonal works of 27 April 1998, is carried out on the basis of a contract concluded between a worker and an enterprise in accordance with the general labour legislation.

Freedom to leave the service. The Committee previously noted that section 8(2) of the Act on the Social and Legal Protection of Members of the Armed Forces, of 20 December 1991, refers to a possibility for career military personnel to terminate their service at their own request. Referring to its earlier comments, the Committee asks the Government to supply additional information on the rules governing acceptance or refusal of a request to be discharged from military service, and on any recourse available against a decision of refusal.

Article 25 of the Convention. The Committee has noted with interest the amendments made to the Criminal Code by Law No. 210 of 24 March 1998, according to which sanctions of imprisonment have been introduced for trafficking in persons with the purpose of exploitation of their labour. Referring also to the Government’s explanations in its report concerning the applicability of section 133 of the Criminal Code to cases of the illegal exactions of forced or compulsory labour, as well as to the Committee’s general observation on Convention No. 29 published in its report submitted to the 89th Session of the International Labour Conference, 2001, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application of section 133 in practice, such information to include a report as to any legal proceedings which have been instituted as a consequence of the illegal exaction of forced or compulsory labour and on any penalties imposed.