Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Seychelles (Ratification: 1978)

The Committee notes that for the fourth year in succession the Government's report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation, which read as follows:

The Committee takes note of the statutes of the National Workers' Union. It observes that no new information in addition to the general statements that were made in the first report (1979) submitted since the accession of the country to independence has been supplied on the application of the Convention. The Committee considers that it would be useful to recall the obligation on all States Members under article 22 of the Constitution of the ILO to transmit detailed reports on the effect given to ratified Conventions and to use as a basis the report forms adopted for the purpose by the Governing Body. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee would point out that, after the voluntary dissolution of all trade unions, the "National Workers' Union", representing all categories of workers, was set up in 1979. Under the constitution of the "Seychelles People's Progressive Front", promulgated as a schedule to the national Constitution in 1979, the Union functions under the direction of the Front (section 4); for example, the consent of the Front is necessary for every decision, it must also approve the expenditure of the Union, and it receives 25 per cent of the total amount of union dues (section l2 of the constitution of the Front). The Committee has noted that the law in force provides for the existence of only one trade union organization, mentioned by name and placed under the direction of a political party, as is confirmed by the comments of the National Workers' Union, and thus establishes a system of trade union monopoly, which is contrary to the Convention. The Committee recalls that it has already pointed out in the General Survey on Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, which it submitted to the 69th (1983) Session of the International Labour Conference, particularly in paragraphs l32 to l38, that trade union unity imposed directly or indirectly by law is in conflict with express standards of the Convention (Article 2) and that trade unions should have the right to organize their activities and to formulate their programmes in full freedom, and also to draw up their constitutions and elect their representatives in full freedom. The Committee feels bound to emphasize, in reply to the statement of the Government that the socialist development of the country will be carried out in accordance with the doctrine of the party, which advocates the support of a single national trade union organization, that, even in a situation where, at some point in the history of a nation, all workers have preferred to unify the trade union movement, they should, however, be able to safeguard their freedom to set up, should they so wish in the future, unions outside the established trade union structure. Lastly, the Committee considers it useful to recall that the resolution on the Independence of the Trade Union Movement (adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 35th Session, 1952) stresses, in particular, that governments should not seek to transform the trade union movement into a political instrument which they could use to achieve their political aims.

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

[The Government is asked to supply full particulars to the Conference at its 80th Session.]