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

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Dominica (Ratification: 1983)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters raised in its previous direct request:

In previous comments the Committee noted that section 28 of the National Service Act, 1977 provides that persons between the ages of 18 and 21 years, among others, are required to perform service with the National Service. Section 29 provides that in such services, National Servicemen shall be given and shall undertake such training and employment in the National Service and perform such duties as may be prescribed by the Authority or by the officers placed in command over them and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing shall, where possible, be engaged in development projects and self-help projects including housing, school construction, agriculture and road building. Section 35(2) provides for a penalty, including fine and imprisonment, for persons who, being liable under this Act, fail without reasonable excuse to present themselves to serve when called upon to do so.

The Committee noted the Government's indication in its report for the period ending 30 June 1989 that none of the sections of the National Service Act, 1977, had been amended and that the Act was still on the Statute Books. The Committee requested the Government to indicate any steps taken or contemplated with regard to the above-mentioned provisions to ensure the observance of Convention No. 29 as well as of Article 1(b) of Convention No. 105. In this connection the Government may wish to refer to the explanations provided in paragraphs 49 to 62 of the Committee's 1979 General Survey on the Abolition of Forced Labour.