Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Dock Work Convention, 1973 (No. 137) - Portugal (Ratification: 1981)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its earlier comments. It also notes the adoption of Legislative Decree No. 280 of 13 August 1993 which revised the legislation concerning dock work. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply, in its next report, additional information on the following points:

1. The Committee notes from the Government's report the information concerning the register established and maintained by the Dock Work Institute (ITP), including the number of registered dockworkers. It also notes that section 11, paragraph (1), of Legislative Decree No. 280 of 13 August 1993 abolished the system of registration and exclusive status of registered dockworkers as well as the port pools established by the legislation previously in force, specifically by Legislative Decree No. 151 of 15 May 1990 which has been repealed. Please indicate how effect is given or is proposed to be given to (i) Article 2 of the Convention which requires the Government to encourage the provision of permanent or regular employment to dockworkers in so far as practicable and in any case, to assume minimum guarantees of employment or income, and (ii) Articles 3 and 4 which provide for the establishment and maintenance of registers for all occupational categories of dockworkers, in a manner to be determined by national law and practice, and for the periodic review of the strength of such registers.

2. The Committee notes the adoption of Legislative Decree No. 21 of 10 January 1991 which provides for the grant of specific interim benefits under the general workers' social insurance scheme to dockworkers of the ports of the Autonomous Region of the Azores and Legislative Decree No. 41 of 21 January 1991 and similar benefits to dockworkers of the port of Funchal. Please continue to supply information on measures taken with a view to prevent or minimize the detrimental effects on dockworkers of any redundancies which took place in the context of structural adjustment in the Portuguese ports.