Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Ecuador (Ratification: 1954)

Article 2, paragraph 2(a), of the Convention. The Committee has been referring for a number of years to section 3(c) of the Compulsory Military Service Act of 1977, which includes among the objectives of military service "cooperation in the social and economic development of the country through the implementation of mixed military programmes as indicated by the Ministry of National Defence". In order to ensure application of the Convention on this matter, the Committee asked the Government to provide information on the content of the programmes referred to and on the measures taken or contemplated to amend section 3(c) of the Compulsory Military Service Act.

The Committee notes section 4 of the new Compulsory Military Service Act of 15 September 1994 under which one of the objectives of compulsory military service is "cooperation in the social and economic development of the country through the implementation of civic and military programmes as laid down by the Ministry of National Defence".

The Committee regrets to note that adoption of the new Act on Compulsory Military Service has not eradicated the discrepancy between national legislation and the Convention on this matter. The Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to ensure that, in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 2(a), of the Convention, conscripts will be required to do work only of a purely military character, except in cases of force majeure.