Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Bulgaria (Ratification: 1959)

The Committee notes the information provided in the Government's latest report.

In its previous comments, the Committee recalled the need to take steps to amend section 11(2) of the Act of March 1990 regarding the settlement of collective labour disputes, which provides that a decision to call a strike must be taken by a majority of all the workers in the respective enterprise or unit. In this respect, the Committee considered that account should only be taken of the votes cast (see 1994 General Survey on freedom of association and collective bargaining, paragraph 170). The Committee also indicated the need to provide compensatory guarantees for workers who are restricted or prohibited from taking strike action under section 16(4) of the Act (see 1994 General Survey, paragraph 164).

The Committee notes from the Government's report that, following an international colloquium on social dialogue, proposals were made to improve social dialogue provisions and the procedures for peaceful settlement of collective labour disputes, with a special emphasis on the conciliation and voluntary labour arbitration. Proposed amendments to the Labour Code and the Collective Labour Disputes Act taking into account these points are now being prepared.

The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the progress made in this regard and to transmit copies of the amended texts as soon as they are adopted.