Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Dominican Republic (Ratification: 1956)

The Committee notes the Government's report and recalls that its previous comments referred to:

-- the requirement that federations must obtain a two-thirds majority vote of their members to be able to establish a confederation (section 383 of the Labour Code);

-- the opposition of certain enterprises in export processing zones to the establishment of unions and the disregard of trade union rights.

With regard to the first point, the Committee notes with interest the Government's statement that it is fully prepared to submit a draft text to the national Congress in the very near future, to enable federations to be able to include in their statutes the necessary provisions to establish confederations and, to this end, the Government will consult the most representative organizations.

The Committee hopes to note in the very near future that the legislation limiting the establishment of confederations has been repealed and that it is left to the statutes of federations to establish the criteria in this respect.

With regard to the opposition of certain enterprises in the export processing zones to the establishment of trade unions and their disregard to trade union rights, the Committee notes with interest the setting up of a specialized unit in the labour inspectorate to protect freedom of association in these types of enterprises, and that eight collective agreements and various other agreements have been concluded. The Committee trusts that the Government will keep it informed of all progress made in this respect.

In regard to the observing of trade union rights in sugar cane plantations, the Committee notes with interest the Government's statement that it is doing its utmost to ensure the full exercise of trade union rights by assigning labour inspectors to each establishment during the sugar harvest and that the Ambassador of Haiti in the Dominican Republic has officially recognized the progress achieved in the estates of the Government's State Council in 1998.

The Committee requests the Government to inform it in its next report of any progress made on the above points.

Finally, the Committee is addressing a request directly to the Government.