Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Burundi (Ratification: 1963)

1. In its previous direct request, the Committee noted that, under section 2 of the Labour Code, civic legal obligations which are of public interest are not considered to be forced or compulsory labour. It requested the Government to provide information on the nature of these obligations and the corresponding texts.

The Government indicated that the civic legal obligations which are of public interest consist of community development work, such as the rehabilitation of economic and social infrastructure, but did not provide the corresponding laws and regulations. In its last report, the Government once again states that community development work is intended for the rehabilitation of economic and social infrastructure, without providing the corresponding texts. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide copies of the above texts so that it can assess their conformity with the Conventions on forced labour.

2. In its previous comments, the Committee referred to Decree No. 100/003 of 3 January 1990, as well as to Presidential Decrees Nos. 1/106 of 25 October 1967 (section 43) and 1/111 of 10 November 1967 (section 44) respecting the conditions governing the resignation of certain persons in the service of the State (recipients of fellowships and trainees, and officers in the armed forces, respectively). The Committee hoped that the legislative work which was under way would make it possible to set out in law the right of persons in the service of the State to leave their employment at their own initiative within a reasonable period, or with prior notice, and that persons who have received a fellowship or training at the expense of the State may leave the service within a reasonable period which is proportional to the duration of the training received, or following reimbursement of the expenditure incurred by the State.

The Committee noted the Government’s statement that the crisis experienced by the country had prevented the adoption of new texts. The Government reiterates the same statement in its latest report. The Committee notes the statement and hopes that the Government will be able to report on the measures taken to give effect to the Convention on this point.