Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Suriname (Ratification: 1976)

The Committee has noted the Government’s report.

Article 1(a) of the Convention. The Committee previously noted that section 1 of Decree No. B-10 of 29 June 1983 prohibits the import, carrying, sale, distribution, possession, storage, production and reproduction of prescribed publications which, in the opinion of the competent authorities, may seriously disturb the public order and national security; section 2 of the Decree provides for penalties of imprisonment and fines. The Committee also referred to the National Decree of 20 July 1956 which submits meetings open to the public and other meetings in the district of Paramaribo to prior authorization under section 5 of the Royal Decree of 26 October 1933 (on the exercise of the right of assembly); sections 8 and 9 of the 1933 Decree provide for penalties involving compulsory labour.

The Committee noted the Government’s repeated indications in its reports that neither Decree No. B-10 nor the National Decree of 20 July 1956 was applied in practice and that the Ministry of Justice had been asked to bring them into conformity with democratic principles. Having noted that the Government’s latest report contains no new information on these points, the Committee reiterates its hope that the necessary measures will at last be taken, in order to bring the legislation into conformity with the Convention and the indicated practice, and that the Government will soon be in a position to provide information on progress achieved in this regard.

Article 1(c) and (d). In its earlier comments the Committee noted the Government’s statement that a draft decree prepared by the Minister of Justice to repeal sections 456-458, 462, 463 and 468, and to amend sections 455 and 464, of the Penal Code applying to seafarers would be submitted to the competent authority. The Government also indicated that the draft decree had been approved by the Council of Ministers, but had not yet been adopted by the National Assembly, and that this matter would once again be brought to the attention of the Ministry of Justice. It indicates in its latest report that the Ministry of Justice has been once again requested to provide information about this matter, but has not been able to provide such information. As this question has been the subject of the Committee’s comments for many years, the Committee expresses strong hope that the necessary measures will soon be taken to bring the legislation into conformity with the Convention and that the Government will shortly be able to report that this matter has finally been settled.