Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Liberia (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes with regret that no report has been received from the Government for the third year in succession. It must therefore repeat its previous observation on the following matters.

Article 1(a) of the Convention. 1. In its earlier comments the Committee observed that prison sentences (involving, under Chapter 34, section 34-14, paragraph 1, of the Liberian Code of Laws, an obligation to work) might be imposed in circumstances falling within Article 1(a) of the Convention under section 52(1)(b) of the Penal Law (punishing certain forms of criticism of the Government) and section 216 of the Election Law (punishing participation in activities that seek to continue or revive certain political parties). The Committee also requested the Government to provide a copy of Decree No. 88A of 1985 relating to criticism of the Government.

2. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s indication in its report that section 216 of the Election Law and Decree No. 88A of 1985 have been repealed. Since the copies of repealing Acts referred to by the Government as annexed to its report have not been received at the ILO, the Committee hopes that copies will soon be forwarded. The Committee also requests the Government to state whether section 52(1)(b) of the Penal Law is still in force, and if so, to indicate the measures taken with a view to ensuring observance of the Convention.

3. The Committee previously noted that under a Decree adopted by the People’s Redemption Council before its dissolution in July 1984, parties can be forbidden if they are considered to have engaged in activities or expressed objectives which go against the republican form of government or basic Liberian values. The Committee again requests the Government to indicate whether the provisions of this Decree are still in force and, if so, to provide a copy of the text of the Decree.

Article 1(c). 4. In its earlier comments the Committee noted that under section 347(1) and (2) of the Maritime Law, local authorities shall apprehend and deliver a seafarer who deserts from a vessel with the intention of not returning to duty and who remains unlawfully in a foreign country. Referring to paragraph 110 of its General Survey of 1979 on the abolition of forced labour, the Committee must point out that measures to ensure the due performance by a worker of his service under compulsion of law (in the form of physical constraint or the menace of a penalty) constitute forced or compulsory labour as a means of labour discipline and are thus incompatible with the Convention. The Committee hopes that section 347(1) and (2) of the Maritime Law will soon be repealed and that the Government will supply information on the measures taken to this end.

5. The Committee also noted that under section 348 of the Maritime Law various other offences against labour discipline by seafarers such as incitement to neglect duty, assembling with others in a tumultuous manner, may be punished with imprisonment of up to five years (involving an obligation to work). The Committee referred to paragraphs 117 and 125 of its General Survey of 1979 on the abolition of forced labour where it pointed out that sanctions relating to acts tending to endanger the ship or the life or health of persons on board do not fall within the scope of the Convention. However, as regards more generally breaches of labour discipline such as desertion, absence without leave or disobedience, all sanctions involving compulsory labour should be abolished under the Convention. In a great number of maritime nations, similar penal provisions have been repealed, restricted in scope to cases involving a danger to the ship or the life or health of persons, or otherwise amended so as to provide for a fine or some other penalty not falling within the scope of the Convention. The Committee therefore again expresses the hope that measures will be taken to bring section 348 of the Maritime Law into conformity with the Convention, and that the Government will provide information on the action taken to this end.

6. In its earlier comments the Committee referred to Decree No. 12 of 30 June 1980 prohibiting strikes. It notes with interest the Government’s statement in its report that a draft law repealing the abovementioned Decree is now before the competent authority for passing into law. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the repealing law as soon as it is adopted.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.