Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Trinidad and Tobago (Ratification: 1963)

The Committee has noted the Government’s brief reports on the application of the Convention received in 2006 and 2007.

Article 1(c) and (d) of the Convention. Sanctions involving compulsory labour for breaches of labour discipline and participation in strikes. For a number of years the Committee has been referring to sections 157 and 158 of the Shipping Act, 1987, section 8(1) of the Trade Disputes and Protection of Property Ordinance and section 69(1)(d) and (2) of the Industrial Relations Act, Cap. 88.01, under which penalties of imprisonment (involving compulsory labour under the Prisons Rules) may be imposed for various breaches of labour discipline and participation in strikes in circumstances where the life, personal safety or health of persons are not endangered. The Committee has noted the Government’s repeated indications in its earlier reports that efforts were underway to amend the provisions mentioned above and that no sanctions had been imposed under these provisions in practice.

The Government reiterates in its 2006 report that no amendments have been made to the legislation in question and that the relevant ministries under whose authority the acts are administered have not indicated any immediate intention of making amendments to this legislation.

Noting that the legislative amendments required have been under consideration for many years, the Committee trusts that the Government will not fail to take all the necessary measures in order to bring the abovementioned provisions into conformity with the Convention, and that it will soon be in a position to report the progress made in this regard.