Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

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

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Communication of texts. The Committee again requests the Government to provide a copy of the Law on the Execution of Prison Sentences, as amended, as well as copies of the legislative provisions currently in force governing the right of association and the right to strike.

Article 1, subparagraph (a), of the Convention. Penal sanctions involving compulsory labour as a punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system. In order to ascertain their compatibility with the requirements of the Convention, the Committee once again requests the Government to supply information on the application in practice of the following provisions of the Penal Code, including the number of convictions and copies of the relevant court decisions:

(a)   articles 236, 237 and 238 concerning publications, speeches, songs, etc., considered contrary to culture and public manners;

(b)    article 229 concerning secret societies.

Article 1, subparagraph (b). Compulsory labour for economic purposes. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the Decree of 8 July 1985 issuing regulations pertaining to the Student Work Brigade is still in force and if so, to supply information on any measures taken to ensure the purely voluntary nature of participation in the brigades.