Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Zambia (Ratification: 1964)

Articles 1(1) and 2(1) of the Convention. 1. National service obligations. For a number of years, the Committee has been referring to certain provisions of the National Service Act, 1971, concerning compulsory national service. The Committee noted the Government’s repeated statement in its reports that there had been no compulsion to serve in the National Service or to enlist for service by compulsion. It also noted the Government’s indication that measures had been taken to repeal the 1971 Act. The Committee reiterates its hope that the National Service Act, 1971, will soon be repealed and the legislation will be brought into conformity with the Convention and the indicated practice.

2. Community development schemes. The Committee previously noted that, pursuant to paragraph 20 of the Second Schedule (section 61) of the Local Government Act (No. 22 of 1991), schemes for the encouragement of and participation in, community development may be prepared and administered by a city, municipal or district council. The Government indicated that such schemes, from which communities derived direct benefit, were adopted in consultation with the communities concerned. It also stated that any project conducted in the communities was implemented only on a voluntary basis.

In its 2008 report, the Government indicated that a project called Community Development Fund was in the process of being implemented and that, although there were guidelines on its implementation, there were no legal documents establishing the project. While noting these indications, the Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the guidelines concerning the project referred to above, as well as the information on its application in practice.