Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Pakistan (Ratification: 1960)

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:

Repetition

Communication of legislation. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide a copy of the following legislation: the Public Safety Act 1960; the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Book Registration (Amendment) Act 2005; the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill 2005; and the most recent amendments to the Anti-Terrorist Act, 1997.

Article 1(a). Penalties involving compulsory labour as a punishment for expressing political views. In its earlier comments, the Committee referred to section 33(2) and (3) of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance (PEMRO), 2002, under which certain violations of the Ordinance (such as broadcasting in the absence of a licence) are punishable with imprisonment, which may involve compulsory labour.

The Committee again requests the Government to provide in its next report information on the application of section 33(2) and (3) in practice, supplying copies of the court decisions which could define or illustrate its scope, so as to enable the Committee to assess its conformity with the Convention.