Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Timor-Leste (Ratification: 2009)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its first report.

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. The Committee notes that section 163 of the Penal Code prohibits human trafficking and prescribes sentences of eight to 20 years of imprisonment. The Committee requests the Government to provide, in its next report, information on the application of this provision in practice, including information on the legal proceedings which have been instituted against perpetrators and the penalties imposed.

Articles 1(1) and 2(1). Freedom of civil servants to leave their service. The Committee notes the absence of information regarding the freedom of civil servants to leave their service. The Committee therefore requests the Government to supply, with its next report, copies of laws and regulations governing civil servants, so that it may examine the conditions under which they can leave their service.

Articles 1(1) and 2(1). Freedom of career members of the armed forces to leave the service. The Committee requests the Government to indicate any provisions applicable to military officers and other career members of the armed forces, as regards their right to leave the service, in times of peace, at their own request, either at certain reasonable intervals or by means of notice of reasonable length.

Article 25. Penalties for the exaction of forced or compulsory labour. The Committee notes that the exaction of forced labour is not punishable as an offence either under the Labour Code or under the Penal Code. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to Article 25 of the Convention, according to which the exaction of forced labour shall be punishable as a penal offence, and the penalties imposed by law shall be really adequate and strictly enforced. The Committee hopes that when the legislation will be revised, the Government will take the necessary measures to include a provision on penalties to be imposed for the exaction of forced labour.