Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Macau Special Administrative Region (Ratification: 1999)

The Committee notes the comments made by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in a communication dated 31 August 2013 alleging, in particular, interference by the Government in trade union activities and difficulties with the application of the Convention in practice to migrant workers. The Committee requests the Government to provide its observations thereon.

Article 2 of the Convention. Right to organize of part-time workers and seafarers. The Committee had previously requested the Government to provide information on the measures taken for the establishment of a legal labour relationship regime for employees working part-time, who did not fall within the scope of the Labour Relations Act (section 3.3(3)). The Committee notes that by virtue of section 3.3(2), seafarers are also excluded from the scope of application of the Act. The Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report on the application of the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98), that, pending the entry into force of the special regime for part-time workers and seafarers, the provisions of the Labour Relations Act shall apply to these categories of workers. It further notes the Government’s indication that it is undertaking legislative studies in relation to establishing special labour relationship regimes for part-time workers and seafarers. The Committee trusts that any new framework will allow these categories of workers to exercise the rights enshrined in the Convention. It requests the Government to provide information on developments in this regard.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2014.]

The Committee raises other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.