Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention, 1957 (No. 107) - Belgium (Ratification: 1958)

In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s indication that the Convention had been ratified in the spirit of international solidarity and that no indigenous or tribal peoples exist in the territory of Belgium. The Committee invited the Government to include in its next report information on any consultations held with the social partners on the possibility of ratifying the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169). The Government indicates in its report that a discussion on this issue will be held in the National Labour Council as part of the presentation of the Government’s reports on ratified Conventions.

The Committee recalls that, at its 328th Session (November 2016), the Governing Body requested the Office to commence follow-up with the member States currently bound by the Convention: (i) encouraging them to ratify Convention No. 169, as the most up-to-date instrument in this subject area, which would result in the automatic denunciation of Convention No. 107; and (ii) collecting information from those member States with the aim of better understanding the reasons for their non-ratification of Convention No. 169 (see GB.328/LILS/2/1(Rev.)). The Committee therefore encourages the Government to act upon the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 328th Session (November 2016) and consider ratifying Convention No. 169, which is the most up-to-date instrument in this area.