Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Cook Islands (Ratification: 2015)

The Committee notes the Government’s first report.

Article 1(a) of the Convention. Imposition of prison sentences involving the obligation to work as a punishment for expressing certain political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system. The Committee requests the Government to supply, with its next report, a copy of the Prisons Act as well as copies of the legislation in force in the following fields: laws governing the press and other media; and laws governing political parties.

Article 1(c). Punishment for breaches of labour discipline. 1. Disciplinary measures applicable to civil servants. The Committee requests the Government to supply copies of legislative texts governing civil servants’ obligations, to enable it to assess the nature of disciplinary measures that may be imposed on employees.

2. Disciplinary measures applicable to seafarers. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the law governing the conditions of employment of merchant seafarers, indicating the disciplinary sanctions that may be applied to them.

Article 1(d). Penal sanctions involving compulsory labour for having participated in strikes. The Committee observes an absence of information in the Government’s report on legislation prohibiting the imposition of forced labour as a punishment for having participated in strikes. It therefore requests the Government to supply a copy of the law regulating trade union activities and the exercise of the right to strike.