Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Suriname (Ratification: 1979)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

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Article 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, between 2020 and 2021, the following instruments were submitted for advice to the ILO Commission, a tripartite consultative body within the Labour Advisory Board (AAC): the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205), the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190), the Violence and Harassment Recommendation, 2019 (No. 206); the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), the Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183), the Labour Inspection in Agricultural Sectors, 1947 (No.129); and the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention (No. 131). The ILO Commission issued preliminary recommendations on seven of the abovementioned instruments, which were then adopted by the AAC. The Government further indicates that the reports submitted to the ILO under article 22 of the ILO Constitution in 2016 and 2017; as well as the change of status of the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) were also submitted for comments to the ILO Commission. In addition, the Government reports that, between 2008 and 2019, the ILO Commission did not receive any request for advice from the AAC on ILO matters; and adds that, although Article 5(1) was not fully applied, some items were on the agenda of the AAC, such as the implementation of ratified Conventions. On the other hand, the Committee notes that according to the Government’s report “Suriname’s First Voluntary National Review of the Sustainable Development Goals”, published in 2022, in 2021 the Tripartite Council was set up with the participation of the government, unions and employers to collaborate on actions to improve labour market circumstances. Within this Council, a Tripartite Agreement was reached in November 2021, prioritising five key issues: tax reforms, strengthening of the purchasing power of families, execution of a social safety net, pricing policy and advancing entrepreneurship and employment. This report also indicates that within the framework of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2019–22, supported by ILO, the social dialogue and the strengthening tripartite relations between government, workers and employers have been improved in order to create a labour market information system. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed updated information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held within ILO Commission and the Labour Advisory Board (AAC), on all matters concerning international labour standards set out in Article 5(1) of the Convention, including in relation to items on which information was not provided in the last report such as : the replies to the questionnaires on Conference agenda items (Article 5(1)(a)); the submission of instruments adopted by the Conference (Article 5(1)(b)); and, should this be relevant, the denunciation of ratified Conventions (Article 5(1)(e)), including in relation with the recommendations made by the Governing Body in the context of the Standards Review Mechanism.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Article 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on progress made towards the establishment of the ILO Commission of the Labour Advisory Board (AAC) and on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on the matters concerning international labour standards covered by the Convention. The Government reports that the ILO Commission, a tripartite consultative body within the AAC, was established in 2015 and is currently operating. The Government indicates that the submission documents concerning the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy Recommendation, 2015 (No. 204), were submitted to the ILO Commission for advice, its input was taken into account, and the amended documents were to be submitted to the Council of Ministers. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that the reports submitted to the ILO under article 22 of the ILO Constitution in 2016 and 2017 were also submitted for comments to the ILO Commission. The Government indicates that the AAC did not convene special meetings to evaluate unratified Conventions or to discuss questions arising out of reports to be submitted under article 22 of the ILO Constitution. In addition, the questionnaire on the abrogation and withdrawal of Conventions Nos 4, 15, 28, 41, 60 and 67 was not submitted to the AAC for review by the ILO Commission; however, the Government indicates that it consulted the social partners prior to submitting its response to the questionnaire. It adds that, during the reporting period, the AAC focused on reviewing labour legislation, including: amendments to the Act regulating the Labour Advisory Board and to the Labour Inspection Act; a modernized Collective Bargaining Act and new Freedom of Association Act; a modernized Labour Exchange Act; and a new Act on Private Employment Agencies, all of which have been adopted by the National Assembly. The Government states that the National Assembly has placed another series of seven laws on the agenda of the AAC for review. The Committee also takes note of the 2014 report of the Ministry of Labour, Technological Development and Environment on Tripartism in Suriname, which emphasizes the importance of tripartite consultation and social dialogue in the country and describes the various tripartite bodies and their functions. The Committee requests the Government to provide comprehensive up-to-date information on the content and outcome of tripartite consultations held within the AAC and the ILO Commission on all matters concerning international labour standards covered by Article 5(1)(a)–(e) of the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Article 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee notes the Government’s report indicating that the implementation of several ratified Conventions were discussed during the sessions of the Labour Advisory Board (AAC) in 2012 and 2013. The Government also indicates that the process of preparing the submission of the pending instruments adopted by the Conference is in progress. The proposals regarding these instruments will be submitted to the AAC in order to obtain advice of the employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee notes that the Government members of the AAC submitted a proposal in September 2014 to establish an ILO Commission entrusted with the issues mentioned in Article 5 of the Convention, in accordance with the Labour Advisory Board Decree. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the progress made towards the establishment of the ILO Commission. It also invites the Government to include information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on the matters concerning international labour standards covered by the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Effective tripartite consultations required by the Convention. The Committee notes the reply provided by the Government in September 2010 to its previous request. The Government indicates that the most representative employers’ and workers’ organizations are consulted individually by sending the reports, questionnaires and other relevant documents for their comments. For broader discussions regarding labour issues, consultations are held in the Labour Advisory Board which has resumed its duties since March 2007. The Committee invites the Government to supply detailed information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on matters listed under Article 5(1) of the Convention during the period covered by the next report.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Effective tripartite consultations required by the Convention. The Committee notes the information supplied in the Government’s report received in September 2008. The Government indicates that the Labour Advisory Board has been inactive from January 2006 to March 2007. Tripartite consultations were held individually with the most representative workers’ and employers’ organizations in respect of matters listed under Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention. The Committee welcomes receiving such information and hopes that the Government will keep it informed of the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on matters listed under Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention during the period covered by the next report.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Tripartite consultations required by the Convention. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s statement in its report received in August 2006 that, following tripartite consultations in the Labour Advisory Council, Suriname ratified Conventions Nos. 181 and 182 in April 2006. The Government also points out that the Labour Advisory Council has proposed the ratification of Convention No. 138. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the consultations held on each of the items set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention during the period covered by the next report.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

Tripartite consultations required by the Convention. In its report, received in September 2004, the Government supplied information on the efforts undertaken to promote and develop tripartism and social dialogue. The Committee notes in particular that a new Labour Advisory Council has been set up for 2004-2005 and that it has proposed ratification of Conventions Nos. 138, 181 and 182. Parliament has agreed to the ratification by Suriname of Conventions Nos. 181 and 182. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of any developments in this regard and to continue to provide information on the consultations held on all the matters set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention, during the period covered by the next report.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending 31 May 2001. In reply to previous comments, the Government states that the tripartite Labour Advisory Board had not been active for some time, but a new board was established in October 2000. Since then, a tripartite meeting was held on the items on the agenda of the 89th Session (June 2001) of the Conference. The Labour Advisory Board has proposed ratification of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182), but consultations on ratification of other instruments have not yet been held. The Committee notes this information and asks the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the consultations undertaken by the Labour Advisory Board on all the issues set out in Article 5 of the Convention, including the frequency of consultations and on the nature of any resulting reports or recommendations.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending October 2000. It notes that the Government confines itself to referring to its previous report as regards the application of Article 5 of the Convention. However, the last report only provides information of a general nature on the activities of the Labour Advisory Board, but does not contain the detailed information required by the report form on the consultations held on each of the matters set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, on the frequency of such consultations and, where appropriate, on the nature of any reports or recommendations made as a result of the consultations.

The Committee notes that the Labour Advisory Board meets once a month and that it will prepare an activity report for the period 2000-02. The Committee once again hopes that the Government will make every effort to provide in its next report the detailed information which has been requested since 1993 and that it will not fail to provide, as soon as possible, a copy of the above activity report if it contains information on the effect given to the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee takes note of the Government's brief report which covers the period ending in September 1998 and provides some information in reply to the Committee's previous direct request. However, the Committee notes once again that the Government has supplied no information that would allow it to assess the manner in which effect is given to the fundamental provisions of the Convention, and indicates only that the Convention is applied in a satisfactory manner. The Committee recalls that it has been asking the Government since 1993 to provide information on the application of Article 5 of the Convention, and once again asks it to supply full and detailed information on the consultations undertaken by the Labour Advisory Board, and in particular by the Tripartite Subcommittee for the ILO, on the issues set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, on the frequency of these consultations and, where appropriate, on the nature of any reports or recommendations resulting from them. In this regard, the Committee wishes to draw the Government's attention to the fact that certain subjects (replies to questionnaires, submissions to the competent authorities, reports to be presented to the ILO) require annual consultations, while others (re-examination of unratified Conventions and Recommendations, proposed denunciation of ratified Conventions) require less frequent examination.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

1. The Committee notes the Government's brief report on the period ending in June 1997 and observes that it contains no information in reply to its previous direct request. It again asks the Government to provide full and detailed information in its next report on the consultations held in the Labour Advisory Board on the subjects listed in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention.

2. Noting the statement that, due to the fact that the employers' and workers' organizations received the Government's report very late, any comments from them will be forwarded later, the Committee trusts that the organizations cited were consulted before the report was drafted, in accordance with the provisions of Article 5, parargraph 1(d).

3. Lastly, with reference to its previous direct request, the Committee notes that the Government has still supplied no answer to the question raised by the Suriname Trade and Industry Association (VSB) concerning the advisability of informing the ILO of the debate aroused by the draft Decree concerning the concept of representativeness in the Labour Advisory Board. Please state to what extent the draft Decree concerns the representativeness of the members of the sub-committee for the ILO, and provide a copy of the text if it has been adopted.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

The Committee notes the Government's latest two reports and the Labour Advisory Board's reports for 1992, 1993 and 1994. It also notes the observation made by the Suriname Trade and Industry Association (VSB) on application of the Convention.

The Committee notes that the Labour Advisory Board is consulted on the matters listed under points (a), (b), (c) and (d) of Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention.

The Committee has still not found in the various reports of the Labour Advisory Board the information required under Article 5 of the Convention; it therefore requests the Government to supply in its next report full and detailed information on any consultations which have been held during the period covered on each of the matters listed under paragraph 1 of this Article.

Finally, the Committee notes that the aforementioned observation by the VSB employers' organization relates to a draft Decree concerning the concept of "representativeness" in the Labour Advisory Board and raises the question of the advisability of informing the ILO of the debate it arouses.

The Committee requests the Government to specify to what extent this draft text concerns the representativeness of the subcommittee for the ILO and to give its point of view on the question raised by the VSB.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government on the operation and activities of the Labour Advisory Committee, a tripartite body which ordinarily meets once a month.

The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on the consultations held on each of the questions set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention, and to specify the nature of any reports or recommendations resulting from the consultations.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1989, published 76th ILC session (1989)

The Committee takes note of the information supplied by the Government, concerning the application of Article 5, paragraph 1(b) and (d), of the Convention.

It requests the Government to continue to provide information on the consultations held during the period covered by the next report, on each of the questions enumerated in paragraph 1 of Article 5 above.