Interim Report - Report No 4, 1953

Case No 19 (Hungary) - Complaint date: 24-JAN-51 - Closed

A. A. The complainants' allegations

• Analysis of the Complaint
  96. 96 The complaint presented by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions alleges that the Hungarian Government is following a deliberate policy of subordinating the trade unions to the Government, by placing Communist Party members in positions of control in the trade unions and by suppressing any opposition which may arise. Under these circumstances, it is alleged, there is no possibility of trade union rights being respected.
• Communication of the Complaint to the Government
  97. 97 The complaint was transmitted to the Hungarian Government by letter of 20 April 1951.
  98. 98 There was no reply to this letter and, in accordance with the decisions taken by the Committee at its first and second sessions (January and March 1952), the Director-General on 22 January and 21 March 1952 sent letters of reminder to the Hungarian Government, asking it to transmit any observations it might wish to make to the International Labour Office before 15 February and 1 May 1952, respectively. A further letter of reminder was sent to the Hungarian Government on 3 May 1952.
  99. 99 No reply has yet been received from the Hungarian Government.

The Committee's recommendations

1. 100. In these circumstances, the Committee recommends the Governing Body:
   • (a) to ask the Director-General to make a further approach to the Hungarian Government on its behalf with a view to obtaining any observations it may wish to make concerning the complaint presented by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions ;
   • (b) to inform the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations of the position with regard to this matter.