Definitive Report - Report No 131, 1972

Case No 580 (United States of America) - Complaint date: 13-FEB-69 - Closed

1. 25. The complaint by the World Federation of Trade Unions is contained in a communication dated 13 February 1969 addressed direct to the ILO.

A. A. The complainants' allegations

1. 26. According to the complainants, the United States civil administration of the Ryukyu Islands issued a Comprehensive Labor Ordinance in 1969 which " placed severe restrictions on the right to strike and upon the democratic rights of trade unionists ".
2. 27. The text of the complaint was communicated to the Government of the United States, which, in a letter dated 17 March 1969, indicated that the Ordinance to which the WFTU referred had been initially promulgated on 11 January and was due to take effect on 25 January 1969. However, the Government added, the Ordinance in question was suspended on 23 January 1969 and did not come into force. The Government explained that the Ordinance was under reconsideration and that the ILO would be informed as soon as there was any change in the situation.
3. 28. In a communication dated 3 May 1972 the Government officially informed the ILO that, from 15 May 1972, under the provisions of an agreement signed between the United States and Japan on 17 June 1971 concerning the Ryukyu Islands and Daito Islands, Japan " will assume full responsibility and authority for the exercise of all powers of administration, legislation and jurisdiction over the territory and inhabitants of the Ryukyu Islands and Daito Islands ".

The Committee's recommendations

1. 29. In these circumstances and in view of the fact that the Ordinance in question has never been in force, the Committee considers that the case has ceased to have any foundation and recommends the Governing Body to decide that it would be pointless to continue its examination.