Definitive Report - Report No 119, 1970

Case No 615 (Dominican Republic) - Complaint date: 27-NOV-69 - Closed

1. 12. The complaint is contained in two communications dated 27 November 1969 and 8 December 1969 addressed to the ILO directly by the Latin American Federation of Christian Trade Unions (CLASC) and the World Confederation of Labour respectively. The complaint was forwarded by letter dated 8 December 1969 to the Government, which furnished its observations thereon in a communication dated 2 March 1970.
2. 13. The Dominican Republic has ratified both the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

A. A. The complainants' allegations

1. 14. It is alleged that on 26 November 1969 Mr. Emilio Máspero, the General Secretary of the CLASC, who was on his way to attend the Third National Congress of the Autonomous Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (CASC) (scheduled for 28 to 30 November 1969), was met on his arrival at the airport of Santo Domingo by the Chief of Immigration, who informed him that he was persona non grata in the country and that the Government of the Dominican Republic had ordered that he be sent back in the aeroplane in which he had arrived and this despite the fact that all his papers were in order. Máspero asked to be allowed to get in touch with some of the other government authorities and with the union leaders of the CASC, but the immigration officer ordered that Máspero be escorted by some fifteen armed police and put back in the aeroplane from which he had disembarked.
2. 15. In these circumstances the complainants requested the ILO to take up Máspero's case with the Dominican authorities and to demand that basic trade union rights be guaranteed.
3. 16. In its observations the Government points out that its Ministry of Labour immediately took the necessary measures to redress this regrettable incident and that as a result of these measures Mr. Emilio Máspero was allowed to re-enter the country the following day so as to permit him to take an active part in the Third National Congress of the CASC, which was held in Santo Domingo between 28 and 30 November of last year. During his stay in the country Mr. Máspero was received by the Minister of Labour, together with the leaders of the CASC. Moreover, Mr. Máspero enjoyed the ample facilities made available to him by the Dominican authorities, amongst which might be mentioned his participation in a television programme where he was able to expatiate on the aims and purposes of his organisation before a group of local journalists.

B. B. The Committee's conclusions

1. 17. In view of the Government's explanation the Committee is led to the conclusion that the matters raised in the complaint have been satisfactorily resolved.

18. The Committee therefore recommends the Governing Body to decide that the case does not call for further examination.