Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Rural Workers' Organisations Convention, 1975 (No. 141) - Netherlands (Ratification: 1977)

The Committee notes the observations of the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV) and the National Federation of Christian Trade Unions (CNV) of 29 August 2016 on the Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 11), which pertain to matters related to the application of this Convention and raise concerns that foreign temporary agency workers, largely employed in the agricultural sectors, are intimidated in relation to union membership, and that trade unions face difficulties in accessing workplaces in these sectors to inform workers of their rights. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this regard, including as to any measures to address the challenges faced by migrant workers in exercising their right to organize in the agricultural sectors, in particular as to protection against anti-union discrimination, as well as awareness-raising actions in relation to rights and their particular needs.

In this respect, the Committee recalls that in its 2015 General Survey, Giving a voice to rural workers, paragraphs 260 and 295, acknowledging the challenges faced by migrant workers, it considered that governments should adopt specific provisions in respect of discrimination on the grounds of membership of rural workers’ organizations or involvement in the activities of such organizations, which are effective in the special circumstances of the rural sector, and encouraged governments to take measures to promote a broad understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations and of the contribution they can make to national, social and economic development, including through campaigns on rights and awareness raising with respect to the particular needs of migrant workers.