Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2017, publiée 107ème session CIT (2018)

Convention (n° 98) sur le droit d'organisation et de négociation collective, 1949 - Somalie (Ratification: 2014)

The Committee notes with concern that the Government’s first report has again not been received.

The Committee had previously noted the 2015 observations of the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) denouncing interference by the authorities in the activities of trade unions and harassment of trade union leaders, in particular in the telecommunications and media sector. The Committee notes the observations from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), received on 1 September 2017, referring to the same issues which, in the meantime, have been examined by the Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) in a case brought by the FESTU (Case No. 3113). In this regard, the Committee notes that in its latest conclusions the CFA referred to a communication dated September 2017 whereby the Government: (i) acknowledged that the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs sought advice from the State General Attorney over the case and that the latter wrote to relevant ministries and guided concerned authorities to comply with the recommendations of the CFA; (ii) acknowledged that the FESTU, led by Mr Omar Faruk Osman, is the most representative workers’ organization in the country; (iii) indicated that it was seeking to resolve political differences between the FESTU and policymakers within the Government; and (iv) requested the assistance of the Office to facilitate a constructive dialogue and to find a solution to the long-standing dispute in a harmonious manner (see Case No. 3113, 383rd Report). The Committee welcomes the commitment of the Government to engage in finding solutions in relation to the serious allegations of infringement of trade union rights in the telecommunications and media sector, with the assistance of the Office, and expects that the Government will also take all necessary measures to provide without delay its first report on the application of the Convention as well as information on meaningful progress made on the issues raised by the ITUC and the FESTU.