Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

Rural Workers' Organisations Convention, 1975 (No. 141) - El Salvador (Ratification: 1995)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and its reply to the comments made by the Inter-Union Committee of El Salvador on 12 September 2002, relating to various aspects of the Government’s opposition to the establishment of rural workers’ organization and the low number of trade union organizations existing due to the numerous obstacles that they have to overcome to be established.

The Committee notes that the Government has not provided precise information in relation to the comments of the Inter-Union Committee of El Salvador, but has confined itself to indicating that it is undertaking a study of labour relations and that, once completed, it will have to be approved by the tripartite members of the Higher Labour Council.

The Committee recalls that Article 3 of the Convention establishes the right for all categories of rural workers, whether they are wage earners or self-employed, to establish and join organizations of their own choosing without previous authorization. In this respect, the Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the number of rural workers’ organizations existing and the number of rural workers who are members of both rural organizations and other trade union organizations.

The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted to facilitate the establishment and growth, on a voluntary basis, of strong and independent organizations of rural workers as an effective means of ensuring the participation of these workers in economic and social development and the benefits resulting therefrom, in accordance with Article 4 of the Convention.