Observación (CEACR) - Adopción: 2025, Publicación: 114ª reunión CIT (2026)

Convenio sobre la consulta tripartita (normas internacionales del trabajo), 1976 (núm. 144) - República Árabe Siria (Ratificación : 1985)

The Committee notes that, since December 2024, the Syrian Arab Republic has been undergoing a transitional phase that affects all its constitutional and legal structures.

Article 5 of the Convention – Effective Tripartite Consultations. Free choice of representatives. Administrative support and financing of training. The Committee observes that, by Decision No. 1534 of 27 April 2025, the transitional Government re-established the Consultative Council on Social Dialogue. This Council is composed of high-level representatives, including the President of the General Federation of Workers’ Trade Unions and the Presidents of the employers' organizations’ federations in the sectors of industry, commerce, tourism, and agriculture. This composition is intended to strengthen the Council’s effectiveness and ensure the optimal implementation of its recommendations. The Committee further notes that one of the Council’s responsibilities is to organize dialogue sessions with employers’ and workers’ organizations to raise awareness of the legislation governing the labour market, thereby promoting compliance with the laws and regulations in force. Finally, the Committee acknowledges the transitional Government’s desire for continued engagement and assistance from the ILO, especially in the development of coherent and harmonized labour legislation and policies. Such support would contribute to greater transparency and accountability in the fields of labour and business; help identify challenges and opportunities for improving conditions in these sectors; and assist the Government in its efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals related to decent work and economic growth.

The Committee welcomes the re-establishment of the Consultative Council. While it takes due note of the Government’s indication that this body is meant to focus on awareness-raising on existing legislation, the Committee recalls that this does not constitute “effective consultation” as defined by the Convention. The Committee recalls, in this context, its 2000 General Survey which clarifies that for consultations to be effective, the social partners must be able to put forward their opinions before the government takes its final decision. Furthermore, the Committee wishes to emphasize that the obligation of effective tripartite consultation is of heightened importance during periods of transition and recovery. As underscored by the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205), social dialogue is a foundational pillar for designing responsive and sustainable recovery strategies. The Committee therefore considers that adherence to the consultative procedures of Convention No. 144 is a vital mechanism to ensure that the new legislative framework enjoys broad legitimacy and supports the recovery.

The Committee trusts that the technical assistance provided by the Office will support the country in fulfilling its ILO related obligations, including those under the present Convention. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the following:

• The content of consultations: Please provide detailed information on the consultations held specifically on the matters listed in Article 5(1). Please provide examples of how the views of the social partners have influenced the Government’s final decisions during this transitional period.
• Free choice of representatives (Article 3): Recalling that Article 3(1) requires representatives to be “freely chosen” by their representative organizations, the Committee requests the Government to indicate how it ensures that the composition of the re-established Council reflects the current diversity of the employers’ and workers’ interests in the country, and that these organizations enjoy the necessary independence to participate effectively.
• Administrative support and financing of training: Please indicate what financial and administrative resources (such as secretarial support) have been allocated to the re-established Council to ensure it can function effectively during this challenging transitional phase (Article 4(1)). Please describe any arrangements made for the financing of any necessary training of participants on the consultative procedures.