Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (Ratification: 1982)

With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the discussions which took place in the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards in June 1995 and the observations of the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers and Associations of Commerce and Production (FEDECAMARAS) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE).

The FEDECAMARAS and the IOE state that the Government has not implemented the recommendations of the Committee on Freedom of Association set out in its 290th Report of May 1993, regarding the amendment of various provisions of the Organic Labour Law which are contrary to freedom of association, despite the Government's promises to the Committee on Standards during its Conference to call a tripartite meeting to seek solutions to the problems raised by the Convention.

For its part, the Committee expresses the firm hope that the Government, in consultation with the social partners, will adopt shortly the necessary measures to remedy the discrepancies between the national legislation and the Convention, taking particularly into consideration the comments it has made that:

- the period of residence required (more than ten years) in order for foreign workers to hold trade union office is too long;

- the list of attributions and purposes required for workers' and employers' organizations is too extensive;

- the number of workers (100) required to form unions of self-employed workers is too high; and

- the number of employers (ten) required to form an employers' organization is too high.

The Committee again requests the Government to provide information in its next report on amendments made to this end.