Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Ethiopia (Ratification: 1963)

The Committee notes the Government’s report.

Article 2 of the Convention. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that adequate protection is granted in section 14(1)(a) and (d) of Labour Proclamation No. 42 of 1993 to workers’ and employers’ organizations against acts of interference by each other. The Government adds that section 184(2) of the same law subjects employers who violate section 14(1) to a fine of up to 1,200 Ethiopian birr and that section 186 stipulates that the labour inspector may submit cases involving offences committed in violation of the provisions of the Proclamation (including section 14(1)(a) and (d)) to the authorities competent to determine labour disputes. The Committee notes however that section 14(1)(a) and (d) relates to the protection of employees against acts of anti-union discrimination, covered by Article 1 of the Convention.

The Committee recalls that Article 2 requires that protection be granted to organizations of employers and workers against acts of interference, and in particular, acts which are designed to promote the establishment of workers’ organizations under the domination of employers’ organizations, or to support workers’ organizations by financial or other means, with the object of placing such organizations under the control of employers or their organizations (see General Survey on freedom of association and collective bargaining, 1994, paragraphs 228-231).

Observing that the legislation contains no specific provisions, coupled with sufficiently effective and dissuasive sanctions, providing for protection against acts of interference, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures it envisages to give effect to this provision of the Convention.