Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Liberia (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation, which read as follows:

Articles 1, 2 and 4 of the Convention. The Committee recalls that for many years it has been emphasizing the need for national legislation to guarantee workers adequate protection against anti-union discrimination at the time of recruitment and during the employment relationship, accompanied by sufficiently effective and dissuasive sanctions. The Committee has also stressed that national legislation must ensure adequate protection of workers’ organizations, accompanied by sufficiently effective and dissuasive sanctions, against acts of interference by employers and their organizations. Finally, the Committee had noted that the possibility of engaging in collective bargaining was not offered to employees of state enterprises and other authorities since these categories were excluded from the scope of the Labour Code, whereas under Article 6 of the Convention, only public servants engaged in the administration of the State are not covered by the Convention.

The Committee had noted that a draft Decree and a Bill have been submitted to the national authorities. The draft Decree is aimed at recognizing and protecting freedom of association and the right to organize and bargain collectively, and at preventing discrimination in employment and occupation.

The Committee hopes that the draft Decree and Bill will integrate the abovementioned observations of the Committee, to bring the legislation in conformity with the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of any developments in this respect and to transmit the texts of the draft Decree and Bill as soon as they are adopted.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.