Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Lesotho (Ratification: 1998)

Tripartite consultations required by the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s report containing detailed information received in November 2008. In reply to the 2006 observation, the Government included reports of the five meetings held in 2006 and the four meetings held in 2007 by the National Advisory Committee on Labour (NACOLA). The Committee notes that NACOLA approved the ratification of the Collective Bargaining Convention, 1981 (No. 154). The Employer members expressed concern in the NACOLA over whether the Government had sufficient capacity to comply with its reporting obligations and considered that ratifying more Conventions would add more pressure on the Government. Due to the high staff turnover in the National Advisory Council on Occupational Health and Safety, the consultation on ratifying the Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176), was not completed. The Committee also notes that the NACOLA discussed questions arising out of the application of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98). The Committee notes with interest that progress has been achieved within NACOLA on the matters related to international labour standards covered by the Convention (Article 5(1) of the Convention). The Committee invites the Government to report regularly on the consultations held within NACOLA on matters set out in Article 5(1), including information on other steps taken towards the ratification of Conventions Nos 154 and 176.