Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Dock Work Convention, 1973 (No. 137) - Portugal (Ratification: 1981)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments.

Follow-up to the recommendations of the tripartite committee (representation made under article 24 of the Constitution of the ILO)

At its 324th Session (June 2015), the Governing Body entrusted the Committee of Experts with following up on the issues raised in the report of the tripartite committee which examined the representation submitted by the Union of Stevedores, Cargo Handlers and Maritime Checking Clerks in Central and Southern Portugal, the Union XXI – Trade Union Association of Administrative Staff, Technicians and Operators at the Container Cargo Terminals in the Port of Sines, the Union of Dockworkers in the Port of Aveiro, and the Union of Stevedores, Cargo Handlers and Checking Clerks at the Port of Caniçal alleging non-observance by Portugal of the Convention (GB.324/INS/7/8). After examining the circumstances in which the 2013 reform of dock work was carried out, the tripartite committee encouraged the Government to continue opting for social dialogue in the event of future reforms in the port sector. Following up on the conclusions and recommendations of the tripartite committee, the Committee of Experts requests the Government to provide information on the application of Act No. 3/2013 on dock work and the other measures that have been adopted in a tripartite context with a view to continuing the improvement of working conditions and efficiency in ports (paragraph 57 of the report). The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted by the competent authorities and employers’ organizations which signed the agreement of 12 September 2012 for the application of the new legal framework governing the dock sector and that it will supply up-to-date comparative statistical data on the number of dockworkers in the country disaggregated by age and sex, including the number of temporary or casual dockworkers (paragraph 83). Please also indicate the measures adopted to bring the collective agreements in force in the various ports in the country into compliance with the new legal framework governing dock work set out in Act No. 3/2013 (paragraph 84).

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