Definitive Report - Report No 78, 1965

Case No 336 (Benin) - Complaint date: 16-MAY-63 - Closed

1. 33. The present case has already been the subject of a report by the Committee contained in paragraphs 388 to 397 of its 70th Report.
2. 34. The Government of the Republic of Dahomey is bound by the obligations of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87).

A. A. The complainants' allegations

1. 35. In a communication dated 16 May 1963 the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions (I.F.C.T.U.) alleged that Mr. Dossou-Ahoue, an active member of a Dahomean organisation affiliated to the I.F.C.T.U, had been arrested after a search of his house by the Dahomey police authorities, and incarcerated " for having maintained relations with an international trade union organisation ".
2. 36. The Government stated, in the observations supplied in a communication dated 20 March 1964, that since the referendum of 5 January 1964 a permanent solution had been found to the dispute between the Christian trade unions and the former Government of Dahomey. Freedom of association and the right to strike, it continued, were unambiguously recognised by the Constitution of 5 January 1964, under article 9. The Government asserted that the Constitution thus gave the Christian trade unions complete freedom to restore their organisation if they regarded themselves as representative at the national level.
3. 37. Considering the case at its 37th Session in June 1964 the Committee formed the opinion, in view of the explanations supplied by the Government, that the trade union situation in Dahomey had become stable since the change of régime and the promulgation of the new Constitution.
4. 38. However, before making definitive recommendations to the Governing Body, the Committee considered that it would have to obtain certain additional information.
5. 39. Accordingly it asked the Government firstly to state whether the Christian trade unions that had been dissolved had actually been reconstituted as the Government had affirmed that they could be, and secondly, in view of the specific allegation contained in the complaint relating to the arrest of Mr. Dossou-Ahoue, to state whether he had been released.
6. 40. The request for additional information was communicated to the Government in a letter dated 11 June 1964 from the Director-General, and the Government replied in a communication dated 7 September 1964.
7. 41. This communication shows that the Christian trade unions of Dahomey were actually reconstituted on 4 April 1964, that they now form the Dahomey Confederation of Christian Workers and that the Secretary-General of this organisation is Mr. Dossou-Ahoue, who was released on 30 April 1963.

The Committee's recommendations

1. 42. In these circumstances the Committee recommends the Governing Body to take note of the reconstitution of the Christian trade unions of Dahomey and of the release of Mr. Dossou-Ahoue and to decide that the case does not call for further investigation.