INTERNATIONAL LABOUR
ORGANISATION CONVENTIONS
International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions are
international labour standards drafted by the ILO on labour and
employment matters such as child labour, night work, freedom of
association and collective bargaining. Member states of the ILO are
obliged to consider the ratification of these conventions. In June
1994, South Africa rejoined the ILO when it was accepted as a full
member.
Nedlac has so far recommended that the South African government
ratify six ILO conventions. The process followed in making these
recommendations entailed a special subcommittee considering the
conventions and constituency submissions on the conventions. The
committee was able to conduct special investigations to assist it
in making its recommendations to the Labour Market Chamber, which
then made recommendations to the Executive Council.
The ILO conventions recommended for ratification by the South
African government are:
- Convention 29 on forced labour.
- Convention 87 on freedom of association.
- Convention 98 on the right to organise and collective
bargaining.
- Convention 105 on the abolition of forced labour.
- Convention 111 on discrimination.
Most recently, the Nedlac Executive Council debated the
ratification of ILO convention 175. Business expressed concern that
the practical implications and consequences for South Africa of
ratifying this convention were at this stage unclear and needed to
be explored before ratification could be considered. The Executive
Council agreed to recommend ratification, noting business's
concerns.