Guinea Bissau - 2011

Population: 1,600,000
Capital: Bissau
Trade union rights are guaranteed in law, but with limitations. However, the law is not respected and the environment is still largely anti-union. The government finally paid wage arrears to public sector workers, but some, such as health workers, still missed out.
ILO Core Conventions Ratified:
29 Forced Labour (1930) 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) 100 Equal Remuneration for Work of Equal Value (1951) 105 Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) 138 Minimum Age for Employment (1973) 182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999)

reported violations - 2011

Murders: none reported
Attempted Murders: none reported
Threats: none reported
Injuries: none reported
Arrests: none reported
Imprisonments: none reported
Dismissals: none reported
Documented violations - actual number of cases may be higher

Background

The country has a massive foreign debt and an economy which relies heavily on foreign aid. The European Union (EU) announced in August that it was ending its mission to reform Guinea Bissau’s security forces, noting a lack of respect for the rule of law was making its work impossible. In December the EU threatened to suspend development aid unless Guinea Bissau restored democratic norms.
ILO Core Conventions Ratified:
29 Forced Labour (1930) 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) 100 Equal Remuneration for Work of Equal Value (1951) 105 Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) 138 Minimum Age for Employment (1973) 182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999)
Population: 1,600,000
Capital: Bissau

reported violations- 2011

Documented violations - actual number of cases may be higher

Trade union rights in law

Restrictions exist despite fundamental trade rights being granted; all workers have the right to form and join trade unions. However, the provisions in the Labour Code on anti-union discrimination anti-union discrimination Any practice that disadvantages a worker or a group of workers on grounds of their past, current or prospective trade union membership, their legitimate trade union activities, or their use of trade union services. Can constitute dismissal, transfer, demotion, harassment and the like.

See Guide to the ITUC international trade union rights framework

 are inadequate as they only protect trade union delegates and are not coupled with sufficiently dissuasive sanctions.

Most wages are established in bilateral negotiations between workers and employers, but a tripartite National Council for Social Consultation holds consultations on wages and employment legislation. Finally, workers have the right to strike strike The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.

See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike and are protected by law from employer retaliation.

Additional information regarding the legislation
ILO Core Conventions Ratified:
29 Forced Labour (1930) 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) 100 Equal Remuneration for Work of Equal Value (1951) 105 Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) 138 Minimum Age for Employment (1973) 182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999)
Population: 1,600,000
Capital: Bissau

reported violations - 2011

Documented violations - actual number of cases may be higher

Violations

Government reneges on agreement - again: After long delays and repeated broken promises the government announced it finally had the money to pay off civil servants’ salary arrears in January, thanks largely to European Union (EU) grants. In April, however, health workers went on strike strike The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.

See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike over a continued failure to pay arrears and teachers also complained that they had not been fully paid.
ILO Core Conventions Ratified:
29 Forced Labour (1930) 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) 100 Equal Remuneration for Work of Equal Value (1951) 105 Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) 138 Minimum Age for Employment (1973) 182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999)
Population: 1,600,000
Capital: Bissau

reported violations - 2011

Documented violations - actual number of cases may be higher
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