Statement 102 - Australian Permanent Mission and Consulate-General

Australian Permanent Mission and Consulate-General

Geneva, Switzerland

Address: Chemin des Fins 2, Case Postale 102, 1211 Geneva 19 - Telephone: 022 799 9100 - Fax: 022 799 9178

Report of the Commission of Inquiry appointed to examine the observance by the Government of Zimbabwe 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)

Statement by Australia

Madam Chair

Australia thanks the members of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Commission of Inquiry for their report to the ILO Governing Body on Zimbabwe’s observance of Conventions Nos 87 and 98 on freedom of association and the right to organise.

Australia continues to call on all parties to the power-sharing Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe to respect human rights and the rule of law.

Australia is deeply concerned by the ILO Commission’s finding that Zimbabwe continues to systemically violate Conventions No 87 and 98 by engaging in anti-union practices including arrest, detention, violence, torture, intimidation, harassment, interference, and anti-union discrimination.

We support the ILO Commission’s recommendation that Zimbabwe immediately ceases all anti-union practices, and takes adequate steps to ensure that there is no repetition of such acts in the future.

We also support the ILO Commission’s recommendation that Zimbabwe take steps to reinforce the rule of law and strengthen the role of the courts in the interests of better ensuring that an environment exists in the country in which freedom of association and the right to organise is enjoyed.

Australia welcomes the ILO Commission’s finding that the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the Organ for National Healing and Reconciliation could come to play an important role in bringing both trade unionists and perpetrators of labour rights violations together to participate in a national process of truth and reconciliation. We join with the ILO Commission in calling on Zimbabwe to ensure that the Human Rights Commission becomes operational and adequately resourced as soon as possible.

Australia shares the Commission’s hopes that Zimbabwe will implement the Commission’s recommendations in good faith, protect the rights of its citizens to free association and organisation, and thereby better pave the way towards respect for human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe.