Introduction

1. The Committee on Freedom of Association, set up by the Governing Body at its 117th Session (November 1951), met at the International Labour Office, Geneva, on 27, 28 and 30 May 1985 under the chairmanship of Mr. Roberto Ago, former Chairman of te Governing Body.

2. The Committee had before it various complaints of infringements of trade union rights in Turkey presented by a number of trade union organisations (Cases Nos. 997, 999 and 1029), as well as a representation concerning the observation by Turkey of the Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 11), and the Right to Organise an Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98), made by the General Confederation of Trade Unions of Norway under article 24 of the Constitution of the ILO.

3. At its 228th Session (November 1984) the Governing Body adopted the interim conclusions on Cases Nos. 997, 999 and 1029 submitted to it by the Committee in its 237th Report.

4. Since then, the Government sent its observations in three communications dated 25 April and 13 and 22 May 1985.

5. The General Confederation of Portuguese Workers-National Inter-Union (GCTP-IN), referring to article 24 of the ILO Constitution, presented a representation (Case No. 1303) alleging failure by Portugal to implement a number of international labour conventions which it had ratified, including the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), the Right to Organise an Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98),and the Workers' Representatives Convention, 1979 (No. 135). The complainant Confederation sent additional information in support of its representation on 9 August 1984. The Government sent information and observations on the aspects of the representation concerning freedom of association in communications of 10 December 1984 and 15 February 1985.

6. The Confederation of Costa Rican Workers (CTC), the Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers (CATD), the Unity Confederation of Workers (CUT), the Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers (CCTD) and the National Confederation of Workers (CNT) presented a representation (Case No. 1304) under article 24 of the ILO Constitution, against the International Monetary Fund and alleging he failure by Costa Rica to implement several international labour Conventions including Conventions Nos. 11, 87, 98 and 135. By letters of 8 October, 22 November and 18 December 1984, the Government sent its observations on the allegations presented by the complainant organisations.