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 25 and 26 May and 2 June 2000, under the chairmanship of Professor Max Rood.

Pending cases

2. The Committee had before it several complaints concerning the violation of freedom of association in Colombia, presented by a number of trade union organizations (Cases Nos. 1787, 1948, 1955, 1962, 1973, 2015, 2046, 2051 and 2068) - the last of these having been presented since the last examination of cases on their merits concerning Colombia by the Committee in November 1999 - and a complaint concerning the non-observance by Colombia 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), made by several Workers' delegates to the 86th Session (1998) of the Conference under article 26 of the ILO Constitution. At its meeting of November 1999, the Committee had already examined Cases Nos. 1787, 1948, 1955, 1962, 1964, 1973 and 2015 (see 319th Report, paras. 1-201, drawing interim conclusions).

3. The Committee took note of the report of the direct contacts mission which visited Colombia (Bogot and Medellˇn) from 7 to 16 February 2000. The mission was made up of Mr. Cassio Mesquita Barros, a member of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations and professor of labour law (SĆo Paulo), and of Mr. Alberto Pérez P rez, professor of human rights and constitutional law (Montevideo) who were accompanied by two officials from the Freedom of Association Branch of the International Labour Standards Department (see mission report annexed to this report).

Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body

4. In Case No. 1925 (Colombia), which the Committee had examined in the framework of the follow-up given to its recommendations at its meetings of June 1999 (316th Report, paras. 39-42) and November 1999 (319th Report, para. 4), the Government had indicated, in a communication dated 27 September 1999, that it accepted that the information furnished by the company AVIANCA be considered as part of the Government's reply. The complainant, the National Union of Employees of AVIANCA and the Government have transmitted further information to the Committee. However, the Committee notes that in a communication dated 9 March 2000, the Government states that the company, the union and the authorities have established a tripartite committee to bring an end to the dispute. The Committee requests to be kept informed in this regard.