Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Honduras (Ratification: 2012)

The Committee notes the observations of the Honduran National Business Council (COHEP), received on 30 August 2024. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Articles 2(1) and 5(1) of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee welcomes the detailed information provided by the Government regarding the tripartite consultations held on matters relating to international labour standards between September 2023 and May 2024, including the records of the Economic and Social Council (CES) Assembly. The Government indicates that, on 29 September 2023, the CES sectoral committees were reactivated: the Sectoral Committee on International Standards (MENIT), the Sectoral Committee on Decent Work (MSED) and the Committee for the Handling of Disputes referred to the ILO (MEPCOIT). The Committee notes that, within the framework of the MENIT, several meetings were held with a view to preparing a draft technical opinion on the feasibility of ratifying the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189), which was later approved in May 2024 by the CES Assembly, and in which the Government was urged to pursue the legal procedure to ratify Convention No. 189. The Government indicates that the consultation process was also initiated on the possible ratification of the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190). MENIT also validated the flowchart on the procedure for preparing reports relating to the application of ratified Conventions for 2024, including the corresponding consultations. Consultations were held, in writing, with the three trade union confederations and with COHEP on the answers to the questionnaires relating to the items on the agenda of the 112th and 113th Sessions of the International Labour Conference. Lastly, the Government has provided a copy of the legal opinions drafted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (SETRASS) on the Safe and Healthy Working Environment (Consequential Amendments) Convention, 2023 (No. 191), and the corresponding Safe and Healthy Working Environment (Consequential Amendments) Recommendation, 2023 (No. 207), as well as the Quality Apprenticeships Recommendation, 2023 (No. 208). SETRASS recommended the ratification of Convention No. 191, and the submission of Recommendations Nos 207 and 208 to the Legislative Power and to effective consultations with the social partners. The Committee observes, however, that the Government has not provided information on the submission of those instruments to the National Congress nor on the tripartite consultations held in this respect, as required by Article 5(1)(b) of the Convention. Lastly, the Committee notes that the Operating Regulations of MEPCOIT were approved by consensus and that consultations were held within the MSED on the Policy on Decent Employment with Sustainable Enterprises, and the employer proposal, “Employment Pact”. The Committee also notes the detailed information provided by COHEP relating to the above-mentioned tripartite consultations held on matters relating to international labour standards within the CES in 2022 and 2024. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on all matters relating to international labour standards covered by Article 5(1) of the Convention, including the submission to National Congress of the instruments adopted by the International Labour Conference (Article 5(1)(b)).

Article 4. Training. The Committee notes the information included in the Government’s report on the training measures in place for tripartite constituents. Among other measures, the Government refers to the adoption of the Honduras Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2024–27, which provides for the strengthening of the institutionalized social dialogue bipartite and tripartite bodies, and the promotion of tripartite participation in consultations. With a view to achieving this objective, capacity-building of the CES and the tripartite constituents is envisaged, among others. The Committee notes that the COHEP refers also in its observations to the activities provided for within the framework of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for the provision of training on international labour standards to CES officials and the tripartite constituents.

The Government also indicates that measures have been taken with a view to signing a technical cooperation agreement with CES Spain. Furthermore, with the assistance of the ILO, MENIT members were trained in November 2023 on the requirements of Convention No. 189 with the aim of supporting the preparation of the draft technical opinion for the ratification of the Convention. The Government also indicates that the development of other training processes with the technical assistance of the ILO Regional Office in Costa Rica is on the agenda. Within the framework of MEPCOIT, a workshop for the prevention and resolution of labour disputes was held with the support of the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy (MITES) of Spain. A manual for conciliation, mediation and social dialogue was also developed by a working group consisting of representatives of the three trade union confederations and COHEP. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to strengthen the capacities of the CES members and of those in the technical secretariat, including the measures taken as part of the Honduras Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2024–27.