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

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Kiribati (Ratification: 2000)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Adequate protection against acts of anti-union discrimination and interference. The Committee previously requested the Government to take measures to raise workers’ awareness of their trade union rights and to provide detailed information on complaints of anti-union discrimination and interference. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Employment and Human Resource (MEHR) has carried out several awareness-raising activities within trade unions and other organizations to inform workers of their rights under Articles1 and 2 of the Convention. It further notes that, while no formal complaints of anti-union discrimination or employer interference have been received by the competent authorities, the MEHR has received indications from employees expressing concerns or fear of joining trade unions, to which the Government has responded with workplace-level awareness sessions. The Committee also notes the Government’s plan to conduct an employee survey over 2025–27, to assess workers’ perceptions and experiences regarding union membership and discrimination. While welcoming the awareness-raising initiatives taken and planned, the Committee requests the Government to continue providing detailed information on any complaints of anti-union discrimination and employer interference brought before the various competent authorities, including judicial proceedings, the average duration of the relevant proceedings and their outcome, as well as the types of remedies and sanctions imposed.

Article 4 of the Convention. Right to collective bargaining. The Committee recalls that for a number of years it has been: (i) urging the Government to ensure that the Employment and Industrial Relations Code (EIRC) sections relating to collective bargaining are effectively in force; and (ii) requesting it to amend the legislation so that federations and confederations can engage in collective bargaining at levels higher than enterprise level. The Committee notes that the Government: (i) reiterates its commitment to ensure that the provisions of the EIRC are brought effectively into force and implemented in practice; (ii) expresses its commitment to take all necessary steps to amend the relevant legislation to ensure that federations and confederations of workers and employers are able to engage in collective bargaining at levels beyond the enterprise level; and (iii) indicates national consultations will be held with relevant stakeholders as part of its effort to review and align the EIRC with international labour standards. The Committee urges the Government to take all necessary steps to expedite the process for ensuring that the EIRC sections relating to collective bargaining are effectively in force. It also once again requests the Government to take all necessary steps, without further delay, to amend the legislation with a view to ensuring that federations and confederations have the possibility of engaging in collective bargaining at levels beyond the enterprise level. It requests the Government to provide information on all progress made in this regard and reminds it of the possibility to avail itself of the ILO technical assistance in this respect.

Collective bargaining in practice. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that: (i) one collective bargaining agreement has been concluded between the Kiribati Overseas Seafarers Union (KOSU) and Industrial Holding Bulgaria (IHB Shipping, agreement facilitated by the KOSU affiliation to the International Transport Workers’ Federation; (ii) it has requested ILO technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of the KTUC and its affiliates in collective bargaining practices, and has supported the KTUC in expanding its membership base and raising public awareness of trade union rights. While taking due note of the information received, the Committee reiterates its request that the Government inform it on the measures taken to promote collective bargaining in all sectors covered by the Convention and provide detailed information on the number of collective agreements concluded and in force, the sectors concerned, and the number of workers covered by these agreements.