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

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Angola (Ratification: 1976)

Article 1(a) of the Convention. Imposition of penal sanctions involving compulsory labour as a punishment for expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system. Referring to its observation, the Committee notes that in August 2023, several United Nations Special Procedure mandate holders sent a communication to the Government concerning the bill on the status of non-governmental organizations, which was approved in principle by the National Assembly in May 2023, and many of the provisions of which would be contrary to freedom of association and freedom of opinion and expression. In the context of the 2025 Universal Periodic Review, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights also expressed concern about the adoption of bills which, in their current form, would reduce civic space, in particular the bill on the status of non-governmental organizations (A/HRC/WG.6/48/AGO/3). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the status of the bill on national security and the bill on the status of non-governmental organizations and to provide, where applicable, copies of the adopted texts. The Committee hopes that, in the process of adopting these laws, the obligations arising from the Convention will be taken into account.

Article 1(c). Imposition of compulsory labour as a means of labour discipline. The Committee recalls the Government’s indication that: (1) the Merchant Shipping Penal and Disciplinary Code, certain provisions of which are contrary to the Convention as they permit the imposition of penal sanctions involving compulsory labour (by virtue of sections 13 and 50(c) of the Regulations of the progressive regime of 9 July 1981), is no longer considered to be in force in the national legal system; and (2) under section 25 of the General Labour Act (Act No. 7/15 of 15 June 2015), the contract of employment on board vessels is a special type of employment contract which therefore has to be regulated by specific legislation.

The Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information on the adoption of specific legislation on this matter. Furthermore, the Committee notes that General Labour Act No. 12/23, adopted on 27 December 2023, repealed Act No. 7/15. It notes more particularly that, under this new Act, the contract of employment on board vessels is a special type of employment contract governed by the common provisions of the law as well as by the exceptions and particularities established in specific legislation (section 48). The special conditions of recruitment for employment on board are established by decree of the President of the Republic, who must notably determine the conditions of work on board (section 51). The Committee once again requests the Government to indicate whether specific regulations on employment contracts and conditions of work on board vessels have been adopted, in accordance with sections 48 and 51 of General Labour Act No. 12/23 of 27 December 2023 and, if so, to provide a copy. In the meantime, please provide information on the nature of the sanctions that may be imposed in the event of breaches of discipline by workers on board vessels.