Committee on Application of Standards (CAN) during the 109th Session of the International Labour Conference - Pakistan’s Statement on the Individual Case No. 10 of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (11 June 2021, 1300-1600 hours)
Honourable Chair,
Pakistan appreciates the continuing commitment of the Government of China to implement its Convention related obligations and commitments to implement international labour standards particularly protection of the right to organize (C087).
It is encouraging that Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has taken a number of significant legislative and administrative steps to achieve these objectives. It has paid due attention to upholding the rule of law through its independent institutions and has ensured enjoyment of rights including freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Chairperson,
We are cognizant of the responsibility of any Government to maintain public order and ensure safety of its citizens including health security and safety in the special circumstances of global pandemic. Measures taken in this context should not be misrepresented as unlawful curbs on freedom of association in the context of Convention 87. We appreciate the good track-record of the Hong Kong SAR in complying with labour standards, which is evidenced by the presence of vibrant international finance centre in the region.
All concerns and complaints should be settled amicably in the framework of tripartite cooperation. It is important to refrain from politicizing the work of ILO supervisory mechanisms and this Committee.
Our deliberations should be in line with the spirit of multilateralism and aimed at implementation of labour standards in a non-political and objective manner.
Thank you.