ILC114 - EU Statement - Committee on Application of Standards - Eritrea C.29

ILC114 - EU Statement - Committee on Application of Standards - Eritrea C.29

International Labour Conference

114th Session

Geneva, June 2026

Committee on the Application of Standards

Eritrea

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)

Thank you, Chair.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Republic of Moldova, the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as the United Kingdom align themselves with this statement.

The EU and its Member States are committed to the promotion, protection, respect and fulfilment of human rights, including labour rights and the abolition of forced and compulsory labour. We promote universal ratification and effective implementation of fundamental ILO Conventions and support the ILO in developing and promoting international labour standards and supervising their application.

We note with regret the observations of the Committee of Experts concerning the application by Eritrea of the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), particularly in relation to compulsory national service. We recall that, for more than 20 years, the Committee of Experts and this Committee, in 2015 and 2018, have urged the Government to review the Proclamation on National Service No. 82 of 1995. We deplore that no progress has been achieved in law or practice, as observed by the Committee.

We recall that the Proclamation requires all citizens aged 18 to 50 to perform national service. We share the Committee's concern that, in practice, national service has become indeterminate and goes well beyond the exceptions provided for in the Convention.

We take note of the Government's explanations that national service was introduced for national defence and prolonged due to security threats and emergency circumstances, including drought, climate-related challenges, COVID-19 and recurrent conflicts in the Horn of Africa. However, we recall that the conditions under which compulsory labour may be exacted under the exceptions in Convention No. 29 are strictly defined.

We remain deeply concerned by reports referred to by the Committee that forced conscription has continued, including through mass roundups, forced recruitment and coercive measures to compel participation in military action. We are also concerned by reports that conscripts serve under threat of severe punishment to themselves and their families, and that reservists over 50 have been called upon to serve.

We note with serious concern the Committee's observations that the duration of national service remains indefinite, creating a permanent and de facto state of general mobilization. Many Eritreans serve for periods ranging from several years to over two decades, with no clear criteria defining the length of service.

We are further concerned that conscripts are reportedly subjected to forced labour and arduous work in very harsh conditions, without choice over the nature or conditions of work, and for meagre pay, in programmes including construction, reforestation, soil and water preservation, reconstruction and food security.

We therefore urge the Government of Eritrea to take the necessary legal and practical measures to reform the national service system and bring it into full conformity with Convention No. 29. We call on the Government to ensure that work exacted from conscripts is limited to military training, work of a purely military character, or tasks aimed at addressing exceptional situations; that the duration and conditions of such work respond specifically to the exigencies of the situation; and that assignment to civil service functions takes place only on a voluntary basis.

We also note with deep concern the Committee's observations on Convention No.105, and the persistence of compulsory labour as punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system. We therefore call for the Government to take the necessary measures to review sections 15(3), (4) and (10) of Press Proclamation No. 90/1996 and section 3(3) of Proclamation No. 73/1995 both in law and in practice.

Finally, we call on the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that, no person can be sanctioned with penalties of imprisonment (involving compulsory prison labour) under national legislation, for participating peacefully in a strike, ensuring that such a penalty is strictly limited to cases where participation in a strike has involved violence.

The EU and its Member States strongly encourage the Government of Eritrea to strengthen its cooperation with the ILO and to avail itself of ILO technical assistance.

We will follow the situation closely and remain ready to support efforts aimed at ensuring compliance with international labour standards and the abolition of forced and compulsory labour.

Thank you, Chair.

1. ^ North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.