Urgent need to revise the Labour Law

The National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia (NHRC) has partnered with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to hold a high-level consultative meeting on "Revision of the Mongolian Labour Law and Implementation of Labour Rights of Employees in the Private Sector".

This high-level meeting, held on 6 December 2017, reviewed the implementation status of international conventions on labour rights to which Mongolia is a party, discussed the need to revise the Labour Law and examined the current challenges in labour relations.

This meeting included Mr Byambadorj J, NHRC Chief Commissioner; Mr Ganbayar N., NHRC Commissioner; Mr Tim de Meyer, ILO Country Director for China and Mongolia; Mr Marco Ferri, Charge d'Affaires a.i., European Union; Mr Chinzorig S., Minister for Labour and Social Protection; Mrs Saule J., Deputy Minister for Food, Agriculture and Light Industry; and Mr Amgalanbaatar Kh., President of Mongolian Trade Union.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Road and Transport Development, the General Agency for Specialized Inspection, the Mongolian National Chamber for Trade and Commerce, the Mongolian Employers' Federation and the Mongolian Wool and Cashmere Association were also represented at the meeting.

Participants emphasised the role and responsibilities of government, employers and trade unions to ensure that labour rights are respected in practice. They agreed to take following the measures in order for Mongolia to fulfill its obligations under eight core ILO conventions:

• Conduct a study and analysis on implementation of international labour norms and standards;
• Develop evidence-based policy;
• Ensure coherence between government, employers and trade unions in allocating the necessary funding; and
• Revise domestic laws immediately, particularly the Labour Law.

In 2016, the NHRC conducted studies on the status of labour rights in relation to public servants and private sector employees, as well as military officers and conscripts. The results of these studies were included in its 16th Annual Status Report on the Situation of Human Rights and Freedoms in Mongolia.

Based on these studies, the Commission recommended that the government revise the Labour Law and other relevant regulations in order to ensure the labour rights of people working in both public and private sectors.

After consistent advocacy efforts by the NHRC, civil society and international organizations over a number of years, this high-level consultative meeting helped create a shared understanding of the urgent need to revise the Labour Law, including among parliamentarians, and possibly in 2018.

Following the high-level consultative meeting, an NHRC study report on "Some issues related to labour rights in small and medium enterprises: Trade, and wool and cashmere sector" was discussed among the enterprises, employers, trade unions, government organizations and civil society organisations involved in the study.

The NHRC, with technical support of the EU and the ILO, has also conducted a study on implementation of fundamental principles and labour rights of small and medium-size enterprises that engage in trade, and wool and cashmere sectors. The report was published and distributed to the relevant stakeholders and public.

Date: 12 December 2017

Source: National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia