The continuity of vital services must be ensured even during a strike

The Chamber addressed the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and the social partners with a proposal to agree on a list of those companies where an essential level of service or production must be ensured even during a strike.

The Collective Labour Dispute Resolution Act states that if a strike takes place in companies that meet the primary needs of the population and the economy, an essential level of service or production must be ensured during the strike.

The parties agree on the essential level of service or production between themselves. If the parties do not reach an agreement, the essential level of service or production is determined by the Public Conciliator.

Under the law, the government must establish a list of companies where an essential level of service or production must be ensured even during a strike. To date, the government has not established this list. The absence of the list may give rise to disputes during a strike over the extent to which the level of service or production must be ensured.

The Chamber therefore asked the ministry and the social partners to agree as quickly as possible on a list of companies for which an essential level of service or production must be ensured during a strike.

In the Chamber’s view, the list must include at least all providers of vital services designated under the Emergency Act. Otherwise, the uninterrupted functioning of services of critical importance to society may be put at risk during a strike.