Freedom of Association
Database 2024

Freedom of Association
Indicator
Freedom of Association
Countries
LRI 2024
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Gabon

Freedom of Association Indicator

The Labour Rights Index 2024 (LRI 2024) is a de-jure index covering 145 economies and structured around the working lifespan of a worker. In total, 46 questions or evaluation criteria are scored across 10 indicators. The overall score is calculated by taking the average of each indicator, with 100 being the highest possible score. The Index uses a rating system, ranging from “Total Lack of Decent Work” to “Decent Work”. The Labour Rights Index aims at an active contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, by providing necessary (complementary) insights into de jure provisions on issues covered in particular by SDG8 (Decent Jobs), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Strong Institutions). The Index is based on national labour legislation, applicable on 1 January 2024.

Gabon’s overall score is 72 out of 100. The overall score for Gabon is greater than the regional average observed across Sub-Saharan Africa (66). Within the Sub-Saharan Africa region, the highest score is observed for Côte d’Ivoire (84.5).

Gabon ratified Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) in 1960 and Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) in 1961.

Labour Rights Index 2024

72/100

LRI Country Score

75/100

Freedom of Association Indicator

. %

Trade union density rate (%)

. %

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)

0.15

SDG indicator 8.8.2

3

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 Ratings

Question

Answer

Score

Legal Basis

More Info

Does the law allow workers to form and join unions of their own choice?

Yes

1

§1(13), Constitution 1991; §15, 302-305 of the Labour Code, 2021

Does the law allow workers to bargain collectively with employers through their representative unions?

Yes

1

§150-153, 289-293, 316 of the Labour Code, 2021

Does the law provide for the right to strike?

No

0

§352, 379-386 of the Labour Code 2021

A

Does the law prohibit imposing of excessive sanctions against striking workers?

Yes

1

§380 of the Labour Code 2021

A

Textual sources

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

B : CEACR

CEACR: ILO Committee of Experts on Application of Conventions and Recommendations (latest report)

C : ITUC

ITUC: ITUC Global Rights Index

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

LRI Country Score
The Labour Rights Index has 10 indicators and 46 sub-indicators. The LRI Country score averages 10 indicators and ranges between 0 and 100. The lowest and highest scorers are Nigeria (29/100) and Belgium/Greece (96/100). https://labourrightsindex.org/  

Freedom of Association Indicator
The Freedom of Association indicator is composed of 4 sub-indicators. Scoring is done through the binary method (0 or 1). The score ranges between 0-100. 

Trade union density rate (%)
The trade union density rate conveys the number of union members who are employees as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on trade union density, please check ILOSTAT. 

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)
The collective bargaining coverage rate conveys the number of employees whose pay and/or conditions of employment are determined by one or more collective agreement(s) as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on collective bargaining coverage, please check ILOSTAT. 

SDG indicator 8.8.2
SDG indicator 8.8.2 measures national compliance with fundamental labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining or FACB). It ranges from 0 to 10, with 0 being the best possible score (indicating higher levels of compliance with FACB rights) and 10 the worst (indicating lower levels of compliance with FACB rights). It is based on six ILO supervisory body textual sources and national legislation.
For an updated assessment on SDG indicator 8.8.2, please check ILOSTAT. 

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 Ratings
The ITUC Global Rights Index depicts the world’s worst countries for workers by rating 148 countries on a scale from 1 to 5+ on the degree of respect for workers’ rights. Violations are recorded each year from April to March.  For a detailed description of ratings and methodology, please follow the link. 

Information

Source: §1(13), Constitution 1991; §15, 302-305 of the Labour Code, 2021

Information

Source: §150-153, 289-293, 316 of the Labour Code, 2021

Information

Source: §352, 379-386 of the Labour Code 2021

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

"Art: 385 In the event of a strike in companies whose total cessation of activities is likely to undermine public health and safety, access to care, access to water and electricity, and the balance of the national economy, the strike notice must be accompanied by the days and hours of minimum performance of the daily minimum service, as well as the personnel subject to this minimum service obligation. This includes companies operating in the following sectors: hospitals and educational establishments; electricity supply and drinking water supply companies; fixed and mobile telephone companies; air traffic control companies; security and guarding companies; waste collection, collection and treatment companies; establishments hotel and catering establishments; fire prevention and fighting companies; port handling companies; companies involved in the exploration, production, transport, storage and distribution of hydrocarbons and mining products; banks and credit institutions; pharmacies; funeral and embalming companies; transport companies; companies in new information and communication technologies."

Information

Source: §380 of the Labour Code 2021

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

"Art.380.- Exercising the right to strike cannot justify the termination of the employment contract, except in the case of serious misconduct attributable to the worker. It results in the suspension of the employment contract. Exercising the right to strike cannot give rise to any discriminatory measure particularly in terms of remuneration and social benefits. Any dismissal pronounced in the absence of serious misconduct is null and void."