47
the Convention on the Rights of the Child;205 Article 1 of the European Social Charter206 and Article
15 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.207
146. Consequently, when analyzing the meaning and scope of Article 26 of the Convention in
this case, the Court will take into account, in light of the general rules of interpretation established
in Article 29(b), (c) and (d) of this instrument,208 the aforementioned protection of job security 209
as applicable to the specific case.
147. In this regard, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in its General
Comment No. 18 on the right to work, indicated that this included “the right not to be deprived
of work unfairly.”210 It has also indicated that “[v]iolations of the obligation to protect follow from
the failure of States parties to take all necessary measures to safeguard persons within their
jurisdiction from infringements of the right to work by third parties,” which include “failure to
protect workers against unlawful dismissal.”211
148. For example, Convention 158 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on
termination of employment (1982),212 establishes that the right to work includes the lawfulness
of termination in its article 4213 but stipulates, in particular, the need to provide “a valid reason
for such termination”214 as well as the right to effective legal remedies in case of an unjustifiable
termination. Likewise, ILO Recommendation No. 143 215 on workers’ representatives requires that
Article 32. […] 2. States Parties shall take legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to ensure
the implementation of the present article. To this end, and having regard to the relevant provisions of other international
instruments, States Parties shall in particular: a) (a) Provide for a minimum age or minimum ages for admission to
employment; (b) Provide for appropriate regulation of the hours and conditions of employment; (c) Provide for appropriate
penalties or other sanctions to ensure the effective enforcement of the present article.
205
Article 1. The right to work. With a view to ensuring the effective exercise of the right to work, the Contracting
Parties undertake: 1. To accept as one of their primary aims and responsibilities the achievement and maintenance of as
high and stable a level of employment as possible, with a view to the attainment of full employment; 2. To protect
effectively the right of the worker to earn his living in an occupation freely entered upon; 3. To establish or maintain free
employment services for all workers; 4. To provide or promote appropriate vocational guidance, training and rehabilitation.
206
Article 15. Every individual shall have the right to work under equitable and satisfactory conditions, and shall
receive equal pay for equal work.
207
Cf. Compulsory Membership of an Association Prescribed by Law for the Practice of Journalism (arts. 13 and 29
American Convention on Human Rights), OC-5/85, supra, paras. 51 and 52; Juridical Status and Rights of Undocumented
Migrants, OC-18/2003 of September 17, 2003. Series A No. 18, para. 156. Regarding the scope of labor rights, in order
to identify a group of rights that have a crucial importance for migrant workers, the Court applied the pro persona principle,
indicating that if there are several instruments that regulate the same situation, the domestic or international instrument
that best protects the worker must be preferred.
208
Cf. Case of Baena Ricardo et al. v. Panama. Merits, reparations and costs. Judgment of February 2, 2001. Series
C No. 72, para. 134.
209
UN. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 18: The right to work, UN Doc.
E/C.12/GC/18, November 24, 2005.
210
211
UN. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No.18: The right to work, supra.
ILO. Convention No. 158 on termination of employment, November 23, 1985. It should be pointed out that, as
the Peruvian State indicate, Convention No. 158 has not been ratified by Peru.
212
Article 4 of Convention No. 158. The employment of a worker shall not be terminated unless there is a valid
reason for such termination connected with the capacity or conduct of the worker or based on the operational requirements
of the undertaking, establishment or service.
214
Article 5 of Convention No. 158. The following, inter alia, shall not constitute valid reasons for termination: (a)
union membership or participation in union activities outside working hours or, with the consent of the employer, within
working hours; (b) seeking office as, or acting or having acted in the capacity of, a workers' representative; (c) the filing
of a complaint or the participation in proceedings against an employer involving alleged violation of laws or regulations or
recourse to competent administrative authorities;[…].
213
Cf. ILO, Recommendation on Workers’ Representatives, 1971 (No. 143), Recommendation on protection and
facilities that should be afforded to workers’ representatives. Fifty-sixth Session of the ILO General Conference; date
adopted June 23, 1971. Paragraph 5: Workers' representatives in the undertaking should enjoy effective protection
against any act prejudicial to them, including dismissal, based on their status or activities as a workers' representative or
215