Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Bahamas (Ratification: 1976)

1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report that selected prisoners are hired or placed at the disposal of private individuals or companies through the extramural programme. These prisoners are released daily, dispatched and picked up by prison officials and given monetary rewards which are placed in their individual accounts. The Government reports that these prisoners are not forced to accept outside employment as it is voluntarily accepted and they are guaranteed acceptable wages.

The Committee asks that the Government send with its next report more detailed information regarding the extramural programme including a copy of any statute or regulations authorising the programme, a description of the remuneration system (including any schemes for withholding sums as payment for the cost of incarceration) and information on the manner in which the consent of prisoners involved in the programme is secured.

2. The Committee, referring to its general direct request of 1981 and previous comments, again requests that the Government send with its next report a copy of the General Orders governing the public service.