Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

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

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters raised in its previous direct request:

1. The Committee noted the information provided by the Government in its report for the period ending 30 June 1989 that selected prisoners were hired or placed at the disposal of private individuals or companies through the extramural programme. These prisoners were released daily, dispatched and picked up by prison officials and given monetary rewards which were placed in their individual accounts. The Government reported that these prisoners were not forced to accept outside employment as it is voluntarily accepted and they were guaranteed acceptable wages.

The Committee again 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.