Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Barbados (Ratification: 1967)

In previous comments, the Committee noted that under section 30(2)(a) of the Defence Act, the Defence Board may refuse an application for discharge or transfer to the Reserve of a person enlisted in the regular force; under regulation 7 of the Defence (Officers) Regulations, 1979, the Defence Board may permit an officer at his request to resign his commission; and persons in the Barbados Defence Force who have received training but have not completed the full training period are required to repay a proportional part of the cost of their training if they seek to be discharged.

The Committee asked that the Government continue to supply information on the practice followed in accepting or refusing (1) the purchase of discharge or (2) the transfer to the Reserve of persons in the regular force in virtue of section 30(2)(a) of the Defence Act and (3) the resignation of officers at their request under the Defence (Officers) Regulations, 1979.

The Committee notes the Government's indication in its report that during the period from July 1992 to 30 September 1993, four persons requested discharge by purchase and all the requests were approved and two officers were granted secondments and were transferred to the Reserve of the Barbados Defence Force. The Committee hopes that the Government will continue to provide information and statistical data with respect to the practical application of the three above-mentioned procedures.