Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Barbados (Ratification: 1983)

Effective tripartite consultations. In its previous comments, the Committee hoped that progress would be made in the establishment of a tripartite committee and in the consultations held therein on the matters covered by the Convention. The Committee therefore notes with satisfaction that a tripartite committee was established by the Government comprising representatives from the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados and from the Barbados Employers’ Confederation. The inaugural meeting on 18 August 2004 discussed such matters as the role and mandate of the committee, the training and orientation programme for committee members, the status of Conventions for ratification, the preparation of reports and questionnaires for the 94th Session of the International Labour Conference. The Government’s report received in April 2006 also said that the representative of the Barbados Employers’ Confederation indicated that there was a need to harmonize the reports being forwarded to the ILO. The employers’ representative requested that, after a report is compiled by the Ministry, it should be sent to the Barbados Employers’ Confederation and to the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados before being forwarded to the ILO. The Committee notes that the request by the employers’ organization is in conformity with the procedures provided for in Article 5, paragraph 1(d), of the Convention. The Committee points out that one of the subjects to be dealt with in the consultations provided for in the Convention concerns matters arising out of reports to be made to the International Labour Office under article 22 of the ILO Constitution. It also points out that for such consultations to be effective it would be appropriate for employers’ and workers’ organizations to become acquainted with the content of the reports due under the ILO Constitution. The Committee recalls that the reports requested must reach the International Labour Office within a prescribed time limit. Consequently, the Committee hopes that the Government and the social partners will make appropriate arrangements to ensure “effective consultations” between social partners on the matters covered by the Convention (Article 5, paragraph 1) to the satisfaction of all the parties. Furthermore, the Committee would appreciate it if the Government would continue to report on the nature of any reports and recommendations produced as a result of the activities of the tripartite committee.