Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928 (No. 26) - Barbados (Ratification: 1967)

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 matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Repetition

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Minimum wage-fixing machinery. The Committee recalls its previous comment in which it referred to the readjustment of the minimum wage for domestic workers that remains unchanged for over 20 years, and noted the Government’s commitment to addressing this matter in consultation with the social partners. The Committee notes the new observations of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) on this point, dated 31 August 2011, according to which even though anecdotal evidence suggests that domestic workers are generally paid at the prevailing market rates, these rates should be enshrined in statute to ensure sufficient protection. The BWU alleges that even when paid at market rates, domestic workers still do not earn a living wage as they are often given a minimal number of hours. The BWU also recalls the lack of appropriate supervision due to privacy issues and the fact that the residence status of most migrant domestic workers prevents them from filing complaints. In this connection, the BWU refers to the possibility of establishing a ‘crisis hotline’ that could offer advice to these workers. The Committee requests the Government to transmit any comments it may wish to make in reply to the observations of the BWU. Moreover, recalling the recent adoption of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189), in particular Article 11 which requires ratifying member States to take measures to ensure that domestic workers enjoy minimum wage coverage, where such coverage exists, the Committee requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any progress made for the revision of the minimum wage rate applicable to domestic workers.