Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Bahamas (Ratification: 1979)

Previous comment

Articles 2 and 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Government refers in its report to the adoption on 6 December 2021 of the ILO “Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for the Bahamas: 2021-2026”. The DWCP was developed with the participation of the National Tripartite Council (NTC) and includes the promotion of social dialogue among its main priorities. The Committee notes that, according to the DWCP, the NTC has functioned well since its establishment and provides a valuable mechanism for continued dialogue between the government and the social partners. The Committee notes that, according to the DWCP, the NTC recommended that the Government ratify the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) and the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190). The Committee notes with interest the ratification of both Conventions on 30 November 2022. In addition, the Committee observes that the DWCP envisages the adoption of measures aimed at establishing technical sub-committees within the NTC to institutionalize social dialogue around a wider range of policy issues and/or to address technical matters pertaining to particular sectors or industries. The DWCP also envisages the provision of technical support and training to workers’ and employers’ organizations to build their capacity to, inter alia, develop a roadmap for key legislative and policy reforms aimed at enhancing the application of international labour standards and promoting and ensuring the equal representation of women and other under-represented groups within the NTC. The Committee nevertheless notes that the Government does not provide information regarding the content or outcome of tripartite consultations held on the matters related to international labour standards set out in Article 5(1) of the Convention. Lastly, the Government indicates that the NTC has not published an annual report during the reporting period and that measures will be taken to ensure the elaboration of annual reports. In light of the foregoing, theCommittee reiterates its request that the Government provide detailed updated information on the content and outcome of tripartite consultations held on all matters concerning international labour standards covered by the Convention, including with respect to: the Government’s replies to questionnaires concerning items on the agenda of the International Labour Conference (Article 5(1)(a)); the proposals to be made to the competent authorities upon the submission of instruments adopted by the Conference (Article 5(1)(b)); the re-examination at appropriate intervals of unratified Conventions and Recommendations to which effect has not yet been given (Article 5(1)(c)); reports to be made on the application of ratified Conventions (Article 5(1)(d)); and proposals for the denunciation of ratified Conventions (Article 5(1)(e)). In addition, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on the activities of the National Tripartite Council with respect to the normative matters covered by the Convention, including providing copies of the Council’s annual reports as soon as they become available.