Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Ratification: 2015)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Previous comment

Part II (Medical care) of the Convention. Provision of medical care, types of benefits, and cost-sharing. Articles 7 and 10. Morbid condition. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government in its report concerning medical care benefits provided in case of a morbid condition.

Article 10(1)(b), in conjunction with Article 49, Part VIII (Maternity benefits). Maternity medical care benefits. The Committee requests the Government to confirm that maternity medical care, i.e.: (a) prenatal, confinement and postnatal care either by medical practitioners or by qualified midwives; and (b) hospitalization where necessary, is provided free of charge in public hospitals to women residing in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Part VI (Employment Injury Benefits), Article 34. Medical care due to employment injury. The Committee notes that according to section 12(2) of the National Insurance (Employment Injury Benefits) Regulations, SRO 6 of 1997, medical expenses due to an employment injury are refunded if they do not exceed the amount of the reasonable expenses incurred by the claimant. Furthermore, the amount of any fees and charges which may be refunded shall be determined by the Director of the National Insurance Scheme (section 12(4)). Recalling that under Article 34 of the Convention, cost-sharing in respect of medical care benefits, listed in its paragraph 2, is not authorized, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the determination of the term “reasonable expenses” and to what extent such term allows to cover actual costs for medical care borne by victims of employment injuries.

Article 35. Re-establishment of victims of employment injury in suitable work and vocational rehabilitation. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to report on any measures taken or envisaged to give effect to Article 35 of the Convention.

Part VIII (Maternity Benefit), Articles 50 and 51. Maternity cash benefit. Application in practice. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government concerning the provision of maternity cash benefits in practice.

Part XI (Standards to be complied with by periodical payments), Article 65(10). Adjustment of pensions to the cost of living.Recalling that as perArticle 65(10) of the Convention, the rates of current periodical payments in respect of old age, employment injury (except in case of incapacity for work), invalidity and death of the breadwinner shall be reviewed following substantial changes in the general level of earnings, where these result from substantial changes in the cost of living,the Committee requests the Government to provide statistical data on the adjustment of benefits, according to Title VI of the report form for the Convention.

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

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

The Committee notes the Government’s first report.

Part II (Medical care) of the Convention. Provision of medical care, types of benefits, and cost-sharing. (i) Articles 7 and 10. Morbid condition. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application of Articles 7 and 10 of the Convention. In particular, the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the medical benefits listed in Article 10(1)(a) are provided to the persons protected in case of morbid condition. The Committee further requests the Government to indicate whether and to what extent beneficiaries or insured persons are required to share in the cost of the medical care benefits received in case of a morbid condition, and, if cost-sharing is required, to provide information on any measure ensuring that cost-sharing does not involve hardship for persons protected, in application of Article 10(2) of the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to state in detail the measures taken to give effect to Article 10(3) and (4).

(ii) Article 10(1)(b), in conjunction with Article 49, Part VIII (Maternity benefits). Maternity medical care benefits. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the maternity medical care benefits listed in Articles 10(1)(b) and 49 of the Convention are provided to insured women and to the wives of insured men during pregnancy, confinement and their consequences, and to provide a copy of the relevant legislation. The Committee further requests the Government to indicate whether beneficiaries or insured persons are required to share in the cost of maternity medical care benefits.

Part VI (Employment Injury Benefits), Article 35. Re-establishment of victims of employment injury in suitable work and vocational rehabilitation. The Committee notes the indication by the Government that no measures have yet been taken to give effect to Article 35 of the Convention, which requires that departments administering the medical care co-operate with the general vocational rehabilitation services, with a view to the re-establishment of disabled persons in suitable work. The Committee requests the Government to report on any measures taken or envisaged to give effect to Article 35 of the Convention.

Part VIII (Maternity Benefit), Articles 50 and 51. Maternity cash benefit. Application in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the conditions for entitlement to maternity benefits. It notes, in particular, that women employees who have paid 30 weekly contributions into the National Insurance Services (NIS), including at least 20 weekly contributions immediately preceding the week of confinement, are entitled to a maternity benefit, in accordance with Regulation 19 of the National Insurance (Benefits) Regulations, 1994, as amended. The maternity benefit corresponds to 65 per cent of the woman’s insurable earnings (or credits) in the last 30 weeks (Regulation 22). The Committee also notes that insured women who have at least 20 weeks of paid contributions in the 30 weeks immediately preceding the week of childbirth, and the wives or partners of insured men with the same contributory period, are entitled to a maternity grant, which is a single payment of 660 dollars upon the birth of a child (Regulation 2 and Regulation 23, as amended). As regards the application of the provisions in practice, the Committee notes from the statistical information provided by the Government that, while 17,487 women were in insured employment in 2016, no maternity benefits have been paid from 2012 to 2016, while 584 maternity grants have been paid in 2016 only. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the reasons that may explain the lack of payment of any maternity benefits during the period 2012–16.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

The Committee notes the Government’s first report.

Part II (Medical care) of the Convention. Provision of medical care, types of benefits, and cost-sharing. (i) Articles 7 and 10. Morbid condition. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application of Articles 7 and 10 of the Convention. In particular, the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the medical benefits listed in Article 10(1)(a) are provided to the persons protected in case of morbid condition. The Committee further requests the Government to indicate whether and to what extent beneficiaries or insured persons are required to share in the cost of the medical care benefits received in case of a morbid condition, and, if cost-sharing is required, to provide information on any measure ensuring that cost-sharing does not involve hardship for persons protected, in application of Article 10(2) of the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to state in detail the measures taken to give effect to Article 10(3) and (4).

(ii) Article 10(1)(b), in conjunction with Article 49, Part VIII (Maternity benefits). Maternity medical care benefits. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the maternity medical care benefits listed in Articles 10(1)(b) and 49 of the Convention are provided to insured women and to the wives of insured men during pregnancy, confinement and their consequences, and to provide a copy of the relevant legislation. The Committee further requests the Government to indicate whether beneficiaries or insured persons are required to share in the cost of maternity medical care benefits.

Part VI (Employment Injury Benefits), Article 35. Re-establishment of victims of employment injury in suitable work and vocational rehabilitation. The Committee notes the indication by the Government that no measures have yet been taken to give effect to Article 35 of the Convention, which requires that departments administering the medical care co-operate with the general vocational rehabilitation services, with a view to the re-establishment of disabled persons in suitable work. The Committee requests the Government to report on any measures taken or envisaged to give effect to Article 35 of the Convention.

Part VIII (Maternity Benefit), Articles 50 and 51. Maternity cash benefit. Application in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the conditions for entitlement to maternity benefits. It notes, in particular, that women employees who have paid 30 weekly contributions into the National Insurance Services (NIS), including at least 20 weekly contributions immediately preceding the week of confinement, are entitled to a maternity benefit, in accordance with Regulation 19 of the National Insurance (Benefits) Regulations, 1994, as amended. The maternity benefit corresponds to 65 per cent of the woman’s insurable earnings (or credits) in the last 30 weeks (Regulation 22). The Committee also notes that insured women who have at least 20 weeks of paid contributions in the 30 weeks immediately preceding the week of childbirth, and the wives or partners of insured men with the same contributory period, are entitled to a maternity grant, which is a single payment of 660 dollars upon the birth of a child (Regulation 2 and Regulation 23, as amended). As regards the application of the provisions in practice, the Committee notes from the statistical information provided by the Government that, while 17,487 women were in insured employment in 2016, no maternity benefits have been paid from 2012 to 2016, while 584 maternity grants have been paid in 2016 only. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the reasons that may explain the lack of payment of any maternity benefits during the period 2012–2016.