NATIONAL AND REGIONAL PLANS FOR THE CREATION

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NATIONAL AND REGIONAL PLANS FOR THE CREATION OF
DECENT WORK WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS
PRESENTED BY MS. ALTHEA ALBURY DEPUTY DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR MINISTRY OF MARITIME
AFFAIRS AND LABOUR AT THE OAS IACMS WORKING GROUP
SESSION MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY APRIL 15-17, 2008
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THE BAHAMAS HAS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN
DISCUSSIONS ON THE DECENT WORK AGENDA OF THE ILO
SINCE ITS ADOPTION AT THE 87 SESSION OF THE
CONFERENCE IN (1999)
THE BAHAMAS FURTHER ADVANCED ITS POSITION AT THE
ILO TRIPARTITE CARIBBEAN EMPLOYMENT FORUM
(BARBADOS) IN 2006 AND AT THAT TIME RESOLVED TO
FORMULATE ITS DECENT WORK COUNTRY PROGRAMME.
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TRIPARTITE CONSULTATION AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN, AND CONTINUE TO BE, MECHANISMS THAT
ARE UTILIZED TO ACHIEVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
FAIR LABOUR PRACTICES IN THE BAHAMAS,
PARTICULARLY SINCE OUR RATIFICATION OF ILO
CONVENTION 144 IN 1979.
IN LIGHT OF THIS, TRIPARTITE CONSTITUENTS MET IN
A FORUM (TRIFOR) IN 2000, TO ADDRESS ISSUES
RELATIVE TO THE WORLD OF WORK AND IN
PARTICULAR, THE REVISION OF SEVERAL PROPOSED
LABOUR ACTS, WHICH WERE LATER ENACTED AS ACTS OF
PARLIAMENT.
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THIS FORUM RECONVENED IN OCTOBER 2007, TO REVIEW
AMENDMENTS TO THE FOUR MAJOR PIECES OF BAHAMIAN
LABOUR LEGISLATION, NAMELY, THE EMPLOYMENT ACT
THE MINIMUM WAGES ACT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AT
WORK ACT AND THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, IN
ORDER TO CREATE A PLATFORM FOR DIALOGUE ON
NATIONAL POLICY ISSUES. OUR FIRST MEETING OF THE
PLENARY TOOK PLACE IN OCTOBER OF 2007 AND
INCLUDED A TEAM OF TECHNICAL EXPERTS FROM THE
REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE ILO, HEADED BY DR. ANNA
TERESA ROMERO, REGIONAL DIRECTOR.
FOLLOWING THESE DISCUSSIONS, A CORE GROUP OF
INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING THE GOVERNMENT, AS WELL
AS REPRESENTATIVES OF WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS
ORGINAZATIONS, MET AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE
ILO TEAM, DISCUSSED AND FORMULATED THE DECENT
WORK COUNTRY PROGRAMME (DWCP).
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AS A RESULT OF THIS EXERCISE, THE SOCIAL PARTNERS
IDENTIFIED THREE PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE
PROGRAMME, AND ESTABLISHED SHORT AND LONG TERM
DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR EACH PRIORITY AREA, AS WELL
AS PROJECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES. THE
PRIORITY AREAS WERE AS FOLLOWS
(1) INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING
(2) SOCIAL DIALOGUE AND
(3) LABOUR LEGISLATION AND RESPECT FOR RIGHTS AT
WORK.
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PRIORITY NO. 1 INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING
TRIPARTITE REPRESENTATIVES RECOMMENDED THE
STREGTHENING OF LABOUR ADMINISTRATION, EMPLOYERS
ORGANIZATIONS AND WORKERS ORGANIZATIONS, AND THIS
WAS SIMILAR TO THE CALL OF SOCIAL PARTNERS
ATTENDING THE ILOS SIXTEENTH AMERICAS REGIONAL
MEETING (BRASILIA, 2006) AND THE TRIPARTITE
CARIBBEAN EMPLOYMENT FORUM (BARBADOS,
2006). ADDITIONALLY, SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS WERE
PURPOSED BY OUR MINISTER, SENATOR THE HONOURABLE
DION FOULKES, AT THE INTER-AMERICAN CONFERENCE OF
MINISTERS OF LABOUR, HELD IN TRINIDAD LAST YEAR.
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SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES (2-5 YEARS)
STRENGTHENED CAPACITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOUR TO COMPILE AND ANALYSE STATISTICS FROM ITS
OWN ACTIVITIES AND TO PROVIDE LABOUR MARKET
INFORMATION (LMI) TO POLICY MAKERS, SOCIAL
PARTNERS AND THE PUBLIC, WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF
THE ILOS CARIBBEAN LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION
SYSTEM (CLMIS).
ENHANCED COMPETENCE AND EFFICIENCY THROUGH SKILLS
TRAINING OF DESIGNATED OFFICALS FOR THE
APPLICATION OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LABOUR
STANDARDS, AND FOR THE PROVISION OF ENHANCED
SERVICES TO THEIR CONSTITUENCIES.

• STRENGTHENED MANDATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR
  TO PROMOTE COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL LABOUR
  STANDARDS, THROUGH VOLUNTARY AND ENFORCEMENT
  MECHANISMS.

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LONG-TERM OUTCOMES
POLICY MAKERS, EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PLUBLIC ARE BETTER INFORMED
ABOUT CONDITIONS IN THE LABOUR MARKET AND CAN
MAKE WELL FOUNDED DECISIONS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES
FOR EMPLOYMENT AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT.
WORKERS, EMPLOYERS AND SOCIETY BENEFIT FROM THE
WIDER AVAILABILITY OF RELEVANT EDUCATIONAL AND
TRAINING PROGRAMMES THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE
NEEDS OF THE LABOUR MARKET.
LABOUR INSPECTION SERVICES ACQUIRE ADEQUATE
CAPACITY FOR PREVENTION AND SUPERVISION IN ORDER
TO ENFORCE THE APPLICATION OF NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS.
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OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES
QUARTERLY REPORTS. ANNUAL REPORT OF LABOUR MARKET
INFORMATION
PROGRAMME AND FACILITIES DEVELOPED TO
DISSEMINATE LMI TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS
TRAINING PROGRAMME DEVELOPED, ACCEPTED AND
IMPLEMENTED BY THE SOCIAL PARTNERS WORKSHOPS
HELD IN DIFFERENT FAMILY ISLANDS
SOCIAL PARTNERS AGREE ON AND PUBLISH, A REVISED
MANDATE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR, AS IT
RELATES TO COMPLIANCE WITH LABOUR STANDARDS AND A
TRIPARTITE FORUM CONVENED.
RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED TO POLICY-MAKERS FOR
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISED MANDATE.
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PRIORITY NO. 2 SOCIAL DIALOGUE
WHEN TRIFOR WAS REACTIVATED IN OCTOBER 2007,
TRIPARTITE CONSTITUENTS CALLED FOR ARRANGEMENTS
FOR INSTITUTIONALIZED, INTER-SECTORAL POLICY
DIALOGUE. LABOUR AND EDUCATION WERE TWO SECTORS
IDENTIFIED FOR SUCH DIALOGUE, IN RESPONSE TO
CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEED TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT
TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
CURRICULA (TVET) THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE
CHANGING NEEDS OF THE LABOUR MARKET.
ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN WAS BUILDING TRUST AND
MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE
ROLES OF THE SOCIAL PARTNERS. THE TOOLS AND
GUIDELINES DERIVED FROM THE ILOS PROMALCO
PROJECT WOULD BE USED TO PROMOTE THE SHARING OF
INFORMATION AND REGULAR CONSULTATIONS IN ORDER TO
BUILD TRUST AND STRENTHEN DIALOGUE AT THE
ENTERPRISE LEVEL.
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THE COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL DIALOGUE LED TO THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT IT BE INCLUDED IN THE
DWCP. THE AGENDA FOR CROSS-SECTORAL POLICY
DIALOGUE WOULD INCLUDE ISSUES RELATING TO
PRODUTIVITY, COMPETITIVENESS AND NATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT.
SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES (2-5 YEARS)
ARRANGEMENTS PUT IN PLACE FOR REGULAR TRIPARTITE
DIALOGUE ON LINKAGES BETWEEN THE EDUCATION
SYSTEM, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT
TRIPARTITE CONSTITUENTS AND OTHER KEY
STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGE IN CONSULTATIONS AND
CONCENSUS BUILDING, ON MATTERS OF COMMON CONCERNS
IN THE CONTEXT OF AN INSTITUTIONALIZED
SUB-COMMITTEE
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THE TRIPARTITE PARTNERS HAVE DEVELOPED MECHANISMS
FOR INFORMATION SHARING AND CONSULTATION ON THEIR
RESPECTIVE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN LINE
WITH THE 2002 ILO RESOLUTION CONCERNING
TRIPARTISM AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE.
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LONG-TERM OUTCOMES
INSTITUTIONALIZED TRIPARTITE DIALOGUE OCCURS AT
THE SECTORAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS, WITH RESPECT TO
POLICY- MAKING AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES THAT ARE
RESPONSIVE TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE LABOUR
MARKET.
INTER-SECTORAL AND MULTI-STAKEHOLDER POLICY
DIALOGUE TAKES PLACE ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE
TRIPARTITE CONSTITUENTS
EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS HAVE A BETTER APPRECIATION
OF EACH OTHERS ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND
THEY COLLABORATE ON PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES
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OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES
RECOMMENDATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE
INSTITUTIONALIZING OF TRIPARTITE CONSULTATIONS ON
EDUCATION, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT, ARE
FORMULATED AND SUBMITTED TO TRIFOR FOR
CONSIDERATION, WITH A VIEW TO THEIR ADOPTION
TERMS OF REFERENCE FORMULATED AND INTER-SECTORAL
SUBCOMMITTEES OF TRIFOR ESTABLISHED
RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMITTED TO SUBCOMMITTEE FOR
CONSIDERATION
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OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES CONTINUED
JOINT TRAINING WORKSHOPS HELD ON RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS IN RELATION TO LABOUR STANDARDS AND
NATIONAL LEGISLATION, WITH A VIEW TO BUILDING
TRUST AND IMPROVING MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING THROUGH
COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES
JOINT PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMMES IMPLEMENTED
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PRIORITY NO. 3 LABOUR LEGISLATION AND RESPECT
FOR RIGHTS AT WORK
  THE TRIPARTITE CONSTITUENTS EXPRESSED THE NEED
FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES RELATING TO
RIGHTS AT WORK AND THE NEED FOR RELEVANT
LEGISLATION AND POLICY TO GOVERN THE VARIOUS
EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS AND GUARANTEE RESPECT
FOR RIGHTS AT WORK.
LABOUR LEGISLATION AND RESPECT FOR RIGHTS AT WORK
WERE THEREFORE SEEN AS PRIORITIES FOR INCLUSION
IN THE DWCP. CONSTITUENTS CALLED FOR THE
COLLECTION OF INFORMATION TO GUAGE THE INCIDENCES
OF THESE NEW EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS, TO
DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF WORKERS AND ENTERPRISES
INVOLVED, THE AREAS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, THE
DECENT WORK DEFICITS, AND THE CHALLENGES FOR
EXTENDING EXISTING NATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS TO
COVER THESE NEW RELATIONSHIPS.
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SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES (2-5 YEARS)
       SOCIAL PARTNERS ARE BETTER INFORMED OF,
AND UNDERSTAND, ISSUES RELATING TO RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO DIFFERENT EMPLOYMENT
RELATIONSHIPS. THEY DRAW ON THE PROVISIONS OF
PERTINENT ILO INSTRUMENTS FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND POLICIES.
POLICY-MAKERS TAKE APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-UP ACTION
BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS OF
THEIR DISCUSSIONS
      INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS, THROUGHOUT THE
BAHAMAS, OF THE LABOUR LEGISLATION AND THE RIGHTS
AND OBLIGATIONS OF WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS IN
DIFFERENT EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS
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LONG-TERM OUTCOMES
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCILPLES AND RIGHTS AT WORK AND
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS RELATING TO
EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS ARE REFLECTED IN
NATIONAL LABOUR LEGISLATION AND RELEVANT
POLICIES.
TRIPARTITE CONSTITUENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC
ARE AWARE OF RIGHTS AT WORK, AND THERE IS RESPECT
FOR AND APPLICATION OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
LABOUR STANDARDS
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OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES
SURVEY CONDUCTED ON EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS AND
REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS PREPARED, PAYING
PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE SITUATION OF WOMEN,
MEN AND YOUTH IN THE LABOUR MARKET
GROUP CONSULTATIONS HELD AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE
AGREED AND SUBMITTED THROUGH THE COMPETENT
AUTHORITIES FOR DISCUSSION BY POLICY-MAKERS AND
LAW-MAKERS
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ADVOCACY AND FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY
SOCIAL PARTNERS (GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS AND
WORKERS)
MATERIALS DEVELOPED AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATED
THROUGH THE VARIOUS CHANNELS AND ON SELECT DAYS
(Examples CAREER DAY AND LABOUR DAY)
    COURSES ADDED TO CURRICULACONSULTATIONS, ARE
HELD IN FAMILY ISLANDS AND INFORMATION IS
DISSEMINATED TO CONSTITUENTS
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CONCLUDING REMARKS
AS THE FIRST COUNTRY IN THE ENGLISH AND
DUTCH-SPEAKING CARIBBEAN TO DEVELOP A DWCP, WE
ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT AN OFFICIAL SIGNING
OF THIS PROGRAMME TOOK PLACE IN THE BAHAMAS ON
THE 10TH APRIL, 2008, AT WHICH TIME,
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TRIPARTITE CONSTITUENTS,
ALONG WITH DR. ANA TERESA ROMERO, DIRECTOR AND
MRS. MARY READ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ILO
SUB-REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE CARIBBEAN, WERE ALL IN
ATTENDANCE.
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END THANK YOU