The Bahamas has ratified ILO conventions 159 and 190 which seek the elimination of violence in the workplace and employment services for disabled persons respectively.
Director of Labour, Robert Farquharson says work towards implementation will begin immediately. “We in the Ministry of Labour and Immigration with the assistance of the National Tripartite Council took a vey bold approach to ensure that this convention is ratified and to call on the Government of The Bahamas, over the next six years, to ensure that the fundamental principles enshrined in ILO conventions are then transferred to the statute laws of The Bahamas.”
Dennis Zulu, Director of ILO Caribbean was on hand and said, “The Bahamas is very serious and committed to ensuring that it achieves descent work for all. And this commitment is evidenced by the Bahamas having in place a plan which shows where exactly it wants to go, how its going to get there and at the end of the trip know whether its achieved the results or not.”
Minister of Labour and Immigrations was also on hand for the event and said, “I am pleased to advise that the Cabinet has directed the Law Reform Commission to take urgent steps to draft the necessary legislation to ensure that the essential principles the underpin ILO convention 190 and ILO convention 206 are included in draft legislation for review by the NTC, extensive consultation and discussion with the wider Bahamian society before it is approved by the Cabinet and subsequently tabled, debated and passed in Parliament.”