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ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean
6 Stanmore Avenue, P. O. Box 1201, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
Telephone: +1 868 625-0524 or 623-7704
Fax: +1 868 627-8978
Email: ilocarib@ilo.org
Promoting Sustainable Development through Decent Work in the Caribbean
HIGHLIGHTS 2012 – 2014
Web site www.ilo.org /caribbeanWWWS /
Promoting Sustainable
Development through
Decent Work in the
Caribbean
ILO DECENT WORK TEAM AND OFFICE FOR THE CARIBBEAN
HIGHLIGHTS 2012 – 2014
Copyright © International Labour Organization 2014
First published 2014
Publications of the International Labour Office enjoy copyright under Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Convention.
Nevertheless, short excerpts from them may be reproduced without authorization, on condition that the source is
indicated. For rights of reproduction or translation, application should be made to ILO Publications (Rights and Permissions),
International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland, or by email: pubdroit@ilo.org. The International Labour
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country.
Promoting Sustainable Development through Decent Work in the Caribbean
ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean
2014
The designations employed in ILO publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation
of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Labour Office
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The responsibility for opinions expressed in signed articles, studies and other contributions rests solely with their authors,
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Visit our web site: www.ilo.org/publns
Cover photo: ©
Design and printing by the International Training Centre of the ILO, Turin – Italy
Martin Alves
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Table of contents
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ii
INTRODUCTION iv
Unemployment, economic growth and poverty eradication,
Skills and training
The green economy
Unemployment, Economic Growth and Poverty Eradication 2
Skills and Training 5
The Green Economy 6
Social protection and inclusion 8
HIV and AIDS 10
Occupational Safety and Health and Environment 11
Persons with Disabilities 12
Child Labour 13
Social Security 13
Formalization of the informal economy 15
International labour standards 18
Social dialogue and tripartism 22
Social Dialogue
Employers’ Activities 26
Workers’ Activities 28
Policy coherence 30
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List of abbreviations
ACI Area of Critical Importance
ACS Association of Caribbean States
ABEF Antigua and Barbuda Employers’
Federation
ABPSA Antigua and Barbuda Public Service
Association
ABWU Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union
AGM Annual General Meeting
ATLU Antigua Trades and Labour Union
BCCEC Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and
Employers’ Confederation
CAGI Consultative Association of Guyanese
Industry Ltd
CAMEO Caribbean Academy for Management of
Employers’ Organizations
CARICOM Caribbean Community
CASROC Caribbean Association of Regulators and
Cooperative Societies
CCL Caribbean Congress of Labour
CDB Caribbean Development Bank
CDWN Caribbean Domestic Workers’ Network
CEC Caribbean Employers’ Confederation
CGEI Green Economy Initiative in the Caribbean
CICC Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce
CINTERFOR Inter-American Centre for Knowledge
Development in Vocational
Training
CLMIS Caribbean Labour Market Information
System
COHSOD Council of Human and Social Development
COTED Council of Trade and Economic
Development
CRIP Community Road Improvement Programme
CSM Caribbean Single Market
CSME Caribbean Single Market and Economy
CVQ Caribbean Vocational Qualification
DEF Dominica Employers’ Federation
DOL Department of Labour
DWA Decent Work Agenda
DWCP Decent Work Country Programme
ECATT Employers’ Consultative Association of
Trinidad and Tobago
ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America
and the Caribbean
EDF European Development Fund
EESE Enabling Environment for Sustainable
Enterprises
EPA Economic Partnership Agreement
EU European Union
GB Governing Body
GEF Grenada Employers’ Federation
GTUC Grenada Trades Union Council
HASC HIV and AIDS Advisory and Sustainability
Centre
IADB Inter-American Development Bank
IGDS Institute for Gender and Development
Studies
IFRS International Financial Reporting Standards
ILC International Labour Conference
ILGO Latin American Institute for the
Management of Employers’
Organizations
ILO International Labour Organization/Office
IOE International Organization of Employers
ITUC International Trade Union Confederation
JCTU Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions
JEF Jamaica Employers’ Federation
JHWU Jamaica Household Workers’ Union
LCDS Low Carbon Development Strategy
LFS Labour Force Survey
LMIS Labour Market Information System
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LSMC Living Standards Measurement Committee
PANCAP Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and
AIDS
PEPFAR President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
PHCO HIV Caribbean Office of the Pan American
Health Organization
PIOJ Planning Institute of Jamaica
PPP Public Private Partnerships
MLC Maritime Labour Convention
MNEs Multinational Enterprises
MPM Multi-Dimensional Approach to Poverty
Measurement
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
NATUC National Trade Union Centre of Trinidad
and Tobago
NCTUB National Congress of Trade Unions of the
Bahamas
NMT Non-Metropolitan Territory
NTA National Training Agencies
NVQ National Vocational Qualifications
OCTs Overseas Caribbean Territories
OECS Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
OPEC Organisation of Petroleum Exporting
Countries
OSEC One Stop Employment Centre
OSH Occupational Safety and Health
OSHE Occupational Safety and Health and
Environment
RBSA Regular Budget Supplementary Allocation
SCORE Sustaining Competitive and Responsible
Enterprises
SENAI Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem
Industrial (National Service for
Industrial Training of Brazil
SLEF Saint Lucia Employers’ Federation
SIDS Small Island Developing States
SYMAPRO System for Measurement and Improvement
of Productivity
SIYB Start and Improve Your Business
SMEs Small and Micro Enterprises
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ivIntroductionOver the past five years, the International Labour
Organization (ILO) has intensified its advocacy on the
fundamental role of the workplace in harmonizing the
social, economic and environmental dimensions of
sustainable development.1 The ILO Decent Work Team
and Office for the Caribbean (ILO DWT-POS) covers
twenty-two countries (13 member States and 9 Non-
Metropolitan Territories) which are “a distinct group of
developing countries facing specific social, economic
and environmental vulnerabilities” known as Small Island
Developing States (SIDS).2 2014 was declared, by the
United Nations General Assembly as the International
Year of SIDS – a year dedicated to highlighting both
the progress and ongoing challenges faced by SIDS.
At the Inter-regional Preparatory Meeting for the Third
International Conference on Small Island Developing
States, consensus was reached on priority areas for the
1 Report V - Sustainable development, decent work and green
jobs, ILC 102nd Session, 2013. p.2
2 See http://unohrlls.org/custom-content/uploads/2013/08/SIDS-
Small-Islands-Bigger-Stakes.pdf
sustainable development of SIDS. Of the agreed areas
of SIDS’ priorities, there are a number of themes that are
closely linked to the ILO’s mandate:
Unemployment, economic growth and poverty
eradication
Skills and training
The Green Economy
Social Protection and inclusion
Formalization of the Informal Economy
Green jobs, according to the ILO, are “central to
sustainable development and respond to the global
challenges of environmental protection, economic
development and social inclusion”.3 The ILO promotes
the “greening” of the labour market by engaging and
enabling governments, employers and workers to act
as catalysts in the creation of decent employment
opportunities, enhanced resource efficiency and the
3 ILO: http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-jobs/lang--en/index.htm
Intr
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development of low-carbon sustainable
societies. In an effort to build international
policy coherence the ILO has partnered
with UN and other international agencies
on the development of common positions
and policies over the years. The Green
Jobs Initiative is an ILO partnership
with the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), International
Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and
International Organization of Employers
(IOE), designed to place at the centre of
policy-making, the wellbeing of women
and men, justice and the environment.4
The UNEP defines a green economy as,
“one that results in improved human
well-being and social equity, while
significantly reducing environmental risks
and ecological scarcities.”5 In 2013, a
policy framework for “a just transition to
a greener economy” was developed
as part of the set of conclusions on
sustainable development, decent
work and green jobs and adopted by
the International Labour Conference
(ILC).6 The process of transitioning to a
“greener economy” faces varying levels
of complexity in the developing world
and is usually compartmentalized for
ease of context and analysis, as poverty
reduction, sustainable development and
environmental governance.
The concept of sustainable development,
one of the prominent components of the Millennium
Development Goals, is based on a number of
fundamental principles that are endorsed by international
organizations and bodies.7 Like many of its counterparts
in international development the principles of equality,
equity, fairness, integration and interdependence, are all
deeply embedded in the foundation and structure of the
ILO.
The nexus between sustainable development and
Decent Work was affirmed at the Rio +20, United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil in 2012. The outcome document
emphasizes both the “need for a global strategy on
youth and employment as well as the critical role of
4 See http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-jobs/projects/
WCMS_213842/lang--en/index.htm
5 http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/aboutgei/whatisgei/
tabid/29784/default.aspx
6 See http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/media-centre/press-
releases/WCMS_249743/lang--en/index.htm
7 See http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/
documents/1001RIO_20-Rev2ing.pdf
Decent Work in achieving sustainable development”.8
‘Making Decent Work Happen’ is enshrined in the
region’s developmental agenda and evidenced by the
prioritization of the Decent Work Agenda in national
implementation plans.9 The four interrelated and mutually
dependent pillars of the Decent Work Agenda (DWA):
International Labour Standards, Employment, Social
Protection and Social Dialogue form the basis for each of
the 11 Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) that
have been implemented since 2008 in the countries and
territories of the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.10
This report aims to highlight the achievements and
advancements of the Caribbean region from 2012 –
2014 within dual contexts: firstly, a presentation of how
the strategic and technical support of the ILO Decent
Work Team and Office for the Caribbean (ILO DWT-
POS) is aligned with SIDS’ priorities on the promotion
of regional sustainable development; and secondly,
achievements under priority areas – not specifically
articulated under the SIDS’ priorities but which are vital
to the implementation of the DWA in the Caribbean –
International Labour Standards, Social Dialogue and
Tripartism and Policy Coherence.
The ILO DWT-POS reaffirms its commitment to the
Caribbean region’s “unwavering pursuit of sustainable
development” through dynamic, innovative, inclusive
and most-importantly, demand-driven interventions
and continues to engage governments, employers and
workers in policy and programme dialogue with a view
to enabling the creation of decent, high-value-added
jobs that benefit from full access to basic labour rights.11
Furthermore, the Office looks forward to strengthening
and extending multidisciplinary partnerships within the
UN System and with other developmental stakeholders
in order to advance its contribution to the sustainable
development of the region through the promotion
of economic and social policies that enable full and
productive employment.
Giovanni di Cola
Director, ILO Decent Work Team
and Office for the Caribbean
8 See http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N11/476/10/
PDF/N1147610.pdf?OpenElement; paras 23 and 24
9 ILO: GB304-PFA_2(Rev). Strategic Policy Framework. 2010 -
2015
10 See Annex 1
11 See http://www.sids2014.org/content/documents/265Barbados%20
outcome.pdf Inter-regional Preparatory Meeting for the Third
International Conference on Smalls Island Developing States (SIDS),
26 – 28 August 2013, Barbados
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Unemployment,
economic growth and
poverty eradication
Skills and training
The green economy
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The global economic crisis of 2008 and 2009 and
the recession which unfolded have worsened levels of
unemployment in the Caribbean. Employment creation in
the Caribbean continues to be a challenge of extreme
urgency. The ILO DWT-POS has supported the region in
the formulation of recovery and development strategies
specifically through:
effectively and competently designed labour market
and employment policies that enable labour market
actors to efficiently function – for this, a reliable and
accurate Labour Market Information System (LMIS)
which provides relevant and conversant data is
essential;
enhanced employability through Technical and
Vocational Education and Training (TVET) which allows
entrance and re-entrance into the labour market;
the integration of enterprise development frameworks;
business development support for young and new
entrepreneurs – recognizing the significance of self-
employment as a viable alternative;
social protection policies and Occupational Safety
and Health (OSH) and HIV and AIDS work-related
programmes.
In July 2013, twenty-one Caribbean delegations headed
by sixteen Ministers with responsibility for labour met in
Port of Spain. The Meeting, “The Caribbean and Labour
2013 and Beyond: Strengthening Decent Work for
Development”. Core decisions included:
1. The role of Ministries of Labour in promoting and
advancing policy coherence with the aim of making
Decent Work a central goal of national and regional
development efforts;
2. The formalization and institutionalization of social
dialogue at the national and regional levels;
3. The establishment and strengthening of Productivity
Councils to promote productivity enhancement which
will impact economic growth and job creation;
4. The creation of appropriate enabling environments
to encourage movement from informal to formal
employment and to foster innovation and
productive work practices that strengthen regional
competitiveness;
5. The establishment of statistical mechanisms to produce
internationally comparable productivity indicators to
allow monitoring of productive growth.12
12 ILO: Conclusions – 8th Meeting of Caribbean Ministers of
Labour, July 2013. P4© g
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HIGHLIGHTS
Unemployment, Economic Growth
and Poverty Eradication
Labour Market Information generated and
disseminated
The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) and Planning
Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) in collaboration with the ILO
conducted the School-to-Work Transition Survey (SWTS)
in Jamaica from February to April 2013. Jamaica was
one of four countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
that implemented a SWTS under the framework of the
“Work4Youth” Project. Data on the various challenges
impacting Jamaican youth (between the ages of 15 and
24 years of age) in transitioning from the education system
to the labour market was collected and analyzed.13 A
Stakeholders’ Workshop was convened in April 2014 to
share the findings generated from the Survey. Overall,
the findings highlighted the importance of aligning the
education and training system with the needs of employers
and young job seekers and emphasized the need for
increased avenues for technical and vocational skills
training in Jamaica. A second phase to explore those
activities further is being implemented from August 2014.
Harmonized Labour Force Survey (LFS)
developed
The Secretariat of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean
States (OECS), with the support of the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Eastern Caribbean Area
Office facilitated the fourth Meeting of the OECS Living
Standards Measurement Committee (LSMC) in April 2014,
in Barbados.14 The LSMC is an advisory body which
contributes to the production of accurate harmonized
data and data analysis for labour, poverty and inequality
measurement across the OECS countries. The ILO with
the OECS developed a harmonized Labour Force Survey
(LFS) for all OECS countries. The core discussions of the
Meeting were advancing the Sustainable Household
Data Collection Programme for the Measurement of
Living Standards and the Multi-Dimensional Approach to
Poverty Measurement (MPM) in the OECS. It was agreed
that the LFS should be the core survey of a multi-annual
survey programme in the OECS countries. It was also
agreed that the MPM would be utilized to monitor and
evaluate how poverty is evolving in the countries.15
13 See http://www.ilocarib.org.tt/cef/national%20employment%20
reports/TransitionJamaicanYouthWorldWork_Full.pdf
14 ILO: Caribbean Newslink. April – June 2014; p. 16
15 The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Poverty Measurement
(MPM) has two objectives: 1. to generate regular credible
data to support the monitoring of different micro-dimensions
to poverty; and 2. to develop an effective and innovative
New national Labour Market Information
System (LMIS) launched
Employment services in Antigua and Barbuda have been
strengthened through the implementation of a new
national Labour Market Information System developed
by the ILO. This new system facilitates the collection,
management, reporting and analysis of labour market
data and is a core feature of the Ministry of National
Security and Labour’s rebranded One Stop Employment
Centre (OSEC). The OSEC was launched on 15 May 2014
and provides improved services for jobseekers as well as
enhanced job-matching services for employers.
Capacity of Caribbean LMIS Technical Task
Force strengthened
Members of the Caribbean Labour Market Information
System (CLMIS) Technical Task Force are equipped to
support the enhanced efficiency of Departments of
Labour as a result of two training workshops conducted
in May 2014 in Grenada and Saint Lucia. The workshops
were facilitated by the OECS Secretariat, with support
from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) and
the ILO DWT-POS. The CLMIS Project contributes to the
establishment of the OECS Economic Union as a single
economic and financial space through the development
of a harmonized policy, legislative, regulatory and
administrative framework and the enhancement of the
institutional capacity and export competitiveness of OECS
economies. The CLMIS Technical Task Force performs a
critical role in the regional implementation of the Project.16
Apart from daily maintenance of the Department of
Labour (DoL) computer network (which runs the server
and website), System Administrators are responsible
for supervising the use of CLMIS Software; ensuring the
integrity of the system; producing output from the DoL
databases and providing technical support.
Recommendations for National youth
employment policies formulated
Senior officials of youth ministries and departments
as well as leaders of national youth councils from
13 Caribbean countries participated in a Regional
Seminar on Youth Employment entitled, “Addressing the
Employment Challenges of Caribbean Youth in Times
of Crisis”, in March 2012 in Saint Lucia. The Regional
Seminar was convened by the Commonwealth Youth
Programme Caribbean Centre and hosted by Saint
Lucia’s Ministry of Youth Development and Sports. The
ILO provided specific technical support in the areas
Employment Policy, Technical Vocational Education and
Training (TVET) Reforms and the Role of Small and Micro
approach to national policy toward the achievement of
poverty-reduction goals in the subregion.
16 ILO: Caribbean Newslink. April – June 2014; p. 17
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Enterprises (SMEs) in job creation. The three-day policy
dialogue concluded with regional acceptance that
employment policies along with sound macro-economic
policies should reflect a balanced synthesis of TVET,
SME development, public sector investment and work
programmes. A list of recommendations related to the
design of National Employment Policies was framed.
Knowledge and capacity on the Management
and Functions of the Cooperatives’ Sector
strengthened
Regional: Members of the Caribbean Association
of Regulators and Cooperative Societies (CASROC)
met in June 2014 in The Bahamas for discussions on
issues pertinent to efficient and effective regulation of
Cooperatives. Consensus was reached on the formation of
the Caribbean Network of Cooperative Regulators which
is envisioned to support sustainable development and job
creation through the monitoring of regulatory environments;
development and regulation of youth cooperatives;
capacity development regarding the International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS); and the development
of policies and programmes for the effective regulation
of cooperatives. The ILO DWT-POS provided technical
support and The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda,
Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago
were among the countries represented.
The Bahamas: The capacity of 45 beneficiaries
from the Cooperative Department, youth entrepreneurs
and members of Credit Unions was strengthened in
entrepreneurship and the use of the Cooperative Model
as a viable alternative business option at a National
Workshop on Youth Entrepreneurship and Cooperatives.
The Workshop, which was held from 03 – 05 October
2013, was facilitated by the ILO in response to a request
for support from the Commissioner of Cooperatives,
Government of The Bahamas.
In March 2012, the importance of food security
through sustainable linkages between agriculture and
business was the focus of an Agri-business Cooperative
Forum carried out by the Department of Cooperative
Development with the support of the ILO DWT-POS.
Barbados: Staff of the Cooperative
Division, Ministry of Commerce and Trade as well
as representatives of financial and non-financial
Cooperatives benefited from a three-day capacity
building intervention which focused on the role of
Cooperatives as a sustainable response to the challenge
of economic growth in Barbados. This training was held
in March 2013 and was the result of a request from
the Registrar of Cooperatives, consistent with Priority 3
of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for
Barbados. Topics included: ‘Cooperatives and the ILO’s
Decent Work Agenda’ and ‘Cooperatives and the
Financial Crisis’.
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Dominica: Tripartite constituents benefited from
capacity-building initiatives in both countries in July and
December 2012. The training focused on Cooperatives
and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the mission in
July 2012 also introduced a one day workshop on
productivity since the need to improve productivity was
highlighted by constituents as a major challenge. The
System for Measurement and Improvement of Productivity
(SYMAPRO) was introduced to reinforce the linkages
between productivity and decent work. The workshops
comprised of representatives from the private and
cooperative sectors, Cooperative Division of the Ministry
of Social Services, Community Development and Gender
Affairs and Public Service Trade Union. The activities were
all part of support provided during the International Year
of Cooperatives in 2012.
Grenada: Thirty-six participants were enabled
through tools and resources, to use the Cooperatives
Model as a means of job creation and the ‘Start and
Improve Your Business’ (SIYB) programme as a means of
self-employment. The Grenada Cooperative League for
technical support in entrepreneurial knowledge and the
management of Cooperatives and a five-day workshop
was designed and conducted from 11 – 15 March
2013.
Guyana: In 2012 ILO DWT-POS delivered a
presentation on ‘Productivity in the Context of the
Financial Crisis and Suggested Solutions’, in response to
a request for support from the Consultative Association of
Guyanese Industry Ltd (CAGI) in line with Priority 4 of the
DWCP for Guyana. As a follow-up to the presentation, a
Training Workshop on the ILO Productivity Tools, System
for Measurement and Improvement of Productivity
(SYMAPRO) and Sustaining Competitive and Responsible
Enterprises (SCORE) was conducted in October of the
same year.
Environment conducive to sustainable
enterprises evaluated
An Enabling Environment for Sustainable Enterprises
(EESE) programme was implemented in Barbados over
the period 2011 – 2012.17 A complete work plan
and logical framework, endorsed by the government,
employers’ and workers’ organizations in Barbados, were
the main outputs of the EESE Programme. Subsequently,
the ILO’s SIYB Programme was implemented in February
2013 and a Steering Committee consisting of social
partners was established.
17 The EESE is based on the perspective that all enterprises
operate within a political, social and economic context and
are subject to regulatory and institutional constraints. http://
ilo.org/empent/units/boosting-employment-through-small-
enterprise-development/WCMS_169675/lang--en/index.htm
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Advocacy in favor of Multinational Enterprises
(MNEs) initiated in Jamaica
In response to a request from Jamaica for assistance with
employment creation and skills’ training programmes,
the ILO DWT-POS has designed and proposed an
intervention that creates productive and decent jobs
for youth and vulnerable groups in society through the
promotion of the Tripartite Declaration of Principles
concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy
(MNE Declaration). The MNE Declaration was adopted by
the ILO Governing Body (GB) in 1977 and offers guiding
principles on employment training, conditions of work
and industrial relations that encourage businesses to
contribute to the development objectives of the country
in which they are operating through a process of social
dialogue. Its principles are supported by international
labour conventions and recommendations.18
The work will focus primarily on MNEs in Jamaica’s tourism
and hotel industry given their potential (and that of their
value chains) for generating employment opportunities.
Major interventions will include: research to understand
the role of the MNEs in the hotel and tourism sector;
awareness-raising to promote the MNE Declaration
amongst constituents and key stakeholders; and high-
level policy and cross-sectoral tripartite-plus dialogue.
Skills and Training
Regional capacity to anticipate skills needs
reinforced
Skills development plays a crucial role in the productivity
and sustainability of enterprises, improvement of working
conditions and employability and the achievement
of decent work. However, Technical and Vocational
Education and Training (TVET) must first be relevant to
market needs. Anticipating skills demands facilitates
a reduction in skills gaps through needs analyses
that ensure a match between available training and
employment opportunities.19 The ILO DWT-POS and the
Inter-American Centre for Knowledge Development in
Vocational Training (CINTERFOR), with the support of the
Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the National
Industrial Training Service of Brazil (SENAI) organized a
workshop in May 2014 in Trinidad and Tobago. The
Workshop was the result of strengthened South-South
Cooperation through the 41st Technical Committee
Meeting of the ILO CINTERFOR held in Trinidad and
Tobago in July 2013. The specific focus of the Training
Workshop, entitled, “Anticipating Skills Requirements
in the Tourism Sector”, was ‘Occupational Trends’ and
‘Emerging Demands’. Fifteen participants from National
18 See http://www.ilo.org/empent/Publications/WCMS_094386/
lang--en/index.htm
19 ILO: Caribbean Newslink. April – June 2014; p. 9
Training Agencies and TVET councils in Barbados,
Belize, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Sint Maarten, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad
and Tobago benefited from the training and have
enhanced competencies in the use of methodologies
and tools for identifying technological, occupational and
organizational trends and their impacts on skills strategies
and vocational training programmes. The Workshop will
be followed by a 12-week virtual learning programme.
Capacity to implement entrepreneurial training
strengthened
The ILO DWT-POS received a request from the Board of
Industrial Training of Guyana to provide technical support
in entrepreneurial training. This request was in line with
Priority 2 of the DWCP for Guyana, “Enhancement of
Technical and Vocational Education and Training”.20 The
Workshop, conducted in August 2013, resulted in the
reinforced capacity of 25 trainers and Instructors.
In Saint Lucia, 35 representatives of TVET Councils and
National Centre for Persons with Disabilities were trained
to implement entrepreneurial skills in the training curricula
as an integral part of Technical Vocational and Education
programmes. The training was conducted in September
2013 and is in line with the Priorities of the DWCP for
Saint Lucia.
Knowledge generated on the labour market
impact of the Caribbean Vocational Qualification
(CVQ) and National Vocational Qualification
(NVQ)
In 2013 the ILO conducted a research study on the
Labour Market Impact of the CVQ/NVQ in Belize, Guyana
and Jamaica in order to determine: the hiring decisions
of employers related to applicants with the CVQ/NVQ;
effectiveness of the qualification framework; and the
employment outcomes of graduates. The CVQ is aimed
to facilitate the movement of certified skilled persons
within CARICOM member States as a component part of
the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).
20 Decent Work Country Programme of Guyana, 2012 – 2015.
P. 53
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The Green Economy
Green Economy Jobs Network established
At its 37th Special Meeting in September 2011, on
Environment and Sustainable Development the Council
of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) of the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) endorsed the concept
note on “Advancing Caribbean States’ Sustainable
Development Agenda through Green Economy
Policies”. The call for green economy transformation
has been echoed multiple times throughout the region.
It was agreed at the 2011 Meeting that the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) would lead
the development of a Green Economy Initiative in the
Caribbean (CGEI) in collaboration with the CARICOM
Secretariat and its member states and with technical
inputs from relevant regional and international
organizations.
The first regional event under the CGEI entitled, “Green
Economy as a Vehicle for Sustainable Development
and Poverty Eradication in the Caribbean” was held
in June 2013 in Saint Lucia. This high-level conference
provided an opportunity for the exchange of ideas,
experiences and institutional innovations by bringing
together policy-makers, civil society, academia and
the private sector. It also enabled the creation of a
regional Green Economy Network as a platform for
sharing national experiences and further strengthening
intra-Caribbean and intra-SIDS cooperation. The ILO
weighed in on the discussions through a presentation
on the Green Jobs’ Programme.
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while supporting the country’s economy in accordance
with Priority 1 of the DWCP for Guyana.
Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy
(LCDS), launched in 2009 was one of three national
developmental frameworks which influenced the
development of its DWCP in 2012.21 Specific reference
is made to the LCDS under Priority 1, “the Creation of
Green Jobs and Decent Work”, which elaborates that
ILO’s support, “will take the form of policy and institutional
assessment and technical advice to identify potential
areas for investment, employment and enterprise
creation in a low-carbon economy”.22
Work on Green Jobs Policy initiated
The Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise
Development of Trinidad and Tobago with the support
of the ILO, commenced the formulation of a policy
on Green Jobs. “The ILO Green Jobs Programme
promotes a practical and coherent strategy that
recognizes a strong interdependence between the
need for social development and the urgency to act
on climate change”.23 The initiative by the Ministry of
Labour in Trinidad and Tobago was the result of a
tripartite technical and capacity-building seminar entitled
“Developing Policies and Programmes to Promote Green
Jobs and Green Enterprises”, held in Port of Spain in
May 2012.
21 Decent Work Country Programme of Guyana, 2012 – 2015.
P. 10
22 Decent Work Country Programme of Guyana, 2012 – 2015.
P. 12
23 See http://www.ilo.org/empent/units/green-jobs-programme/
land--en/index.htm
Dialogue on Green Jobs and Green Economy
advanced
Twenty-four participants benefited from discussions on
the promotion of Decent Work in the Green Economy;
analysis of relevant policy frameworks such as adaptation
and mitigation and their impact on the world of work;
appraisals of best practices in Green Jobs development
strategies and comparative reviews of Green Jobs
programmes and approaches in Peru and Guyana.
These discussions were held at a workshop entitled,
“Developing Policies and Programmes to Promote the
Green Economy and Green Jobs in Guyana” in June
2013 in Georgetown. The workshop was organized to
present a comprehensive overview of the multi-faceted
role of green jobs-creation in protecting the environment
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Social protection
and inclusionSocial Protection aims to diminish the exposure of the labour
market to risk as well as to promote the wellbeing of workers.
The ILO DWT-POS has supported interventions to address
issues related to social protection and inclusion in five
categories within the last two years:
1. HIV and AIDS
2. Occupational Safety and Health and Environment
3. Persons with Disabilities
4. Child Labour
5. Social Security
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HIGHLIGHTS
HIV and AIDSThe ILO has been the main provider of technical support
to Caribbean countries (both Members and non-
Members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean
States) in efforts to protect the rights at work of persons
living with HIV through work place policies and
programmes. Table 1 below, presents an outline of
national responses that have resulted from capacity-
building, training, sensitization and other forms of
intervention at multiple levels and across sectors in the
Caribbean.24
24 Section 6 of The Bahamas Employment Act, 2001 addresses
the issue of non-discrimination against persons living with HIV.
TABLE 1
Country Year National Response
Anguilla 2012 National Workplace Policy adopted
Aruba 2012 Draft National Workplace Policy developed
Antigua and Barbuda 2010
2013
Decent Work Country Programme Priority
Pilot Workplace Programme launched
Barbados Sustainability Plan developed
HIV Guidelines for the Public Sector Developed
Belize 2012 Revision of National Workplace Policy initiated
Dominica 2010
2012
Decent Work Country Programme Priority
Work on National Workplace Policy initiated
Guyana 2013 HIV and AIDS Workplace Regulations, 2001 completed and finalized
Grenada 2010
2013
Decent Work Country Programme Priority
Draft National Workplace Policy developed
Jamaica 2013 National Workplace Policy launched
Montserrat 2010
2014
Decent Work Country Programme Priority
MoU for Implementation of Montserrat Workplace Wellness Programme (which incorporates
HIV and AIDS) signed
Saint Kitts and Nevis 2010
2012
2013
Decent Work Country Programme Priority
National Workplace Policy adopted
Pilot Workplace Programme launched
Saint Lucia 2010 Decent Work Country Programme Priority
Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines
2010
2012
2013
Decent Work Country Programme Priority
National Workplace Policy adopted
Pilot Workplace Programme launched
Sint Maarten 2012
2013
National Workplace Policy adopted
MoU for Implementation of a Safe and Healthy Work Environment signed
Trinidad and Tobago 2008
2010
National Workplace Policy adopted
HIV/AIDS 5-Year Sustainability Plan launched
Capacity to implement a sustainable response
to HIV developed
Through a partnership with the HIV Caribbean Office of
the Pan American Health Organization (PHCO) the ILO
supported Aruba, Anguilla, Curacao, Montserrat, Saba
and Sint Maarten on a European Union Funded project
on “Strengthening the integration of the British and Dutch
Overseas Caribbean Territories (OCTs) in the Regional
Response to HIV/AIDS within the framework of the Pan
Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP)”.
From 2003 – 2008, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica
and Trinidad and Tobago were all beneficiaries of a
three-year workplace education project funded by the
United States Department of Labour (USDOL). From 2010,
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support was provided to the HIV and AIDS Advisory and
Sustainability Centre (HASC) in Trinidad and Tobago
which was put in place as a result of the USDOL project.
A three-year transitional plan to national ownership was
initiated in 2013 in Guyana.
Suriname was the recipient of a two-year workplace
education programme (2007 – 2009), funded by the
Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The Suriname Business Coalition on HIV and AIDSS was
an active participant in the project and adopted the ILO
processes, tools and materials to implement a robust
workplace response in member enterprises during the
project period.
Workers’ capacity to implement a sustainable
response to HIV reinforced
The Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) in collaboration
with the ILO and the Pan Caribbean Partnership against
HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) successfully reinforced the
capacity of 97 trade unionists to implement workplace
programmes on HIV and AIDS in their workplaces during
2012. Seventeen Workers’ Organizations from twelve
CARICOM countries now have trained and equipped
leaders, industrial relations officers, focal points and peer
educators.
Occupational Safety and Health and
Environment
National and institutional capacity related
to workplace compliance with Occupational
Safety and Health and Environment (OSHE)
strengthened
One of the main roles of labour inspectors in the
Caribbean is to ensure and promote compliance on
OSH measures at workplaces in line with national
legislation. Two hundred and forty Safety and Health
Officers and Inspectors in the Caribbean are better
equipped, as a result of the ILO Programme on OSHE
in the Caribbean (OSHE Programme), to reinforce OSH
standards. Officials also benefited from expert training
on the use of Industrial Hygiene equipment to support
their work with occupational health hazards through a
training programme conducted in collaboration with the
University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica. The
OSHE Programme was implemented during the period
2011 – 2013.
Sector-specific management capacity in
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
strengthened
TABLE 2
Country Result by Sector
MINING
Guyana and
Suriname
In response to requests from Ministries of
Labour to improve safety and health in
the mining sector, two training workshops
specifically targeting small-scale mines were
conducted in November 2012 and April
2013. The ILO collaborated extensively on
technical assessments and consultations
(including field visits) prior to the workshops
in order to determine the levels of need.
Both workshops provided a forum to acquire
knowledge and skills specifically related to
OSH in mining as well as to identify current
problems and gaps at mining sites.
HOTEL/HOSPITALITY
Saint Lucia
and Sint
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In order to increase compliance with
OSH legislation, representatives from the
tripartite constituents in Saint Lucia and the
employers’ organization in Sint Maarten are
now equipped to conduct peer training on
OSH Risk Assessment in the Hotel/Hospitality
Industry. The training workshops were
conducted in both countries in May 2013.
In 2012 the ILO DWT-POS collaborated with
the Saint Lucia Employers’ Federation (SLEF) on
a three-day training workshop on OSH in the
Construction Sector.
CONSTRUCTION
Dominica Forty-one managers, engineers and safety
officers from member-organizations and
enterprises of the Dominica Employers’
Federation (DEF) benefited from a capacity-
building workshop on OSH Risk Assessment
in the Construction Industry. Apart from the
increased and improved competences,
this interactive initiative resulted in the
development of an Action Plan on OSH
Risk Assessment in each organization and
enterprise.
Systems approach to OSH in line with the
Promotional Framework for OSH Convention
(2006, No. 187) reinforced
One hundred and fifty stakeholders gained increased
awareness of the systems approach to OSH at a national
symposium in Jamaica, in April 2013 which focused on
the new OSH Bill.
A National OSH Profile was launched on 16 December
2013 in Jamaica. The ILO DWT-POS contributed to the
development of the OSH Profile through sensitization and
coordination of stakeholders and provision of technical
inputs.
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The National OSH Profile is one of the core tools for a
systems approach to OSH management in line with the
Promotional Framework for OSH Convention (No. 187)
and Recommendation (No. 197). It is considered by the
ILO as an essential first step to building a sound National
OSH Programme.25
Legal Framework for OSH strengthened
On 1 January 2013 Barbados proclaimed the Safety and
Health at Work Act.26 ILO provided support to the Ministry
of Labour and Social Security through advocacy and
public sensitization.
Occupational Safety and Health Bills have been drafted
in Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Jamaica and Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines.
Preventative safety and health culture
developed among workers, employers,
communities and children
Significant investments have been made within the last
five years to raise the levels of awareness and to improve
the knowledge and competences of constituents on
Occupational Safety and Health and Environment. The
ILO continues to support the Caribbean in the annual 28
April observance of World Day for Safety and Health at
Work through the dissemination of promotional material,
technical support at symposia, seminars, conferences
and other interventions as well as awareness-raising
competitions and activities.
In Guyana, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour,
Human Services and Social Security and the Ministry
of Education, safety and health programmes were
implemented in primary and secondary schools.
25 ILO: http://www.ilo.org/global/publications/magazines-and-
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26 The Safety and Health at Work Act was passed in Parliament in
2005
Persons with DisabilitiesAccording to the Economic Commission for Latin America
and the Caribbean (ECLAC), approximately 5% of
persons in Caribbean SIDS have a form of disability
and are more than half as likely as persons without
disabilities to be employed. ECLAC asserts that “although
governments support employment, self-employment and
sheltered employment are promoted in certain countries,
and where reasonable adaptations that contribute
to physical accessibility of the workplace exist, there is
clearly scope for increased employment of persons with
disability in both the public and private sector”.27
Increased opportunities for persons with
disabilities to access decent work
“Improved access to decent work for persons with
disabilities” is one of the priorities of the DWCP for Saint
Lucia.28 A Task Force to review the country’s national
policies on the employment of persons with disabilities
and to develop plans to implement the policies was
established in July 2012 as a consequence of ILO DWT-
POS’ support through capacity building interventions.
A similar outcome was achieved in Bermuda where,
following a 2011 amendment to the Human Rights Act
entitled, “Unreasonable Hardship”, it became necessary
to develop and implement strategies to employ persons
with disabilities.29 A request for technical support came
through the National Office for Seniors and the Physically
Challenged under the Ministry of Health and a two-day
capacity-building Workshop was conducted in June
2012. Additionally, a Task Force and Action Plan were
developed.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the ILO has provided technical
support and advice to the National Centre for Persons
with Disabilities (NCPD) since inception in 1964. In 2011,
support was provided through Workshop for NCPD
instructors on entrepreneurship with a specific focus on
self-employment. The subjects have since become a
part of the Centre’s core curriculum and implementation
has continued from 2012 to present. ILO DWT-POS is
currently collaborating with the NCPD to produce a
video in commemoration of their 50th Anniversary in
December 2014.
27 GOMES, C., The Case of Small Islands Developing States of the
Caribbean: The Challenge of Building Resilience. P18, ECLAC.
28 Established in 2010. (See Annex 1)
29 The legislation removes barriers to discrimination against
persons with disabilities in employment and establishes
processes for employers to hire persons with disabilities.
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Child Labour
National policies on child labour reinforced
A Communiqué outlining the commitment of tripartite
constituents to tackling the issue of child labour in
Guyana was signed in 2012. While the social partners
agreed to “ensure effective monitoring is in place
to embrace the fight against child labour in supply
chains” the Government specifically committed to the
“enforcement of national legislation and to facilitating
sufficient budgetary allocations”.
In Jamaica, a comprehensive review of all national
legislation in relation to Conventions No. 182 and
138 was undertaken. The Trade Union Confederation
developed and adopted a Child Labour Policy while
the employers’ organization and government drafted
policies. Child Labour was also included in national
policy frameworks like the National Education Policy
and the corporate plan and activities of the Poor Relief
Department thus ensuring policy coherence.30
30 ILO: Highlights of ILO’s work in the Caribbean. April 2010 to
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In February 2013, the ILO-European Union (EU) Tackling
Child Labour through Education (TACKLE) Project in
Jamaica launched a Handbook on Child Labour. The
publication supports the enhancement of the knowledge-
base on Child Labour by providing guidelines for
professionals who encounter instances of Child Labour in
the course of their work. A draft child labour policy was
drafted with the support of the Project while a number
of sectors were selected to pilot awareness-raising and
training in support of youth education programmes.
Additionally, a ‘Red Card for Child Labour’ campaign
was organized during the qualifying matches of the FIFA
World Cup of 2014.
Social Security
Awareness on issues related to the ILO
Recommendation concerning National Floors of
Social Protection, 2012 (R202) increased
The ILO delivered technical advisory services in May
2012 on Recommendation 202 on the occasion of
a seminar convened by the Caribbean Centre for
Money and Finance in Trinidad and Tobago.31 Global
developments in pension schemes; pension reforms in
the region; the sustainability of private pensions; social
security schemes after retirement and the governance of
pension funds were among the themes discussed at the
seminar entitled, “The Future of the Pension Industry in the
Caribbean”.
31 Geneva, 101st International Labour Conference session, 14
June 2012
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HIGHLIGHTS:
Knowledge-base on informality strengthened
Three studies on the Formalization of the Informal
Economy were commissioned by the ILO in 2013 in
Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. In Saint
Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago the studies contribute
to the development of an applied research framework
that provides guidance to strengthen the capacity of
governments on the promotion of formalization through
a systematic analysis of existing data. Furthermore, the
studies provide an inventory of policies, strategies and
schemes that have been positively implemented across
the region.
A cross-sector comparative study was carried out in
Jamaica to identify the patterns of informality and to
analyze and systematize good practices in reducing
urban informal employment over the past decade.
Knowledge on the perceptions of the Informal
Economy generated and disseminated
In 2013 several surveys were conducted through the
Regional Specialist for Employers’ Activities in Lima, Peru to
determine the perception of the informal economy (which
included suggestions for policies and practices that could
assist enterprises in moving from the informal to formal
sector).32 Studies were completed in both Saint Lucia and
Suriname with the assistance of the Saint Lucia Employers’
Federation (SLEF) and Suriname Trade and Industry
Association (STIA).
A Regional Workshop entitled, “Informal Economy in
Latin America and the Caribbean: The Role of the
Formal Private Sector and Business Organizations”,
was convened from 24 – 25 April 2014, in Lima to
review the survey findings and to develop strategies for
formalization. The Caribbean perspective was articulated
through the participation of the SLEF and the Jamaica
Employers’ Federation (JEF).
As a follow-up to the survey in Saint Lucia it was
recognized that a barrier to moving from informality was
a lack of knowledge about how to establish a formal
business and thus, a workshop on SIYB was conducted in
July 2014 through SLEF.
32 ILO: Highlights of ILO’s work in the Caribbean. April 2010 to
June 2013. P.14
Skills in rural communities strengthened
In 2012, the Government of Guyana implemented the
Community Road Improvement Programme (CRIP) – a
job creation programme aimed at improving access
to markets, schools, health centres and social and
economic facilities within rural communities through road
improvement. The ILO DWT-POS supported the CRIP
through: training needs assessments, design and delivery
of a needs-based training programme; and post-training
assessment and technical advice.
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International labour standards
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HIGHLIGHTS:
Increased awareness and enhanced
knowledge of constituents and key
stakeholders about the ILO, the supervisory
mechanisms and its related obligations
(submission and reporting)
During the period under review the ILO DWT-POS
provided practical support to constituents in an effort to
address challenges in the submission of reports related
to the ratification of conventions. A number of Caribbean
countries requested technical assistance to enhance their
capacity to discharge their constitutional obligations and
subsequently, training interventions were specially tailored
to specific countries and executed. To date, workshops
have been undertaken in British Virgin Islands (November
2011), Guyana (May 2012), Sint Maarten (December
2012), Grenada (June 2013) and Barbados (October
2013). Over 100 constituents have received advisory
services and developed intra-Caribbean cooperation
provided by the Departments of Labour in Antigua and
Barbuda and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Subsequent to the Workshops there have been significant
improvements in the submission of reports in Grenada,
Barbados, British Virgin Islands and Sint Maarten. Work
was initiated in Guyana and ILO DWT-POS continues to
provide appropriate feedback and support as required.
Increased ratification of International Labour
Standards
The results of technical support and advocacy to
Caribbean constituents (through Gap Analyses,
seminars and conferences) in favour of the ratification of
Conventions over the past 2 years are outlined in Table
3 below:
Knowledge and awareness on Maritime Labour
Convention, 2006 (MLC 2006) increased
Participants of tripartite workshops and awareness-raising
seminars that were conducted in April 2013 in Saint Kitts
and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago benefited from
increased awareness and enhanced knowledge on MLC
2006 and related global and regional developments.
High-level court professionals enabled to use
International Labour Law to enhance gender
equality when delivering labour justice at a
national level
In September 2013 thirty-two judges and magistrates
of Caribbean Courts responsible for labour and
industrial relations were advised on the best use of
International Labour Standards and gender equality
at the, ‘Subregional Gender Equality Workshop for
Judges of the Caribbean’. In June 2009 the ILC
adopted a Resolution on Gender Equality “…to support
the strengthening of labour inspection systems and
courts so that they are able to monitor more effectively
the application for key equality Conventions and
issues of sex discrimination at work”.33 In response
to this Resolution, the Bureau for Gender Equality in
collaboration with the ILO DWT-POS organized a
Workshop for Judges of the Caribbean. The Workshop
was held in Barbados and also covered issues such as:
The ILS System and Gender Equality
The Role of Employers’ and Workers’ Organizations in
promoting Gender Equality and non-Discrimination
Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value
Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic
Workers
HIV and AIDS and the World of Work: ILO
Recommendation 200
Employment Relationship, Contracts of Employment,
Termination of Employment and Gender Equality
Balancing Work and Family
33 See http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---
gender/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_187671.pdf
TABLE 3
Convention Ratified by Date
Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 Saint Kitts and Nevis 21 February 2012
Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 Barbados 20 June 2013
Domestic Workers’ Convention, 2011 Guyana 09 August 2013
Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) Trinidad and Tobago 19 September 2013
Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 Belize 08 July 2014
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Capacity of legal professionals and Ministry of
Labour officials strengthened through training
in International Labour Standards
The technical capacity of twenty-five legal professionals
from the Caribbean was strengthened through the “Third
Caribbean Course on International Labour Standards
for Judges, Lawyers and Legal Educators”, which
was organized in collaboration with the International
Training Centre of the ILO in July 2012, Port of Spain.
The Course provided participants with in-depth insight
into the exhaustive use of ILS sources – the instruments
and machinery of the ILS system; the application of ILS
on freedom of association; and the right to collective
bargaining and equality in employment and occupation.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
Social Dialogue
Tripartism and policy development promoted
at high-level Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
forum
Ministers responsible for labour, gender and social
development as well as Presidents of the Caribbean
Employers’ Confederation (CEC) and Caribbean Congress
of Labour (CCL) decided to institutionalize a ‘Regional
Social Dialogue Mechanism’ at the 26th Meeting of the
Council of Human and Social Development (COHSOD)
CARICOM in Georgetown, Guyana in May 2014.
Thirteen countries and one Non-Metropolitan Territory
participated to discuss policy coherence through the
integration of labour and gender in the promotion and
advancement of the CARICOM Development Agenda.
The ILO’s approach to ensuring that countries have
accurate and up-to-date data to support labour market
expansion through policy development via efficient
Labour Market Information Systems was showcased.34
Mechanisms for labour dispute settlement
strengthened and revitalized
Subregional: The critical role of Labour Officers in
promoting and ensuring social peace and harmonious
industrial relations was one of the highlights of capacity-
building interventions in Saint Lucia (March 2012), Antigua
and Barbuda (December 2012), Trinidad and Tobago
(March and May 2013) and Grenada (August 2014).
The number of agreements reached in labour disputes
subsequent to the training has significantly increased.
Aruba: A new social dialogue mechanism was
established under the guidance of the Prime Minister.
In response to related requests for support, the ILO
conducted an audit of the social dialogue situation in
January 2012. Support was also provided in a high-
level seminar to shape and fine-tune the social dialogue
mechanism to address a number of economic and social
issues.
Belize: Twenty-seven employers have enhanced
their skills through participation in a workshop on Dispute
Avoidance and Resolution through Good Management
Practices held in June 2013. The focus of the Workshop
was developing better management practices and
enhancing mediation and negotiation skills to resolve
disputes arising at the enterprise.
Saint Lucia: Unanimous agreement was reached
at a National Tripartite Conference in February 2013,
facilitated by the ILO, to develop a national tripartite
34 ILO: Highlights of ILO’s work in the Caribbean. April 2010 to
June 2013. P.4
social dialogue mechanism. This new commitment to
cooperate helped to overcome long-standing collective
disputes in the public sector in spring 2013.
Trinidad and Tobago: In March 2014 a cadre of
employers enhanced their awareness and capacity in
the areas of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms
through participation in a conference on Landmark Court
Judgments convened by the ECATT.
In September 2012, twenty-one industrial court judges
benefited from a seminar on dispute resolution and
conciliation techniques where current national collective
bargaining issues were also discussed with ILO
representatives.
Approximately 200 participants (including Members of
Cabinet) participated in a two-day national Workshop
on the Social Dialogue process convened in June 2012.
The ILO provided technical input and facilitated South-
South Cooperation. As a consequence, the Government,
together with the social partners, established a Social
Dialogue Task Force in January 2014 to address major
economic and social issues of national interest. The ILO
continues to provide assistance to this high-level tripartite
committee.
Advancements made in the formalization of
social dialogue at the regional level
A proposal for the establishment of a Regional Tripartite
Forum was one of the major outcomes of the 54th Annual
General Meeting (AGM) of the Caribbean Employers’
Confederation (CEC) in Saint Lucia in May 2013. The
AGM focused on the progress in consolidating CEC’s
relationship with the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL)
as both regional organizations share a goal of increased
involvement in the workings of CARICOM. At the Eighth
Meeting of Caribbean Ministers of Labour (July 2013) it
was agreed that the formalization and institutionalization
of social dialogue at national and regional levels
will enable more effective input to economic and
social policies at all levels.35This resulted in a call for
the institutionalization of a “regional Social Dialogue
Mechanism”.36
Decent Work Country Programme for the
Caribbean in progress
Significant progress has been made toward the
development of a DWCP by tripartite constituents in
Suriname. Among the expected DWCP outcomes to
which the constituents agreed during discussions held
in October 2013 are: strengthened sensitization and
increased awareness for the creation of an enabling
environment for the promotion of sustainable enterprises;
35 ILO: Conclusions – 8th Meeting of Caribbean Ministers of
Labour, July 2013. P3
36 COHSOD-CARICOM Meeting, May 2014
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ratification and application of ILO core Conventions
and the promotion of adherence to the fundamental
principles and rights at work; modernization of existing
labour legislation, and the introduction of new legislation;
development of a labour inspection strategy and
adoption of an action programme; operationalization of
the LMIS for the production of timely information on key
labour market indicators; the establishment of policies
to reduce informality based on increased knowledge
gained from a survey programme and other data
sources; and the timely conduct of wage surveys and
production of statistics. Discussions with the Ministry of
Labour and the social partners are ongoing, and it is
anticipated that the DWCP will be launched shortly.
National commitment to Decent Work Country
Programme (DWCP) reaffirmed
A review of the DWCP for Guyana was conducted
in 2014 and the full commitment of the Parliament
and social partners was established. Although work is
ongoing, progress has been noted in a number of areas:
1. Regular meetings of the Tripartite Forum have
been held to discuss labour-related matters;
recommendations arising from these meetings have
been adopted and submitted to Parliament for
consideration;
2. HIV/AIDS regulations have been tabled and
gazetted;37
3. Implementation of a national monthly minimum wage
(equivalent to USD170 as of July 2013);
4. Extension of the minimum wage to domestic workers;
5. OSH regulations related to mining, chemicals,
manufacturing and noise currently being finalized;
6. Ratification of Domestic Workers’ Convention, 2011
(No. 189);
7. Labour Law amendments which allowed for the
protection of security guards and domestic workers to
be protected by law for the first time;
8. Initiatives to continue the work that was initiated under
the TACKLE Project such as support to parents to
keep children in school as well as practical support
to training agencies to cater to children that have
dropped out of the formal school system.
Areas of future work were identified as: improving youth
employment rates, ensuring that robust and timely labour
statistics are available and increased enforcement of
labour legislation.
37 Gazetted – officially published or announced
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Institutionalization of social dialogue in the
public utilities sector initiated
Senior managers of the Water and Sewerage Authority
(WASA) of Trinidad and Tobago participated in a
development session in January 2014 where, together
with the Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro
Enterprise Development support was pledged for the
institutionalization of social dialogue. Subsequently,
the ILO DWT-POS in collaboration with the Germany
Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago organized a study tour
to two companies in Germany that have successfully
institutionalized social dialogue. WASA officials, as well
as WASA union members and national union leaders,
benefited from the opportunity to observe and learn
from models utilized by the German companies; to
examine the range of activities considered to be critical
to the improvement of management-labour relations;
to establish a format and framework for the operation
of social dialogue committees and subcommittees; to
identify appropriate organizational support systems for
the institutionalization of social dialogue at the enterprise
level, as well as issues that would be of concern to the
representative unions. As a follow up to these initiatives,
the Human Resources Division of WASA has established
a social dialogue committee consisting of management
and labour representatives. Policies and procedures
will be developed along with a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) which will guide and support
the institutionalization of the social dialogue process in
WASA. This initiative is to be seen in the overall context of
Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts to promote better industrial
relations and social dialogue at all levels.
Employers’ Activities
Capacity of Employers to understand the role
of International Labour Standards in accessing
international markers increased
As the Caribbean continues to address the impact of
globalization it is important that countries are positioned
to make the link between emerging export market
requirements and the single market approach from
a labour standards perspective. It is envisioned that
engagement from employers in actively promoting core
labour standards in their business practices will contribute
to strengthening the Caribbean Single Market (CSM)
through meaningful engagements in international trade
negotiations and by understanding and maximizing the
benefits of the CARIFORUM-EPA Agreement.
Sixteen national workshops on the ‘Role of Labour
Standards in Accessing International Markets and
supporting the CSM’ were held in 2013. Over 370
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employers from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba,
The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and
Trinidad and Tobago benefited from timely exchanges.
The workshops collectively resulted in gaining the
consensus of employers regarding the urgency of work
to be done at the country level, to develop a list of
hazardous work (not to be performed by persons under
18 years of age) as well as an acceptable list of light
duties (that can be performed by persons from 13 years
to school-leaving age). Additionally, a consolidated list of
pertinent issues to be raised by the Caribbean Employers’
Confederation on behalf of employers’ organizations
in the region was formulated. It is useful to note that
although most workshops were organized by the
employers’ organizations, they were in fact, tripartite and
included the participation of government officials and
labour representatives - an excellent example of social
dialogue and tripartite cooperation in most Caribbean
countries.
Caribbean Employers’ Organizations
strengthened to respond to influence policy
development through effectively responding to
the needs of the business environment
Chief Executive Officers and Presidents of Employers’
Organizations from 19 Caribbean countries and Non-
Metropolitan Territories (NMTs) enhanced their capacity to
address issues related to management and leadership;
strategic positioning and partnership; corruption costs;
productivity and competitiveness; Enabling Environment
for Sustainable Enterprises (EESE); and the benefits of the
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to the business
community. These themes were addressed at the Fourth
Caribbean Academy for Management of Employers’
Organizations (CAMEO IV), held in Antigua and Barbuda
in August 2013. The CAMEO mirrors the Latin American
Institute for the Management of Employers’ Organizations
(ILGO) which has been successfully conducted in Spanish
since 1985.
Employers’ supported to engage more effectively in the
social dialogue process through increased and improved
representation
The Bahamas: The National Conclave of the
Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’
Confederation (BCCEC) met in April 2014 and a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was developed
between the BCCEC and all Family Island Chambers
in support of the goal of full representation of business
interests in The Bahamas. The ILO supported the
employers by advocating for full engagement in the
social dialogue process through clear communication
channels and active participation of all members.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: A clear set of
recommendations for implementation was the result of
an organizational review of the Saint Vincent Employers’
Federation (SVEF) conducted in May 2013.
Capacity of entrepreneurs and micro
businesses strengthened
Thirty-five individual and potential members of the
Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce (CICC) benefited
from technical support in formalizing their business
operations through training on starting a business, skills
and attitudes necessary for successful entrepreneurship,
steps in developing a business plan, marketing plan and
financial planning. The two-day training workshop was
organized by the CICC in August 2014.
Strategies to deliver improved services and
increase membership of women entrepreneurs
developed
Representatives from Employers’ Organizations and
associations of Women Entrepreneurs from twelve
Caribbean Countries developed strategies to deliver
services and attract and retain women entrepreneurs as
members of Employers’ Organizations in October 2013.
The Sub-Regional Workshop entitled, “How to Reach
Out”, was held in Jamaica. The ILO DWT-POS provided
specific support in the area of Service Development and
Delivery.
Negotiation and mediation capacity of
Employers’ and Workers’ Organizations
reinforced
Trinidad and Tobago: Members of the Employers’
Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ECATT)
and the National Trade Union Centre of Trinidad and
Tobago (NATUC) increased their competences in the
areas of negotiation and mediation in March and May
2013 respectively.
Antigua and Barbuda: Members of the Antigua
and Barbuda Employers’ Federation (ABEF) increased their
negotiation and mediation competences in July 2013.
Additionally, the ABEF developed a new mission and
vision statement and eight strategic goals.
Grenada: Members of the Grenada Employers’
Federation (GEF) benefited from a workshop on
negotiation and mediation in August 2014.
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Workers’ Activities
Capacity of Caribbean Domestic Workers’
Network (CDWN) Steering Committee
members strengthened
The ILO supported the CDWN Steering Committee in
capacity building related to the responsibilities of non-
profit boards and conducting effective meetings in Guyana
from 6 – 7 July 2013. Since 2011, the CDWN has been
advocating on behalf of domestic workers regionally. An
information service, under the umbrella of Red Thread
(a ‘grassroots’ women’s organization in Guyana) was
established in Guyana. The service is called the, ‘Clotil and
Cora Self-Help Information Service’ for domestic workers;
a domestic workers’ section in the Antigua Trades and
Labour Union (ATLU) was formed; there have also been
significant increases in the number of organized domestic
workers. The Network, through its Jamaican affiliate, the
Jamaica Household Workers’ Union (JHWU) has been
working with the national training agency in Jamaica (Heart
Trust-NTA) to secure the establishment of a programme
of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) for domestic
workers so that more workers may take advantage of the
free movement regime under the Caribbean Single Market
and Economy (CSME).
Priority areas and principal strategies of
the Caribbean Domestic Workers’ Network
(CDWN) established
Steering Committee Members of the CDWN benefited
from practical training in strategic planning and public
speaking in September 2013 in Antigua and Barbuda.
The training resulted in the development of a CDWN
Mission Statement – “We advocate for decent work and
human rights for domestic workers” and Vision – “By the year
2020, CDWN will be recognized as the leading regional
advocate for decent work for domestic workers and other
low-wage workers”. There was also consensus on areas of
priority as well as strategies for implementing their work.
Gap Analysis findings disseminated
The findings of a report on the gap between legislation
and Convention 189 in six CARICOM countries (Antigua
and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint
Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago) were disseminated in
a December 2013 workshop in Barbados. The study
provides the CDWN with a platform for advocacy for the
ratification of the ILO Convention as well as for their work
in improving the working conditions of domestic workers
in the region. With the support of the ILO the CDWN
also commissioned a study to determine the profile of
the women in Guyana who are domestic workers. The
information generated by the study will facilitate an
evidence-based approach to organizing and designing
programmes as well as the development of informational
material targeting these women.
Strategies and issues to accelerate the
ratification of Convention 189 identified
Members of the CDWN identified issues and strategies
to tackle the ratification of the Convention concerning
Decent Work for Domestic Workers (C189) in Barbados
between 29 November and 02 December 2013.
Leadership capacity and understanding of
gender issues strengthened among women
and young workers
Young workers and women workers were the beneficiaries
of leadership training which focused on gender. In
addition to areas such as leadership skills, effective
communication and building alliances, the participants
examined power and assertion, the gender dimensions
of leadership, gender bargaining and activism for gender
equality as well as of the relevant international labour
standards. These training workshops were held in October
and November 2013 to provide a platform for greater
participation of young persons and women in union
leadership at the Barbados. Both workshops led to the
development of action plans by the two groups.
Training on child labour and trade union policy
developed
In 2011, child labour training was run with affiliates of the
Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU). Out of
this training, the JCTU developed and adopted a child
labour policy. The participants from each of JCTU affiliates
drafted mini action programmes to be undertaken
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by each affiliated union and which was to be funded
by through the EU-ILO Tackling Child Labour through
Education Programme (TACKLE). The sensitization carried
out by the Jamaica Household Workers Union at the
community level resulted in one rural community starting
a Grab a Child project which would continue to raise
awareness, promote parents literacy and form support
groups for families whose children are at risk.
Media strategy and campaign developed
National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas
developed a media strategy and campaign to raise
awareness of the roles and responsibilities of trade
unions with a view to building a positive image of the
union movement and raising awareness about unions.
Trade Union leadership skills strengthened
The National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas
brought together shop stewards and officers in two
workshops to enhance their leadership skills and the
institutional capacity of their unions. The participants were
able to assess the challenges confronting trade unions
and what was required to address these challenges;
they also looked at topics such as examining strategies
for recruitment, retention and succession planning as well
as how to maintain the trade union as a democratic
organization.
Trade union policies and plans of action on
occupational safety and health developed and
published
In 2011, Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU)
and the Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association
(ABPSA) with the support of the Office developed a joint
trade union policy on occupation safety and health which
also included provisions of dealing with HIV and AIDS in
the workplace. After the policy was ratified both unions’
highest decision-making body, a series of workshops
were held to train shop stewards on the policy and
develop strategies for the effective implementation of the
policy at the workplace.
Later in 2012, the shop stewards and OSH officers of the
Grenada Trades Union Council (GTUC) examined the
international labour standards related to occupational
safety and health, in particular C.155 and C.161.
Based on these Conventions, the GTUC drafted a trade
union policy on occupational safety and health and a
plan of action for raising OSH awareness amongst its
membership.
Institutional capacity of workers bolstered
through the development of a Strategic Plan
The institutional capacity of the Antigua and Barbuda
Workers’ Union (ABWU) was reinforced with the
development of a five-year Strategic Plan (covering
the period 2013 – 2018). The plan supports the
goal of modernizing the ABWU and developing
effective communication and partnerships in its efforts
to serve its members and working people. A review
of the Constitution is one of the initial activities to be
implemented under the Strategic Plan.
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Policy coherence
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HIGHLIGHTS:
Policy coherence promoted through Social
Dialogue
The role of effective social dialogue in harmonizing the
agendas of both OSH and productivity was the focus of
the “Sub-regional Tripartite Meeting on OSH, Productivity
and Social Dialogue”, October 2012. The Meeting
also benefited from South-South Cooperation through
exchanges from tripartite delegations from Singapore
and Mauritius and ended with a strong call to strengthen
social dialogue in the Caribbean region.
Dialogue on Gender-equality and non-
discrimination at work strengthened through
active participation in multi-stakeholder fora
The ILO DWT-POS contributed to dialogue on the
empowerment of women and sexual harassment in the
workplace at a Seminar on Gender-Based Violence
organized by the Embassy of Chile and the United
Nations (UN) System of Trinidad and Tobago in Port of
Spain, October 2013. The Seminar was designed to
sensitize key stakeholders to issues of gender-based
violence through exchanges. The ILO DWT-POS was
invited to the Seminar as a member of the UN Gender
Theme Group in Trinidad and Tobago.
In November 2013 the Institute for Gender and
Development Studies (IGDS) commemorated its 20th
Anniversary with a regional symposium, “Continuities,
Challenges and Transformations in Caribbean Gender
Relations” at the University of the West Indies, St.
Augustine Campus. The need for continued dialogue and
technical support in two specific areas was established:
1. issues related to the gender gap in employment in
the Caribbean Tourism and Hospitality sector; and 2.
support in the development of gender-sensitive policies
for women in the small-scale farming sector.
Productivity and inclusive economic growth
supported
Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are a mechanism whereby
public and private interests can jointly address the
challenges of promoting greater productivity and more
inclusive economies. In November 2013, the Caribbean
Development Bank (CDB) organized a “Forum on PPP for
Sustainable Growth in the Caribbean” in Barbados in
collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank
(IADB), Multilateral Investment Funds, the Public-Private
Infrastructure Advisory Facility and the World Bank Group.
Technical assistance from the ILO is envisioned in the area
of support to the government in the development and
implementation of PPP projects to support job creation,
employment policy, skills development and working
conditions including safety and health at work.
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ANNEX 1- CARIBBEAN DECENT WORK COUNTRY PROGRAMMES
P
rio
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Co
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