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Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Barbados (RATIFICATION: 1976)

The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending June 2000 that includes a comprehensive survey of the informal sector for 1997-98.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Government describes its Youth Employment Scheme (YES) established in 1995. This programme targets 18 30 year-olds and provides general business counselling, technical assistance for marketing and accounting, financial assistance, mentors, and outreach programmes to encourage entrepreneurship. The Government states that YES has assisted in the start-up of 55 businesses, over 75 per cent of which are still in business; has facilitated expansion of 74 businesses; and created 61 jobs. The Committee notes this information and requests further information on existing programmes to promote employment of other categories of workers such as women, people with disabilities, and older workers. Please also supply the information requested in the report form on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment in the country.

2. The Committee also notes with interest the results of the survey of the informal sector conducted in 1997-98. The survey found that workers in the informal sector have low skills and consequently low productivity, businesses are managed poorly, and producers have limited access to markets. The poor performance of informal sector businesses was due in part to the fact that most government support to business caters only to the needs of larger enterprises in the formal sector. The informal sector, although currently under-producing, has tremendous potential for growth, and is very important for the livelihoods of a large proportion of the working population. The survey recommends providing more support to informal sector producers to help them improve productivity and access to markets, while at the same time avoiding harassing or penalizing them for operating outside the official regulatory boundaries. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on any follow-up action taken in light of these findings and recommendations.

Article 2. Please also provide information on how employment policies and programmes are kept under review within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy.

Article 3. The Committee notes with interest that Protocol Three for the Implementation of a Social Partnership 1998-2000 established tripartite consultation on all matters affecting the macroeconomic performance of Barbados and broadens the scope of issues for consultation. The Protocol was extended until 31 March 2001 and was supported by both the workers’ and employers’ organizations. It would appreciate receiving further information on the achievements in relation to employment policy matters of Protocol Three and, in general, on the manner in which consultations are held with representatives of employers, workers and other groups, such as rural and informal sector workers, and on the outcome of these consultations.