CMNT_TITLE

Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Bahamas (RATIFICATION: 1976)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to its previous comments. It hopes that the next report will include full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which reads as follows:

Repetition

1. Parts III and IV of the Convention. Migrant workers. Education and training. In the report received in March 2008 in reply to the Committee’s 2005 direct request, the Government only states that it will provide, in its next report, information dealing with migrant workers and education and training including updated data illustrating that the improvement of standards of living has been considered in the planning of economic development. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on labour migration and its education and training strategy. It also reiterates the importance of providing a report containing accurate information on the manner in which the provisions of Articles 1 and 2 of Convention No. 117 calling for “all policies” to be “primarily directed to the well-being and development of the population” have been regarded as the principal objective in the planning of economic development.

2. Promotion of cooperatives. The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government on the Co-operative Societies Act and its Regulations which provide, among other things, for the registration of cooperatives, set forth criteria for membership, provide for the expulsion of non-abiding cooperatives, specify that loans can be granted to members of cooperatives and set up the preparation of annual accounts and reports. The Department of Cooperatives is monitoring cooperatives and thereby promoting the improvement of standards of living for workers in the informal economy as well as in the formal economy. The Committee would welcome receiving further information on the manner in which a policy and legal framework favourable to cooperatives is being provided in the country. It also asks the Government to continue to report on the improvement of standards of living for workers in the informal economy (Articles 4(e) and 5 of the Convention).