CMNT_TITLE

Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) - Barbados (RATIFICATION: 1967)

Article 2 of the Convention. Seafarers’ identity documents. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Immigration Department has the responsibility for the issuing and control of seafarers’ identity documents and that it is currently ordering those documents from suppliers and processing information for submission to the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development. While noting this information, the Committee recalls its previous comment, which it has been repeating since 1999, regarding the Government’s failure to apply the Convention in practice and its failure to provide information concerning whether foreign seafarers holding identity documents issued pursuant to the Convention are accorded the facilities provided for in that instrument. The Committee therefore urges the Government to take the necessary steps to ensure that its obligations under the Convention are fully respected and to inform the Office of all measures taken in this regard. The Committee recalls, in this respect, its comment in the 2012 General Direct Request concerning the Government’s reporting obligations, in which it drew the Government’s attention to the possibility to request technical assistance from the Office. The Committee once again reminds the Government that it may seek such technical assistance from the Office.