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Collective Bargaining Convention, 1981 (No. 154) - Saint Lucia (RATIFICATION: 2000)

The Committee notes with deep concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It expects that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments. The Committee informs the Government that, if it has not supplied replies to the points raised by 1 September 2020, then it may proceed with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the information at its disposal at its next session.

Repetition

Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee noted the information provided by the Government that in practice workers in the protective services, which comprise fire service and prison officers, have exercised their right to bargain. It further noted that the Government indicates that, apart from those workers, the Convention applies to all workers in general. In this regard, the Committee recalls that the Convention applies to workers in the fire services and prison officers and accordingly requests the Government to take the necessary measures to amend the legislation to accord with the existing practice in relation to fire service workers and prison officers so as to ensure that they are able to enjoy formal rights to collective bargaining as guaranteed by the Convention.

Article 6. The Committee noted the information provided by the Government indicating that the framework of conciliation and arbitration machinery for collective bargaining purposes involves conciliation services provided by the Department of Labour; mediation services provided by the Minister of Labour; and arbitration provided by ad hoc tribunals appointed pursuant to the Registration, Status and Recognition of Trade Unions and Employers Organizations Act. The Committee requests the Government to provide details of any internal rules or regulations relating to the three components of the conciliation and arbitration machinery for collective bargaining purposes.

Article 7. Noting that the Government has indicated that there are no measures to promote the development of collective bargaining, the Committee invites the Government to consider undertaking consultations with workers’ and employers’ organizations with the aim of reaching agreement on measures (including but not limited to circulars, seminars, publications and incentives) to encourage and promote the development of collective bargaining.