Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Ratification: 1998)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Protection against acts of anti-union discrimination and interference. In its previous comments, the Committee had requested the Government to take measures to include in the legislation provisions which provide protection against acts of anti-union discrimination and interference by the employer or employers’ organizations in workers’ organizations (and vice versa) and which encourage collective bargaining in the private and public sectors (with the sole possible exception of public servants engaged in the administration of the State). The Committee had noted that a new Labour Relations Bill was awaiting the Cabinet’s approval and that this Bill included provisions against trade union discrimination and interference by employers’ and workers’ organizations. In this regard, the Committee had recalled that the provisions should not only include protection against trade union discrimination and interference by employers’ and workers’ organizations, but also by the employer or any person acting on behalf of that employer. The Committee subsequently noted that: (i) the Government expressed gratitude to the ILO for providing technical comments on the Labour Relations Bill; (ii) copies of the ILO’s memorandum of technical comments were submitted to the respective employers’ and workers’ organizations for their consideration and adoption; (iii) the provisions of the revised Bill were expected to address the issues that are of concern to the ILO; and (iv) the Government had initiated a series of consultations with the new leadership of the respective social partners. The Committee expressed the hope that the revised Labour Relations Bill would address the abovementioned issues and would ensure full conformity with the Convention.

The Committee notes that the Government reports that: (i) no changes have occurred with respect to legislation or practice affecting the application of the Convention; (ii) there has been no new development with regard to the ongoing consultation in respect of the proposed Labour Relations Bill, which is intended to replace the existing Trade Union Act; and (iii) the Government continues to remain hopeful that the new Bill will be adopted in the near future.

The Committee firmly hopes that the Government will continue the consultation with the social partners and that the Labour Relations Bill will be adopted in the near future and will address the abovementioned issues. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this regard.