Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Ratification: 2010)

Articles 2 and 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in response to its comments initially made in 2012 concerning the application of the Convention. The Government indicates that the National Tripartite Committee (NTC) is consulted on matters concerning international labour standards set out under Article 5(1) of the Convention. The Government reports that the NTC meetings are usually chaired by the Government’s representative, and that each of the social partners may have an equal number of representatives, normally two persons each. Decisions are taken based on the majority view. The Government adds that consultations typically take place during the first quarter of every year, with the number of meetings determined by the specific matters to be covered for that particular year, as well as the availability of all members to attend. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it ensures that the necessary tripartite consultations are held and that the social partners’ positions are duly noted. The Government does not, however, provide specific information on the content, frequency or outcome of tripartite consultations relevant to the application of the Convention. The Committee therefore reiterates its request that the Government provide detailed, concrete information regarding the procedures in place to ensure effective tripartite consultations within the National Tripartite Committee on all of the matters relative to international labour standards covered under Article 5(1)(a) through (e) of the Convention.

Article 5(1)(b). Submissions to the House of Assembly. The Committee notes that submission to the House of Assembly is currently pending for 31 instruments adopted at 16 sessions of the International Labour Conference, from June 1995 to June 2019. As the Committee noted in its 2000 General Survey on Tripartite Consultation, paragraph 84, under the terms of Article 5(1)(b) of the Convention, consultations must cover “the proposals to be made to the competent authority or authorities in connection with the submission of Conventions and Recommendations pursuant article 19 of the [ILO] Constitution”. The Committeetherefore once again requests the Government to provide specific and updated information on all tripartite consultations held with respect to submission to the House of Assembly of the pending instruments, as required under Article 5(1)(b) of the Convention.

Article 5(1)(a) and (d). Replies to questionnaires and reports to be submitted to the ILO. The Committee reiterates its request that the Government provide information on the content and outcome of tripartite consultations held on questionnaires concerning items on the agenda of the Conference (Article 5(1)(a)) and on the preparation of reports to be submitted to the ILO on the application of ratified Conventions under article 22 of the ILO Constitution (Article 5(1)(d)).

Article 6. Operation of the consultative procedures. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on consultations that may have taken place on Article 6 of the Convention (the working of the procedures provided for in the Convention), and on the outcome of such consultations.