Solicitud directa (CEACR) - Adopción: 2012, Publicación: 102ª reunión CIT (2013)

Convenio sobre los trabajadores migrantes (revisado), 1949 (núm. 97) - Santa Lucía (Ratificación : 1980)

Article 1 of the Convention. Information on national policies, laws and regulations. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that apart from the provisions in the Labour Code, there is no explicit policy on migration for employment. The Government also states that work is being undertaken to develop an effective Labour Market Information System and that the data requested by the Committee will be provided in subsequent reports. The Committee emphasizes the importance of collecting, analysing and providing information regarding migration flows in and out of the countries, as well as on any laws, regulations and policies regarding migration for employment, so as to allow an accurate assessment of the application of the Convention, in law and in practice. The Committee therefore asks the Government to take more proactive steps to collect and provide the necessary statistics disaggregated by sex, sector of activity and country of origin of migrant workers residing in Saint Lucia, and Saint Lucians working abroad; and to provide information on any measures taken to improve laws and regulations on migration for employment and the protection of migrant workers’ rights.

Article 2. Services to migrant workers. The Committee asks the Government to provide specific information on the measures taken to maintain an adequate and free service to assists migrants workers, in particular to provide them with adequate information.

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 read as follows:

Equal treatment. The Committee recalls the Government’s obligation, under Article 6(1), to apply, without discrimination in respect of nationality, race, religion or sex, to migrant workers lawfully within its territory treatment no less favourable than that applied to the country’s nationals in respect of remuneration, trade union rights, accommodation, taxes, social security and access to the justice system. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the specific legal provisions and practical measures taken to ensure that all men and women migrant workers enjoy equal treatment in accordance with Article 6(1).

Agreements and special arrangements. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the modalities and conditions of the Canada Farm Programme, including statistical data disaggregated by sex on the workers covered. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on provisions regarding labour migration made in other bilateral or regional migration agreements, including agreements adopted within the framework of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).