BECon News Bulletin Issue No: 2/2008

The International Labour Organization (ILO) which became the first specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946, like other UN agencies, is under pressure to show real value for the resources allocated to it. From a pilot program launched in 2001 a Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) model was developed that achieves results-based "outcomes", demonstrating the value of the ILO's involvement.

Decent work country programs will become the operational framework for all ILO activities in a given country. It will be used as a management tool allowing the ILO to organize its work to assist its constituents (Social Partners) in member countries to achieve progress towards the goal of decent work for all men and women. Making decent work a global goal is the ILO's leading policy theme for 2006-09 and encompasses international, regional, inter-country, national and local ILO action.

Each DWCP is tailored specifically by the country that will undertake the program. The exercise for developing a DWCP:

starts with problem analysis and lessons learned;
identifies a limited number of country program priorities in line with national development plans, country programming frameworks such as the CCA and UNDAF, the views and priorities of constituents in the country and the ILO's Strategic Policy Framework;
sets intended medium-term (4-6 years) and short-term (biennial) outcomes to be achieved;
defines an implementation plan with outputs and resources; and
monitors and evaluates performance in order to adjust activities and outcomes accordingly.

The above elements are compiled into a brief document titled "The (Country Name) Decent Work Country Programme" and the document is made public when approved. Once identified outcomes have been achieved, a new set of outcomes within the same priorities, or with changing priorities, can be defined. DWCPs build on current activities, have the flexibility to accommodate changing circumstances, build on previous experiences, and will evolve and be refined over time. Progressively all ILO involvement and action in a particular country will be part of its DWCP.

The International Organisation of Employers (IOE) advocates, "in terms of the management and implementation of the DWCP member federations should advocate for the establishment of a national tripartite committee to oversee the implementation process." In The Bahamas the TRIFOR Committee is our national tripartite committee.

The three priorities determined by the TRIFOR Committee for our DWCP are Institutional Strengthening; Social Dialog; and, Labour Legislation and respect for Rights at Work. On the 10th of April, 2008 The Bahamas became the first country in the region to adopt a DWCP. The Bahamas Decent Work Country Programme was signed by Senator The Honourable Dion A. Foulkes, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Labour; Brian Nutt, President, Bahamas Employers Confederation; John Pinder, President of the National Congress of Trade Unions, Representative of the Joint Labour Movement; Mrs. Cleola Hamilton, Vice President of the Trade Union Congress, Representative of the Joint Labour Movement; and, Ana Teresa Romero, Director, ILO Subregional Office for the Caribbean.

The ILO Subregional Office for the Caribbean sponsored a Caribbean Subregional Tripartite Workshop on Labour Legislation in Trinidad and Tobago on the 15th & 16th of May, 2008 as part of their Harmonization of Labour Legislation project.

BECon Director Mr. Winston Rolle attended the workshop and reported that the workshop was the final in a series designed to harmonize the labour laws of member states in compliance with the CARICOM Model Labour Laws. It was noted that the expectation was not to have all Countries implement the CARICOM Model verbatim but to use them as a model while considering local uniqueness. Specific to the Bahamas it was noted that the CARICOM Model Laws were adopted by CARICOM Ministers of Labour for implementation however there is no legal obligation for compliance. It was noted that ratified ILO Conventions present more of a legal obligation.

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