The Bahamas launches new Decent Work Country Programme
Five-year Programme seeks to achieve tripartite solutions to comprehensive national labour issues
7 December 2021 (Nassau, The Bahamas) -- The Commonwealth of The Bahamas has become the first Caribbean country to launch a second-generation Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP). The historic milestone was achieved on 6 December during a high-level ceremony attended by senior officials from the Government, employers’ organizations, workers’ organizations, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations (UN).
The five-year DWCP, which extends until 2026, was developed between 2020 and 2021 through a series of consultations with tripartite constituents and other key stakeholders led by the National Tripartite Council (NTC). Due to COVID-19 measures, the development of this new Programme was entirely virtual – another first in DWCP history.
Throughout the development process, the team engaged in social dialogue to identify and agree on a roadmap for arriving at innovative solutions to three national priority areas: jobs and skills, social dialogue and governance. The issues will be addressed by the DWCP in the context of a human-centered recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that is sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. It will also be implemented against the backdrop of the long-term effects of Hurricane Dorian, which caused widespread socio-economic devastation to The Bahamas in 2019.
“The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected all our plans to accomplish great things, but we are here today because there was and remains a continuous belief by your Government and the social partners represented here that the objective of achieving decent work for The Bahamas is indeed an achievable goal,” said Mr. Dennis Zulu, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean.
Other keynote speakers represented the country’s tripartite partners who worked together over the last year to establish their country’s second DWCP, including:
“Today is indeed a milestone for the workers of The Bahamas and a beacon of hope for the region. We are here to sign and launch The Bahamas’ second Decent Work Country Programme, thus solidifying the true commitment of the social partners - namely Government, workers and employers - which reflects the framework of the ILO for proper dialogue,” said Mr. Bernard Evans. “It would be wise to note that decent works plays a central role in the development of The Bahamas as defined by our own bipartisan and collective Vision 2040, The Bahamas national plan, which aligns itself with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
“In a time when countries are having to grapple with having to rebuild and to come back from everything, they have experienced because of COVID-19, it follows that a conversation regarding economic recovery and growth will shortly ensue,” said Mrs. Khrystle Rutherford-Ferguson. “One fundamental truth exists as a result of that: there can be no recovery, no growth, no development of industries without employers, without workers, without the persons that represent their interests. And as a result of this truth, the strategic planning and mutual acceptance of priorities and objectives that guide these relationships is paramount. I look forward to the outcome of today’s launch and the discussions that will follow as a result of this Programme.”
“Decent work is productive work in which rights are protected, which generates adequate income and adequate social protection. It also means sufficient work in the sense that all should have access to income earning opportunities,” said Mr. Obie Ferguson. “It marks to the road to economic and social development. A road in which employment, income, social protection can be achieved without compromising workers’ right and sound standards. I am very pleased on behalf of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Trade Union Congress and all of its affiliates and all workers In the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to embrace this opportunity.”
Other senior-level ILO and UN officials also delivered remarks. Among them were Mr. Vinicius Pinheiro, ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean; Mr. Lars Johansen, Deputy Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean; and Mr. Garry Conille, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda, The Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands.
The ceremony concluded with a signing of the DWCP Memorandum of Understanding by The Prime Minister, Minister of Labour and Immigration, Heads of Social Partners and Mr. Zulu.
“There is no better time than now to have a new Decent Work Country Programme given the challenges that countries are facing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis has exacerbated pre-existing decent work deficits, increased poverty, widened inequalities and exposed digital gaps in many countries including The Bahamas,” said Mr. Vinicius Pinheiro. “The DWCP being launched today provides for a systematic and integrated approach in responding to the identified national labour market issues. The ILO commits to working with you on this journey to achieve these goals.”
The ILO’s approach in The Bahamas reflects the development of a ‘new generation’ of DWCPs, that leverages partnerships to align more closely to current national development goals and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to achieve real and meaningful change.
“We have journeyed through the development of this DWCP. We discussed lessons learned from the execution of the first DWCP and explored possible modalities to ensure that this second Programme will be firmly rooted in the national development plan,” said Ms. Sharon Martin, Chair of the National Tripartite Council, who also served as the Focal Point for the Second Generation Bahamas Decent Work Country Programme.
Following the launch, the ILO and tripartite partners will meet to discuss and determine next steps for the implementation of The Bahamas’ new DWCP, including capacity building sessions scheduled for early 2022.
Media contact: Shireen Cuthbert, ILO Caribbean cuthbert@ilo.org.
The five-year DWCP, which extends until 2026, was developed between 2020 and 2021 through a series of consultations with tripartite constituents and other key stakeholders led by the National Tripartite Council (NTC). Due to COVID-19 measures, the development of this new Programme was entirely virtual – another first in DWCP history.
Throughout the development process, the team engaged in social dialogue to identify and agree on a roadmap for arriving at innovative solutions to three national priority areas: jobs and skills, social dialogue and governance. The issues will be addressed by the DWCP in the context of a human-centered recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that is sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. It will also be implemented against the backdrop of the long-term effects of Hurricane Dorian, which caused widespread socio-economic devastation to The Bahamas in 2019.
“The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected all our plans to accomplish great things, but we are here today because there was and remains a continuous belief by your Government and the social partners represented here that the objective of achieving decent work for The Bahamas is indeed an achievable goal,” said Mr. Dennis Zulu, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean.
Other keynote speakers represented the country’s tripartite partners who worked together over the last year to establish their country’s second DWCP, including:
- The Honourable Philip Edward Davis, Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas;
- The Honourable Keith Bell, Minister of Labour and Immigration;
- Mr. Robert Farquharson, Director of Labour;
- Mr. Bernard Evans, President, The National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas;
- Mrs. Khrystle Rutherford-Ferguson, Chairman of The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation; and
- Mr. Obie Ferguson, President of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas Trade Union Congress.
“Today is indeed a milestone for the workers of The Bahamas and a beacon of hope for the region. We are here to sign and launch The Bahamas’ second Decent Work Country Programme, thus solidifying the true commitment of the social partners - namely Government, workers and employers - which reflects the framework of the ILO for proper dialogue,” said Mr. Bernard Evans. “It would be wise to note that decent works plays a central role in the development of The Bahamas as defined by our own bipartisan and collective Vision 2040, The Bahamas national plan, which aligns itself with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
“In a time when countries are having to grapple with having to rebuild and to come back from everything, they have experienced because of COVID-19, it follows that a conversation regarding economic recovery and growth will shortly ensue,” said Mrs. Khrystle Rutherford-Ferguson. “One fundamental truth exists as a result of that: there can be no recovery, no growth, no development of industries without employers, without workers, without the persons that represent their interests. And as a result of this truth, the strategic planning and mutual acceptance of priorities and objectives that guide these relationships is paramount. I look forward to the outcome of today’s launch and the discussions that will follow as a result of this Programme.”
“Decent work is productive work in which rights are protected, which generates adequate income and adequate social protection. It also means sufficient work in the sense that all should have access to income earning opportunities,” said Mr. Obie Ferguson. “It marks to the road to economic and social development. A road in which employment, income, social protection can be achieved without compromising workers’ right and sound standards. I am very pleased on behalf of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Trade Union Congress and all of its affiliates and all workers In the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to embrace this opportunity.”
Other senior-level ILO and UN officials also delivered remarks. Among them were Mr. Vinicius Pinheiro, ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean; Mr. Lars Johansen, Deputy Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean; and Mr. Garry Conille, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda, The Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands.
The ceremony concluded with a signing of the DWCP Memorandum of Understanding by The Prime Minister, Minister of Labour and Immigration, Heads of Social Partners and Mr. Zulu.
“There is no better time than now to have a new Decent Work Country Programme given the challenges that countries are facing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis has exacerbated pre-existing decent work deficits, increased poverty, widened inequalities and exposed digital gaps in many countries including The Bahamas,” said Mr. Vinicius Pinheiro. “The DWCP being launched today provides for a systematic and integrated approach in responding to the identified national labour market issues. The ILO commits to working with you on this journey to achieve these goals.”
The ILO’s approach in The Bahamas reflects the development of a ‘new generation’ of DWCPs, that leverages partnerships to align more closely to current national development goals and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to achieve real and meaningful change.
“We have journeyed through the development of this DWCP. We discussed lessons learned from the execution of the first DWCP and explored possible modalities to ensure that this second Programme will be firmly rooted in the national development plan,” said Ms. Sharon Martin, Chair of the National Tripartite Council, who also served as the Focal Point for the Second Generation Bahamas Decent Work Country Programme.
Following the launch, the ILO and tripartite partners will meet to discuss and determine next steps for the implementation of The Bahamas’ new DWCP, including capacity building sessions scheduled for early 2022.
Media contact: Shireen Cuthbert, ILO Caribbean cuthbert@ilo.org.