Saint Lucia ratifies Tripartite Consultation Convention

CASTRIES, Saint Lucia (ILO News) – Saint Lucia has ratified the Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144), formally installed its National Tripartite Advisory Committee (NTAC), and launched the Cabinet-approved process to develop the country's first Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP). Together, they signal the country’s commitment to tripartism, social dialogue and decent work tripartism through active pursuit of law, structure and policy.

The three milestones were achieved during the week of 26 April to 1 May 2026, anchored by a high-level ILO mission that supported government, employers' and workers' organizations in a series of activities focused on strengthening labour governance and collective bargaining.

Tripartism in action

On 29 April, in a ceremony held in Castries, Prime Minister the Honourable Phillip J. Pierre signed and deposited Saint Lucia's instrument of ratification for Convention No. 144. Joni Musabayana, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbeanof the ILO Caribbean Office, received the instrument on behalf of the ILO Director-General.

Convention No. 144 provides a framework for effective consultations among government, employers’ and workers’ representatives on matters related to international labour standards. By ratifying it, Saint Lucia makes tripartite consultation a formal and binding feature of its national labour governance.

The ratification also moves the Caribbean closer to full ratification of Convention No. 144, with only one ILO Member State in the Caribbean (Haiti) yet to ratify the instrument.

At the same ceremony, the nine-member National Tripartite Advisory Committee (NTAC) was formally installed. The Committee comprises representatives of the Saint Lucia Trade Union Federation, the National Workers’ Union, the Saint Lucia Employers’ Federation and the Government. It is expected to provide oversight and monitoring for the DWCP and to support regular consultation on national labour priorities.

A Cabinet-approved road map

At the start of the week, the tone was set with the launch of Saint Lucia's first ever DWCP design process – a Cabinet-approved initiative being steered by the Ministry of Labour with a dedicated tripartite team of labour market professionals. A key step was the first meeting of the Tripartite Decent Work Country Programme Team, held on 27 April with technical support from the ILO. The Team brings together representatives of the Ministry of Labour, the Saint Lucia Trade Union Federation, the Saint Lucia Employers’ Federation, the Department of Gender Affairs, the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Sustainable Development.

The DWCP design process builds on Saint Lucia’s request, made in September 2025, for ILO support to develop its first structured framework for cooperation on decent work. The programme will help identify national priorities in the world of work and translate them into a practical road map shaped jointly by government, employers and workers. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour Shelia Imbert will serve as the focal point for the DWCP design and formulation process, with support from the NTAC secretariat.

Capacity built for the road ahead

The ILO mission to Saint Lucia, also included practical capacity-building for workers’ organizations. From 27 to 28 April, Pablo Arellano, ILO Senior Specialist, Social Dialogue and Labour Relations, conducted a collective bargaining workshop for trade unions. The training formed part of wider efforts to strengthen the ability of workers’ organizations to engage effectively in the tripartite structures now in place and lays a practical foundation for the dialogue that the DWCP process demands.

What comes next

With Convention No. 144 ratified, the NTAC installed and the DWCP design process launched, Saint Lucia has taken its commitment to social dialogue to another level. The next phase will focus on finalizing tripartite arrangements, undertaking diagnostics and consultations, and identifying the priorities that will guide the country’s first Decent Work Country Programme.