ILO News — 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 extends until 2026 and was developed between 2020 and 2021 through a series of consultations with tripartite constituents led by the National Tripartite Council (NTC). Due to COVID-19 measures, the development was entirely virtual — another first in DWCP history.
Prime Minister the Honourable Philip Edward Davis said: “In preparation for the development of The Bahamas Second Generation Decent Work Country Programme, the Ministry of Labour in conjunction with the NTC and the ILO Decent Work team will be focusing on consulting with the social partners and other national and regional stakeholders to ensure the widest public consultation. As we execute this historic Memorandum of Understanding today, it signifies my Government’s commitment to social dialogue and our steadfast desire to work with our social partners in national development.”
Mr. Bernard Evans, President of The National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas, said: “Today is indeed a milestone for the workers of The Bahamas and a beacon of hope for the region. Decent work plays a central role in the development of The Bahamas as defined by our own bipartisan and collective Vision 2040, which aligns itself with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
Mr. Dennis Zulu, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, noted: “Over the past 45 years, the ILO has developed a longstanding programme of cooperation with the Bahamian society and the Bahamian social partners. The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected all our plans, but we are here today because there was and remains a continuous belief that the objective of achieving decent work for The Bahamas is indeed an achievable goal.”