ILO Newsroom — 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’ organisations, workers’ organisations, 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 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. The Programme addresses three national priority areas: jobs and skills, social dialogue and governance.
Bahamian 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.”
ILO Director Dennis Zulu noted: “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 that the objective of achieving decent work for The Bahamas is indeed an achievable goal.” The DWCP is being implemented against the backdrop of the long-term effects of Hurricane Dorian, which caused widespread socio-economic devastation to The Bahamas in 2019.