On 30 November 2022, The Bahamas deposited the instruments of ratification for two ILO Conventions: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159)  and Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190) . By submitting the instruments of ratification, The Bahamas becomes the 85th country globally to ratify Convention No. 159 and the 23rd to ratify Convention No. 190.

By ratifying these The Bahamas strengthens its action towards more inclusive and safer workplaces as both Conventions deal with issues critical in modern-day workplaces.

In depositing the instruments of ratification, the Honourable Keith Ricardo Bell, Minister of Labour and Immigration stated, “(T)he ratification of ILO C159, along with the other international instruments available to our social partners will promote opportunities for persons with disabilities to gain a living through decent work in the Bahamian labour market.”

With respect to Convention No. 190, Minister Bell added, “(T)he Government of The Bahamas publicly commits to recognizing the right of everyone in the world of work to be free from violence and harassment… (It also recognizes) that violence and harassment are threats to equal opportunities and are unacceptable and incompatible with decent work…(It further) recognizes the importance of a work culture based on mutual respect and dignity of the human being to prevent violence and harassment.”

In welcoming the ratification, Mr. Dennis Zulu, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean said, “I am glad that even during this period of uncertainty with COVID-19 still being around, necessary consultations and processes have taken place, which resulted in these ratifications. Ratifications of Conventions are always good news to the ILO, but these Conventions are particularly relevant as Convention No. 159 deals with persons with disabilities, a group of workers who tend to be marginalized. Convention No. 190 addresses another matter of worldwide concern which is the increased incidence of harassment and violence in the workplace as the Minister had previously noted. The ILO therefore looks forward to working with the employers’ and workers’ organizations and the Government of The Bahamas in implementing these very important instruments.”

Convention No. 159 aims at implanting a national policy on vocational rehabilitation to enable disabled persons to secure, retain and advance in suitable employment. Such policies would also promote their integration into society. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Recommendation, 1983 (No. 168) , which was adopted at the same time, provides practical suggestions for the implementation of the Convention.

Convention No. 190 is the first international instrument to address violence and harassment in the world of work, and was adopted at the International Labour Conference, which is the general assembly of the ILO, in 2019. A coupling instrument, the Violence and Harassment Recommendation, 2019 (No. 206) , was also adopted.

To date, The Bahamas has ratified 37 Conventions (26 of which are in force). For further information, see NORMLEX .

Source: ILO Newsroom, Port of Spain