Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Barbados (Ratification: 1967)

The Committee has noted the provisions of the Prisons Act, Cap. 168 of the Laws of Barbados, the Prison Rules, 1974 and the Shipping Act, 1994-15, copies of which were supplied by the Government.

Article 1(c) of the Convention. The Committee notes that under section 148(1)(b) and (c) of the Shipping Act, 1994-15, a seaman may be imprisoned for one month and three months, respectively, if he is guilty of wilful disobedience to any lawful command and that under section 149(a) and (b), a deserting seaman or a seaman absent without leave may be imprisoned for three and two months, respectively. The Committee notes that under section 64 of the Prison Rules, 1974, prisoners are required to work.

Referring to the explanations provided in paragraphs 117 to 119 of its 1979 General Survey on the abolition of forced or compulsory labour, the Committee hopes that the Government will re-examine section 148(1)(b) and (c) as well as section 149(a) and (b) of the Shipping Act, 1994-15, with a view to ensuring that no penalties involving compulsory labour may be imposed for violations of labour discipline, and that it will soon report on measures taken or contemplated in this regard to bring the shipping legislation into conformity with the Convention.