Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Saint Lucia (Ratification: 1980)

The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report.

Scope of application of the Act. In its previous comments, the Committee, noting that the “protective services” – which comprise the fire services and the prison officers – were excluded from the Registration, Status and Recognition of Trade Unions and Employers’ Organizations Act, 1999, had requested the Government to amend its legislation so as to ensure the right to organize for fire service personnel and prison staff. The Committee takes note of the Government’s reply to the effect that the draft Labour Code still includes these categories of personnel in the protective services but that these workers have the right to organize and that they have formed the St Lucia Fire Service Association and the St Lucia Prisons Association. The Government adds that the fire service took industrial action in 2006. In order to conform to the practice, the Committee requests the Government to amend the legislation so as to expressly grant the fire service personnel and prison staff the right to form and join unions.

Article 2 of the Convention. In its previous comments, the Committee had noted that the minimum founding membership for a trade union and for an employers’ organization had been reduced to 20 and six, respectively. It had requested the Government to keep it informed of new developments in this respect and to submit the draft text of the Labour Code. The Committee takes note of the reply of the Government which indicates that the draft Labour Code has been passed into law but then put on hold by the new Government in view of reopening negotiations in some areas. The Committee hopes that the new legislation will soon be applicable and requests the Government to submit a copy of the legislation with its next report.