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Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee notes that the Government’s report, due in 2008, has not been received. It further notes the comments submitted to the Government by the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados, and transmitted to the Office in June 2008. The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados indicates that the tripartite committee was established and has met and had discussions, albeit too infrequently. It expresses its hope that the tripartite committee will convene more regular meetings in an effort to fulfil the mandate of the Convention and to discuss the pertinent matters which require a policy position and, therefore, should be discussed at the tripartite level. The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations also advises that, since 1993, there is a Tripartite Social Partnership with a subcommittee which meets on a monthly basis. In 2006, the Committee noted the Barbados Employers’ Confederation’s indication that there was a need to harmonize the reports being forwarded to the ILO. The employers’ organization requested that, after a report is compiled by the Ministry, it should be sent to the Barbados Employers’ Confederation and to the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados before being forwarded to the ILO. In its 2006 observation, the Committee indicated that the request by the employers’ organization was in conformity with the procedure provided for in Article 5, paragraph 1(d), of the Convention. The Committee refers to its 2006 observation and requests the Government to provide a report, including its own views, on the points raised by the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados. The Committee hopes that the report will include information on any appropriate arrangements made by the social partners to ensure “effective consultations” on the matters concerning international labour standards covered by the Convention (Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention). Furthermore, the Committee asks the Government to report on the nature of any reports and recommendations produced as a result of the activities of the tripartite committee.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2009.]