Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee notes with interest the detailed information provided by the Government in its report for the period ending 1 September 1997 and hopes that the Government will continue to provide such comprehensive reports in future.

Article 4 of the Convention. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government that the system of labour administration in Jamaica consists of five governmental/statutory bodies: (i) Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Sport; (ii) Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture; (iii) Human Employment and Resource Training (HEART) Trust; (iv) Planning Institute of Jamaica; and (v) Statistical Institute of Jamaica. The Committee also notes the indication of the report that coordination of the functions and responsibilities of the system of labour administration are carried out through the Planning Institute of Jamaica, the Labour Advisory Committee, the Industrial Disputes Tribunal and the Minimum Wage Advisory Commission as well as information in respect of particular forms of such coordination. The Committee asks the Government to continue to supply information on the practical application of Article 4 of the Convention.

Article 5. The Committee notes the indication of the report that the principles of tripartite consultation and cooperation are adhered to at all levels of the system of labour administration in that there is consultation on the implementation of national and international labour standards, done by way of written and oral communications and meetings. The Committee further notes that the National Planning Council (NPC), established in 1989, meets on a monthly basis and serves as an advisory body to the Government. As indicated in the report, comprising 22 members, the Council brings together the nation's top policy- and decision- makers from the private sector and management, the trade unions, labour, Government and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the formulation of economic policies and programmes, to assess economic performance and to identify measures designed to achieve broad-based development and growth in productivity, employment and the national product. The NPC has the following major functions: (i) to consider important issues as they affect the process of economic development and to advise Government on matters relating to those issues; (ii) to assist Government in identifying key policy objectives and the interlinkages between sectors in the development of the National Five Year Plan; (iii) to help in the review of economic performance either at the macro or micro level and to recommend broad policies or specific programmes designed to ensure that rational objectives are achieved; (iv) to act as a coordinating point where labour, the private sector and Government can meet to work towards the overall improvement in the standard of living of the nation as a whole. The Committee asks the Government to continue to supply information on the activities of the NPC.

Article 7. The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether the system of labour administration also covers workers who are not, in law, employed persons, in respect of their conditions of work and working life. If not, please indicate whether the Government considers that national conditions require to meet the needs of the largest number of workers, the gradual extension of the functions of the labour administration system to include activities to cover them, and the measures taken to this end.