1. Strengthen Enforcement of Labour Legislation and Regulations, Beyond Labour Inspection
Presented by: Althea Albury Senior Deputy Director of Labour Ministry of Labour & National Insurance Commonwealth of the Bahamas First Meeting of the XIX IACML Working Groups WASHINGTON, D.C June 28-29, 2016

2. The Tip Committee
The Bahamas is considered to be primarily a transit
and destination country for the crime of trafficking in
persons, which affects practically every country of
the world and is estimated to have as its victims
thousands of men, women and children who are
exploited each year.

3. The types of trafficking in persons that have the potential to thrive in The Bahamas are Labour and sexual trafficking. Therefore in an effort to combat this appalling crime, the Government has established an Inter-Ministry Committee on Trafficking in Persons and a National Trafficking in Persons Task Force. These two committees are referred to collectively as the TIP Committee.

4. Other agencies that play an important role on this committee are: ▪ The Police Department, ▪ Social Service Department, ▪ Immigration Department, ▪ Public Hospital Authority and or ▪ Ministry of Health and ▪ NGO’S.

5. The functions of the Department of Labour are integral to the work of the TIP Committee with respect to Labour Trafficking; and in this regard, the Department is represented on the Inter-Ministry Committee by a senior officer; while, two other officers participate as members of the Task Force.

6. The role played by the Department requires it to be adequately represented at the regularly held TIP Committee meetings in order to advise on all Labour related matters that may arise. The officers must ensure that the appropriate and timely responses are provided whenever requested to do so by the Government.

7. Officers of the Department recently attended an Anti-Trafficking Skills Training, held in the Bahamas. This training was made possible through support provided by the United States Department of State and covered a variety of topics such as;

8. The Law and Identification
(2) Indicators of Human Trafficking
(3) Interviewing

9. Our direct involvement with the TIP Committee enables Labour inspectors to sharpen their skills and ensure compliance with the necessary Labour legislation, while cultivating and maintaining a good working relationship with other agencies.

10. While The Department continues to provide appropriate training for Labour Inspectors it was also necessary to review and strengthen Labour legislation. Therefore The Government of the Bahamas, in August 2015 repealed and replaced section 17 (OFFENCES) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

11. Section 17, (Offences) previously read:
Any person who contravenes any provision of this Act is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of five thousand dollars.

12. Section 17, (Offences) presently reads: Cont’d.

13. Cont’d.

14. This amendment strengthens the powers of Inspectors and increases appropriate fines.

15. The End
Thank You