NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Chairman, The National Tripartite Council, Sharon Martin announced that meetings have reconvened for the Council and it has launched its 2024 – 2027 session during a press conference at the Department of Labour on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

“The National Tripartite Council is the national social dialogue institution of The Bahamas, statutorily mandated with the responsibility of being a forum for labour and industrial relations in The Bahamas,” Chairman Martin said.

“As a body, we continually re-assess our working methods and objectives in promoting the centrality of work and in keeping at the core business of our roles as government, social partners, the promotion of decent work for all workers in our society.”

She explained that the agenda for 2024 – 2027 session is an aggressive one and includes the continued conversation on living wages versus minimum wages, decent work conditions, improved benefits for workers, sustainable employment opportunities, navigating the triple transition and working towards adherence to the International Labour Organization Conventions, Ratifications, Abrogation and Implementation.

Chairman Martin said the work of the National Tripartite Council is of tremendous importance to the socio-economic development of the nation.

She said the Council will recommend to the government an establishment of a National Wage Setting Committee whose main charge will be to review Cabinet’s mandate to the Council for the continued analysis of minimum wage versus livable wage and the dynamics and possibilities surrounding the implementation of either one based on economic forecast, realistic timelines, local business conditions and the global perspective.

Other executive council representatives were present including: Director of Labour, Howard Thompson, Jr.; Workers’ Representative, Frederick Munnings; Government Representative, Quintin LaRoda; and Employers Representative, Nikia Forbes.