Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Bahamas (Ratification: 1976)

Articles 1 and 6 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Government indicates in its report that the Public Employment Services (PES) unit, through its social media channels, shares information on job fairs, clothing drives, labour on the blocks events, give-back initiatives, skills bank recruitment, employability workshops, and other key activities. The Government refers to two initiatives: (1) the launch of a National Skills Bank, designed to connect Bahamians abroad with job opportunities in Bahamas; and (2) the National Apprenticeship Programme, slated for January 2025, which aims to enhance the skills of jobseekers, making them more competitive in the job market through apprenticeship opportunities. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government for the period 2019–2023. The Committee notes in particular the information for the year 2023, indicating that the PES unit had 2,863 males and 4,056 women registered; 3,311 applicants had visited the PES unit seeking employment; 85,869 times applicants had applied for a position via the Online Skills Bank Job Portal; 21,116 applicants were referred for employment consideration; and that there were 691 permanent and nine temporary placements.

The Committee notes the Government’s indications regarding the Department of Labour’s initiatives to improve employment services, including job fairs organized under the “Labour on the Blocks” programme, the development of an online skills and job-matching portal, and the steps taken to establish a National Apprenticeship Programme. The Committee also notes the existence of continuing challenges related to skills mismatches, the concentration of employment opportunities in the tourism sector, and limited access to services for certain jobseekers. The Committee notes that the Bahamian labour market continues to face persistent skills gaps, particularly among young persons, and that employers frequently report difficulties in recruiting suitably qualified workers. It also notes that labour market information systems remain under development and that the provision of public employment services is affected by resource and capacity constraints as well as by the country’s geographic dispersion. Recalling that effective public employment services are essential for ensuring efficient functioning of the labour market, facilitating the matching of labour supply and demand, and promoting access to decent work opportunities, the Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the following points:

• Institutional framework and resources. Please indicate the current organization, staffing and financing of the Public Employment Service, including any steps taken to strengthen its technical capacity and to modernize its information and communication systems. Kindly specify whether service standards have been adopted and how the quality and timeliness of service delivery are monitored.
• National Apprenticeship Programme. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the adoption and implementation of the Apprenticeship Bill and the establishment and functioning of the National Apprenticeship Board. The Committee requests details on how the apprenticeship programme is coordinated with PES activities, including guidance, placement and follow-up of apprentices, and the main sectors and occupations concerned.
• Labour Market Information System (LMIS). The Committee requests information on the progress achieved in developing and operationalizing the LMIS, including its data sources, coverage and update frequency. The Government is requested to indicate how LMIS outputs are used to inform PES operations, training referrals and policy decisions.
• Access to services across the islands. The Government is requested to describe measures adopted to ensure equitable access to PES services on the Family Islands, including through mobile units, digital tools or local partnerships, and provide statistical information on registrations, placements and counselling sessions by island and by sex.
• Collaboration with employers and training institutions. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on cooperation between the PES and employers’ organizations, enterprises and training institutions, including through job fairs, internship or apprenticeship schemes. Kindly indicate the number of participating employers, vacancies notified, placements achieved, and any mechanisms to obtain feedback from employers.
• Measures to address skills mismatches. The Committee requests information on assessments undertaken to identify skills in demand, and on initiatives to align vocational and technical training programmes with labour market needs, particularly for young jobseekers. The Government is requested to provide data on participants and placement rates in relevant programmes.
• Digitalization and user experience. Please describe the operation and uptake of the online skills and job-matching portal, including the number of jobseekers and employers registered, vacancies posted, and placements achieved. Kindly indicate measures taken to promote digital inclusion and protect users’ personal data.
• Crisis preparedness and resilience. Given the country’s exposure to natural disasters and external shocks, the Government is requested to indicate whether contingency mechanisms exist within the PES to provide rapid response services (such as emergency registration, temporary employment or retraining) during crisis situations, and whether evaluations of such measures have been undertaken.
• Results framework. The Committee requests the Government to provide available statistical information for the past three years, disaggregated by sex, age group and island, on: (i) jobseekers registered; (ii) vacancies notified and filled; (iii) placement-to-registration ratios; (iv) average time to placement; and (v) sustainability of employment after six and twelve months. Please also include data on training referrals, completions and subsequent employment.

The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the functioning of the Public Employment Service, on the results achieved in terms of placements and training referrals, and on the measures taken to strengthen institutional capacity, expand outreach to all islands, and promote inclusive and sustainable employment outcomes.

Articles 4 and 5. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicates that the PES unit collaborates extensively with a range of social partners, including the Bahamas Society for Human Resource Management (BSHRM), Avasant Foundation, the National Training Agency (NTA), Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), the University of The Bahamas (UB), and the LJM Maritime Academy. The Government adds that it actively involves employers in job and career fairs. The Committee recalls that Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention require the establishment of advisory committees with a view to ensuring full cooperation, between both representatives of employers and workers, in the organization and operation of the public employment service and the development of employment service policy. The Committee requests the Government to provide examples of the involvement of the social partners, including both representatives of employers and workers, in the organisation and operation of the public employment service and the development of employment service policy. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted, in collaboration with the social partners, to ensure the effective functioning of a free public employment service.

Articles 7 and 8. Measures for particular categories of applicants for employment. The Government indicates that the PES is actively collaborating with the National Disability Commission to identify individuals with disabilities and their skill sets. Additionally, the PES matches individuals with disabilities to positions suitable for their needs, including those requiring remote work. The Committee notes with interest the enactment of the National Apprenticeship Act, 2024 (.gov). The Government indicates that among its goals, the Act seeks to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in apprenticeships. In its previous comments, the Committee had noted with interest the enactment of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Act, 2014. The Committee notes that the Government does not provide detailed information concerning the arrangements made to adequately meet the needs of young persons in the employment service. Consequently, the Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide information concerning the arrangements made to adequately meet the needs of young persons in the employment service. The Committee request also the Government to continue to provide information on the results of the measures taken by the employment service with regard to persons with disabilities, including information on how the employment service applies or takes into account the goals of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Act, 2014, and the National Apprenticeship Act, 2024.

The Committee draws attention to recent publications prepared by ILO that could be useful in the development and regulation of public employment services, including: Public employment services diagnostic tool and guide (ILO, 2021), and Public employment services and active labour market policies for transitions (ILO, 2023).