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

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Grenada (Ratification: 1979)

Article 1(c) of the Convention. Disciplinary measures applicable to seafarers. Regarding the measures taken to amend the provisions of the Shipping Act, the Government states in its report that the Shipping Act 1994 was amended by Act 14 of 2006 and that there is no provision to use forced or compulsory labour as a means of labour discipline. The Committee notes with regret that penalties of imprisonment (involving compulsory labour according to section 314 of the Prison Rules SRO 14, 1980) may still be imposed under sections 185(b) and (c), and 186(a) and (b), for breaches of discipline such as disobedience to lawful commands, neglect of duty, desertion, and absence without leave. Moreover, section 191 of the Act still provides for the forcible conveyance of deserting seafarers to ships registered in another country, where it appears to the minister that reciprocal arrangements will be made in that country.

The Committee recalls that Article 1(c) of the Convention prohibits the use of any form of forced or compulsory labour, including compulsory prison labour, as a means of labour discipline. As the Committee has repeatedly pointed out, only acts which endanger the ship or the life or health of persons are excluded from the scope of this prohibition. Therefore, the Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to amend the above provisions of the Shipping Act of 1994, either by repealing sanctions involving compulsory labour or by restricting their scope of application to situations in which the ship, life, or health of persons is endangered.