Suriname strengthens the application of labour laws through tripartite efforts

As part of Suriname’s process to review the functioning of is labour laws on minimum wage, dismissal, child labour and equality, the country has recently established tripartite commissions. Each is dedicated to one of the laws being evaluated, and members have been consulting ILO instruments related to the matters covered by their commission.



To support the review process, ILO Caribbean Office is collaborating with the tripartite commissions through interventions that provide its technical expertise as well as international and comparative insights and information.



One such intervention was a workshop hosted on 30 November 2023 in Paramaribo for all commissions as an opportunity to broaden their knowledge on the ILO International Labour Standards (ILS) that are relevant to the issues they are addressing. The session also contributed to the successful delivery of Suriname's third Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), which is being implemented between 2023 and 2026 and is designed to lead to positive changes in the national labour landscape.



“The workshop covered a wide range of issues such as the elements and methods to set minimum wages; how to administer a dismissal process and minimize its impact; what are the worst forms of child labour and how they are addressed in the Caribbean; what is discrimination; and how to address violence and harassment at workplace,” explained ILO Caribbean Specialist for Labour Law and International Labour Standards (ILS), Shingo Miyake who facilitated the comprehensive session.



"The seminar on ILO standards was very timely as three committees set up by Minister Steven Mac Andrew are busy completing their assignments. The seminar has provided new insights into minimum wage, child labour and dismissal which will be included in the three final reports to be presented to the Minister in mid-February 2024," said Glenn Piroe, Chair of the Commissions on Dismissal Act Review, Minimum Wage Act Review and List of Light and Hazardous Work.



The following day, on 1 December 2023, each commission met with the ILO to go through a list of issues of their concerns and discuss technical matters. The ILO experts who attended the meetings included Shingo Miyake as well as colleagues from ILO headquarters who joined virtually from Geneva.



Each ILO team member took turns in accordance with the subjects covered by each commission and shared their insights. The commission members made comments and asked questions. The results of the exchanges were used in the recommendations to be prepared by each commission and submitted to the Minister of Labour.