At this month’s International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Saint Lucia shared its progress in workers’ rights, social protection, and gender equality, according to a government news release.
The release said Minister for Labour and Social Justice Emma Hippolyte spoke to delegates from governments, employers, and workers across the International Labour Organisation’s member states. She described Saint Lucia’s efforts to create a fairer and more inclusive labour environment.
The Minister focused on the need for gender equality at work and the importance of the care economy. She said care work is vital for national development and pointed out that it has often been overlooked, especially for women.
“Correcting that error is an act of social justice,” Hippolyte stated, as she called for stronger international frameworks to support gender equality and inclusion in the world of work.
The Minister also highlighted other achievements, such as setting a national minimum wage, making nearly 1,900 public sector contract workers permanent, expanding public assistance programmes and moving forward with universal healthcare. She also noted that Saint Lucia has ratified all key ILO conventions.
Hippolyte mentioned that Saint Lucia recently ratified Convention 144 on Tripartite Consultation and set up its first National Tripartite Advisory Committee. She described social dialogue as important for building stability, resilience and sustainable development.
She highlighted measures aimed at removing barriers faced by women and vulnerable groups, including the removal of Value Added Tax on sanitary napkins and support for schools to provide menstrual hygiene products to female students, ensuring uninterrupted access to education.
