By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

A NEW report from the US on human rights has highlighted concerns in The Bahamas over weak enforcement of labour laws, child protection and allegations of police brutality - although the country overall has a generally positive record.

According to the latest US Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, released yesterday, the government took steps to identify and punish officials responsible for human rights abuses.

Allegations of police brutality and reports of physical abuse of prisoners by prison guards persisted - while there were concerns over “unduly expedited” repatriation of some Haitian nationals, resulting in the separation of children from their guardians in certain cases. 

The report highlighted ongoing challenges in enforcing labour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, and occupational safety and health (OSH) regulations overseen by the Ministry of Labour.

Workers in construction, agriculture, informal tourism, engineering, and other informal sectors reportedly endured hazardous conditions and could not remove themselves from dangerous situations without risking their jobs.

“The government did not proactively identify unsafe conditions, but instead only responded to OSH complaints,” the report said.

Labour inspectors infrequently carried out random site visits - and penalties for violations were rarely applied. The report also said there were not enough labour inspectors.

Another long-standing concern was children soliciting money. The Ministry of Social Services has repeatedly sounded the alarm on children soliciting money or selling goods, warning it places minors at risk and violates national child protection laws. 

The report noted the government has not published a list of jobs considered “dangerous” for children but said authorities have intervened when children worked in hazardous environments, such as selling peanuts at intersections. 

The report said: “Incidents of child labour occurred in the informal sector. Children worked on family farms and as street vendors. The Ministry of Labour lacked sufficient inspectors to follow up on reports of child labour.”