EXCO REPORT – TUESDAY 24 JANUARY 2017

On today’s ExCo Open Agenda, Council considered the Undertakings and Resolutions made at Formal Meetings of Legislative Council held on 9, 12, and 13 December 2016.  It was agreed that ExCo would be presented with an update on progress made against each of the Undertakings and Resolutions, at a future meeting.

Council then considered the Labour Regulating Authority (Amendment) Regulations 2017, which amend the application form to make a complaint to the Labour Regulatory Authority.  The main amendment is introducing unequal remuneration of women as grounds for complaint.  This change to the form implements the provisions of the Employment Rights Ordinance 2010.   Council approved the Regulations as drafted.

Council then considered the Sexual Offences 2003 (Application)(Amendment) Order 2017.  The Order introduces a mechanism for review of the reporting requirements for sex offenders which used to be for an indefinite period in every case.  The new mechanism strikes a balance between the right of former offenders and the safety of the community and under this mechanism there is recourse to the courts for review. Council approved the Order.

The General Amendment (Gender Equality) Bill 2017 related to the extension of the [UN] Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to St Helena, with the intention of making the laws of St Helena compliant with the Convention. In essence, this means that the language used in the laws of St Helena should be gender neutral.  Council approved the Bill, with some amendments for consultation.

The Employment Rights (Amendment) Bill 2017, as previously reported, has two objectives:

  • to remove the restrictions on opening hours for retailers and businesses imposed by the Sunday (Observance) Ordinance – effectively allowing shops, stores and businesses to regulate their own opening hours on a Sunday, while protecting employees who choose not to work on a Sunday or Public Holiday
  • to amend the Liquor Ordinance to allow the sale of alcohol on Good Friday and Christmas Day

This Bill was approved for consultation.

The meeting closed at 12.30pm.

ExCo

24 January 2017

 

 

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