In order for Trade Unions to legally operate within the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, by law, they must be registered with the Department of Labour. They are not recognised unless they are registered.
In order to qualify, the trade union must have the following:
- a proposed name
- a registered office
- a constitution, indicating where trade union meetings would be held, the frequency of elections, how the union may be dissolved, how members become members, how persons may be expelled, the union’s purpose of being
- a minimum of 15 members / subscribers, of which there must be a named president, general secretary, treasurer, and not less than 2 trustees
- Write letter addressed to the registrar of trade unions, requesting that the union be registered. This letter must include the names, occupations and addresses of all of the officers of the union, as well as the names and addresses of 15 subscribers.
- Submit a hard copy to the Department of Labour, in person or via mail
Please note that trade unions are not recognized until their constitutions have been reviewed and an affirmative response has been given.
There are no application forms for this service.
There are no supporting documents for this service.
There is a minimum turn-around time of 1 month, as the trade union’s name must first appear in the Gazette for 1 month. There is no deadline for this service.There is a non-refundable application fee of BS$25.00. It must be paid by cash or certified cheque, payable to Treasury Department
The Trade Union Section at the New Providence address listed below, or any of the other locations.
New Providence
Department of Labour
Rosetta Street
P.O. N-1586
Nassau
New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 302-2562 / 2550
Fax.(242) 356-5585
Email: labour@bahamas.gov.bs
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays
Abaco
Percy Archer Square
Don McKay Boulevard
P.O. Box AB-20250
Marsh Harbour, Abaco
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 367-2133
Fax.(242) 367-2959
Email: labour@bahamas.gov.bs
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays
Andros & The Berry Islands
Albert Campbell’s Complex
Queen’s Highway
North Andros
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 329-2181/2
Fax.(242) 329-2220
Vibe(242) 225-1604
Email: labour@bahamas.gov.bs
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays
Bimini
General Post Office
Alice Town
Bimini
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 347-3422, 225-3356
Fax.(242) 347-3423
Email: labour@bahamas.gov.bs
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays
Eleuthera
Bets Plazza
Queen’s Highway
P.O. Box EL-25177
Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 332-2134
Fax.(242) 332-2875
Email: labour@bahamas.gov.bs
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays
Queen’s Highway
Lower Bogue
P.O. Box EL-27854
North Eleuthera
Eleuthera
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 335-1998
Fax.(242) 335-2000
Email: labour@bahamas.gov.bs
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays
Exuma
Tracey Bowe Plaza
EX-29290
Exuma
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 336-2030
Fax.(242) 336-2031
Email: labour@bahamas.gov.bs
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays
Grand Bahama
Churchill Building
Down Town
P.O. Box F-40589
Freeport, Grand Bahama
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 351-6846, 352-7865/6
Fax.(242) 352-9869
Email: labour@bahamas.gov.bs
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays
Rosetta Street
P. O. Box N 1586
Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas
deptlabourgeneral@bahamas.gov.bs
Phone: (242) 302-2550 thru to 302-2562
Fax: (242) 356-5585