General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union Toni Moore (left) with Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo during the workshop.
WITH a number of hotels coming on stream and new sources of employment expected to be generated through “green” jobs, Minister of Labour, SenatorDr. Esther Byer-Suckoo says mechanisms are being put in place to ensure that workers’ rights will be protected.
Her comments came yesterday during the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop on Multinational Enterprises (MNE’s), hosted by the International Labour Organisation in collaboration with the Barbados Employers’ Confederation at the Accra Beach Hotel in Rockley yesterday morning.
The Minister, while thanking the ILO for putting labour standards at the forefront of developmental process, said the workshop is timely as Government seeks to enhance opportunities for foreign direct investment and continue to develop Barbados’ tourism and international business sectors.
“While my Ministry welcomes the continued development of our tourism industry, especially in anticipation of the recruitment drive which will take place on these (hotel) sites and the possible recruitment of migrant labour as well, I have taken the necessary steps to establish a technical committee that will be staffed with developing a protocol to address the conditions that are to be adhered to in the employment of persons on these sites, both local and foreign,” she explained.
Noting that there is much to be gained from foreign direct investment, she told participants of the workshop that they must be vigilant to ensure that the emerging business environment is marked by responsible enterprises that help create employment, especially to the youth, directly and indirectly by supporting local agriculture, manufacturing and other goods and services.
“Enterprises which place emphasis on the promotion of decent work, including collective bargaining and the workers’ constitutional right to join the trade union and enterprises that exercise social responsibility giving consideration to and placing focus on issues such as occupational safety and health, industrial relations and greening,” she further stated.
She used the opportunity to encourage stakeholders and new players in the market to familiarise themselves with the relevant statutes including Safety and Health at Work Act, the Employment Rights Act, Town Planning legislation as well as regulations related to health, sanitation and social security.
The Minister said while much of the industrial relations is volunteeristic based on collaboration and mutual respect, this can change.
“We have not enshrined it all in law, but if it comes to that, if that is the only language that foreign investors know, or local investors, that as much as we would prefer our volunteeristic system, we would have to do what we have to do to protect our workers,” she cautioned.
This workshop is being held specifically in response to the ILO’s monitoring of the provisions of the MNE Declaration and to assess its impact on the tourism sector of Barbados.
The MNE declaration is an ILO instruction that provides direct guidance on social policy and inclusive, responsible and sustainable workplace practices. The principles address MNE’s governments, employers and workers organisations and covers areas such as employment, training, conditions of work and life and industrial relations. (JH)