BE fair!
That’s the call from Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, Colin Jordan, as he weighed in on the recent upsurge in public industrial disputes on the island, which he said is concerning.
In a media statement, Minister Jordan lamented that there is some callousness being demonstrated and suggested that there are some employers seeking to find ways to avoid paying their employees during this difficult period.
Acknowledging the hardship wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Jordan stated, “This is not the time to seek only our own survival. This is not the time to throw others off the bus.
“This is a time to band together. This is a time to ensure that no one falls through the cracks. This is a time to be sensitive to the needs of others. This is the time to be our brother’s and sister’s keepers. This is a time to demonstrate our humanity.”
The Labour Minister further suggested that the dialogue that Barbados has become known for over the years is not being practised as it should.
“It is clear to me that there is a degree of callousness being exhibited by some, and it needs to stop immediately. None of us will survive alone or with only our families and close friends. Whether we realise it or not, we are in this together.
“I am calling on employers not to abandon their workers. I am calling on employers to continue to engage with their workers, even when workers are away from work on layoff. I am calling on employers not to hide behind laws and technicalities, but to be fair and reasonable when dealing with workers. People are unsure about the future. When there is fear, the slightest thing will cause a person to react.”
Saying that the workforce has been faced with psychological and emotional stress as a result of the pandemic, he expressed confidence that there will be a turnaround.
“It will call for facing our challenges with level heads, and kind, unselfish hearts. This is a time to demonstrate maturity. This is a time to act like the adults we say we are.
“There will be life after COVID-19 and Barbados must be in a position to emerge from this pandemic even stronger than we were when it struck. If this is to happen, we must keep talking with each other and we must keep working together to find solutions. We can do it, but only if we do it together.”