General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Toni Moore.
WITH Wednesday’s start to a two-week lockdown looming, a trade union head is advising employees on their rights regarding annual holiday.
General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Toni Moore, stressed that only by agreeing with their employers, workers are expected to proceed on annual holiday where less than 14 days notice has been given.
In a release to the media, she stressed while they cannot be forced to take vacation without 14 days’ notice, employees may be convinced, in talks with their employer, to use the lockdown as vacation.
She also expressed the view that going forward, the approach to sick leave must change.
“Extraordinary paid sickness benefit entitlements must be extended to ensure workplace safety. As previously stated, employees who are required to quarantine should not have to contemplate being paid or being forced to surrender entitlements under existing sickness and holiday provisions. These gaps in protection may in some instances threaten public health, as workers may be compelled to continue earning even though they may be experiencing known symptoms of the disease, thereby presenting possible threat to
others in the workplace,” she stated.
Speaking particularly on instances where employees may be called upon to quarantine, she once again called for the Ministry of Health and Wellness and medical practitioners to provide documentation recommending such. In addition, Moore insisted employees receive negative test confirmation to be handed to their employers before being allowed to
return from quarantine or isolation.
The General Secretary said the union categorically rejected results being sent to employers first because they facilitated the testing for their employees, as well as the move by some bosses to call workers back into the workplace before they had received test results.
“In recent weeks, we have had to address instances where employers were notifying workers that it is safe for them to return to work from quarantine, although no proof of negative tests results has been received by the employee. Employers must not seek to undermine the objective of prioritising safety at work above all else,” she chided.