Govt upholding workers’ rights

Government is committed to preserving workers’ rights as outlined in the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Decent Work concept. Minister of Labour Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo emphasised this recently while addressing the Kraft Foods launch at the Concorde Experience, Seawell, Christ Church.Underscoring that workers’ rights must be respected, she alluded to four principles – the creation of the fundamental principles and rights at work; the creation of greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment; the enhancement of social protection and the strengthening of tripartism through social dialogue, as the essential pillars to effect this.Byer-Suckoo added: “The Ministry of Labour continues to work with its partners in the employers’ and labour unions to achieve this objective and to ensure that there is a buy-in from all. “So, we are continuing our efforts towards improvements in the labour standards in this country and one such way, is through the Ministry’s legislative programme. These changes are being done with the full support of the partners in the tripartite arrangement.”Protection of rightsShe pointed out that the Government’s efforts at achieving enhanced labour standards that would see: the enactment of an Employment Rights Bill to protect the rights of the employer and the employee; amending the Holidays with Pay Act to clarify the process of calculating employees’ annual holiday; and the addendum to the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council Act to allow for the award of the National Vocational Qualification to persons who have qualified. This would enable Barbadian workers to travel and work freely throughout the region, under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. (BGIS)