Two worker-related issues, though occurring in far-off places, should cause us to reflect on our labour practices here in Barbados.
In Kenya, the government fired 25 000 nurses on Thursday, a week after they went on strike to protest failure to implement a salary increase and to press for improved services at their hospitals.
More than 4 500 miles away in Singapore, the government announced just a few days ago, after more than a decade of campaigning by activists, that the country’s 206 000 foreign domestic workers must get one off-day a week, starting in January next year.
The change will affect only new contracts that begin at that time and employers have been allowed “time and flexibility” to adjust to the new requirement. There is also the option of giving monetary compensation in lieu of the rest day, with the workers’ permission.
But as international organization Human Rights Watch reports, many of the migrant domestic workers labour long hours seven days a week, turn over several months of pay to settle charges imposed by employment agencies, and face restrictions on leaving the workplace.
So the decision to give migrant maids that important mental and emotional break from work still falls short of international – and, of course, Barbadian – standards.
Such tough labour conditions would undoubtedly be criticized and resisted here in Barbados, where labour laws and conventions virtually guarantee such things as a 40-hour, five-day work week; two weekly off-days; overtime pay; and even a measure of protection for workers who take union-endorsed strike action.
It is true that unemployment in highly developed Singapore – whose economy is viewed as a model by many nations – was estimated at just 2.2 per cent in 2010 – even in the midst of the global recession.
But the situation among the migrant population suggests that although advancement in developing countries like that South-east Asian city-state is propelled by high productivity, it occurs under sometimes questionable labour standards.
That is not to say that all is rosy on our labour front. Among other things, we are aware of not infrequent instances of workers engaging in wildcat strikes and staging sick-outs; of the fact that employers are not legally obliged to recognize trade unions; and of complaints from workers’ bargaining agents of anti-union activities by some employers.
However, for the most part, Barbadian workers enjoy far better employment conditions than those in other developing countries.
That said, one of the main challenges often cited here with workers is moderate productivity. And when our production levels are compared with those recorded in places like Singapore, they are embarrassingly low.
Of course, we are not suggesting that workers be made to work under conditions similar to those in some of those high-production countries. Rather, we feel workers here should strive for a balance, seeking to produce more so their organization can meet its targets, while at the same time enjoying the benefits from humane labour conditions.
Therefore, workers should focus on giving employers a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay, and in doing this and being more productive we would make proud our forefathers who sacrificed much to bring the labour movement to where it has reached.
