The JADA Group has been issued two barrack licences and has begun relocating migrant workers back to their renovated housing facilities in Black Bess, St Peter.
This comes one week after more than 80 workers were ordered to vacate the premises due to untidy living conditions.
The housing situation came to the attention of Government officials 12 days ago during a construction industry meeting attended by the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU). Following the meeting, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Minister of Labour Colin Jordan, BWU representatives and health officials inspected the container-type housing.
The facilities were deemed unfit for habitation, prompting an immediate order for the JADA Group to relocate the workers, sanitise the quarters and secure the required barrack licences from the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
An official at JADA revealed that barrack licences have been issued for one of the facilities at Black Bess and another in St James which houses Colombian and Cuban labourers, while another facility at Black Bess which was occupied by East Indian workers was still being renovated. However, they expect that the licence will be issued this week.
During a visit to the St Peter properties on Friday, a Sunday Sun team observed that renovation work was nearing completion in preparation for the workers’ return. Notable improvements included the replacement of damaged kitchen cupboards, cleaned toilets, new stainless steel stoves and refrigerators, and new faucets installed.
The interiors of the structures were freshly painted, and new bunk beds and mattresses were also being put in place. Additionally, the occupancy capacity in some sleeping areas was reduced from five workers to four.
Some workers on site expressed satisfaction with their employment and the updated living conditions, pointing out that they had no issues working with the company.
Speaking through a representative, a group of Indian workers said they were happy working for JADA and living in Barbados, adding that they regularly clean their quarters on Sundays.
A representative from JADA Group’s human resources department acknowledged management’s oversight regarding the initial state of the housing. The representative stated the company had relied on the workers to maintain the facilities, which resulted in a decline beyond management’s expectations. The company apologised for the insufficient inspections and committed to implementing regular oversight to ensure the quarters remain clean moving forward.
Jordan and JADA Group management are both expected to release official statements on the matter in the coming days.