Minister of Labour and Social Security, Senator Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo (left), and BWU’s General Secretary, Toni Moore, at the head table.
NEW LABOUR LAWS IN THE WORKS
Sun, 08/28/2016 - 12:00am
NEW labour legislation will soon be on the way to the House of Assembly.
Minister with responsibility for this portfolio, Senator Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo, revealed to those gathered for the 75th Barbados Workers’ Union Annual Delegates Conference that the new Holidays with Pay Bill and the Minimum Wage Bill will be debated in Parliament shortly.
“The Minimum Wage Bill will make way for the establishment of a Minimum Wage Board, which will advise on a minimum wage nationally or for specific groups. They will consider the cost of living and other important factors. The last increase in the minimum wage for shop assistants was in 2011,” she said.
In addition, she outlined expectations that the Attorney General’s certificates on the Employment Sexual Harassment will soon be in the hands of her ministry, along with the Anti-discrimination in the Workplace legislation, which was the final step before it headed to Parliament.
“Our attention will now be turned to the Trade Union Act and amendments thereto,” Byer-Suckoo said before extending her thanks to BWU for their partnership, insisting that much of the work done on labour legislation, policy, employment and training would not have been possible without its support.
“I must take this opportunity to express my thanks to the BWU for its advice in the execution of these projects and in the continual review of our labour legislation. We know that the legislative process is lengthy, and we value the consultative efforts of our social partners,” the Senator said.
Delivering the closing remarks of the opening ceremony, BWU General Secretary Toni Moore expressed satisfaction that the new labour legislation is on its way. Nevertheless, she noted that the Trade Union Act should be addressed post-haste, noting that all of the labour legislation efforts would be in vain if this was not brought up to date.
“It is kind of regrettable in some way that the Trade Union Act will be looked at after all these other things because that is fundamental to all other rights of workers. But we believe that although the process of legislation is recognised as one that takes some time, it does not always have to be that way where there is genuine commitment to advance the process,” she underlined. (JMB)