‘Make layoffs a last resort’

The Government’s retrenchment exercise is not a cue to the business community to follow suit.

In fact, Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, Colin Jordan is encouraging the private sector to use layoffs as a last resort.

“It has become customary when there are separations in the public sector, it appears as if it is almost followed immediately by separations in the private sector,” he pointed out, while addressing the formal opening of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) 75th Annual General Conference at the Horatio Cooke Complex, Dalkeith Road, St Michael.

"I want to say to every one that the spirit of the social dialogue that we are engaged in; the spirit of the agreement to rebuilding our country and growing our economy, suggest that we are in this together. And that we are going to share in the pain so that in the not too distance future, we can share in the benefits.”

The Labour Minister also reiterated the need for all employers, in all sectors, to treat workers with respect, stressing “treat workers as the human beings that they are”. He said that the Government of Barbados fully supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 8, which states the need to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Jordan said that the Government of Barbados practices what it preaches, giving the assurance that the former employees of Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC) will be receiving their dues.

“I would want to assure you that the government as we speak is working to resolve the matter of those persons from the BIDC, who were separated from employment and we are working to ensure that payments that are due are made in the shortest possible time. The attorneys are working to resolve the matter as we speak because those former workers are human beings and they deserve to be treated as human beings,” he said.