Senator Ince: Join unions
A Senator is appealing to employees across Barbados to join labour unions.
Parliamentary Secretary, Senator Jepter Ince, appealed to those Barbadians that are not yet members of a union to make their applications as soon as possible.
He made this call while speaking during the Minimum Wage Bill 2017 debate, in the Senate, on Wednesday morning.
“I want to encourage all Barbadians who are in the hearing of my voice, if you are not a member of the union, please join a union whether it is the Barbados Workers Union (BWU) or the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW). It is important because you need a voice,” Senator Ince said.
The Senator reminded that the union was the voice of vulnerable individuals that are unable to represent themselves because regardless of what legislation is implemented to protect employees, there are still some employers that manipulate and abuse the rights of workers.
“So it is critical and important. I heard about 30 per cent [of workers] are members of the unions but that is not a percentage that I am happy with. I think it should higher,” he said.
The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs also said that the establishment of a Minimum Wage Board in Barbados “is a perfect opportunity for us to use the voices of labour and the owners of capital to create the type of environment that we want for Barbados”.
“Our children may not be the ones at the gas station, but they are human beings. Our children may not be the ones at the end of what we term the minimum wage, but they are also human beings.
“I have achieved nothing at the end of the day if I do not use that social obligation to uplift and to help others who are less fortunate, or be the voice of those who cannot represent themselves,” Senator Ince stressed.
“So let us move with haste to have this board in place, put the structures in place, and create that environment for Barbados where we can speak of a society that is socially balanced, environmentally sound, economically viable and characterised by good governance,” he added. (AH)