Migrant workers rights will be protected

The rights of foreign workers will be protected in this island.

 

This was the assurance given by Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo, while outlining that a technical committee has established recently to advise on and monitor migrant worker conditions in this island.

 

Addressing last weekend’s opening of the Barbados Workers’ Union delegates conference, she outlined that with several major hotel construction projects set to soon start on the island, including the Sandals, Sam Lord’s Castle, and the Hyatt Centric, the protection of all workers must be ensured.

 

“And there are others on the way! These will give skilled Barbadians greater opportunities to gain decent work, which will no doubt reduce our unemployment rate; however, we have observed a demand for foreign workers to also be involved in these projects. In an effort to ensure the protection of all workers on this island, especially in the construction of these projects, it was considered prudent that a protocol should be developed to address issues such as wages and contractual payment, accommodation, holidays and days off, occupational safety and health, sanitation, social security and other conditions,” she said. 

 

Byer-Suckoo insisted therefore that it is “imperative that employers, developers and all stakeholders, including the workers themselves, are aware of the legislative and other provisions which obtain in Barbados to govern employment and other relevant areas pertaining to health, sanitary conditions, town planning requirements, immigration and so on”.

 

“These will all be set out in the Protocol. As a signatory to the ILO and other Conventions which address issues relating to foreign labour, we will ensure that decent working conditions are provided for all workers, both local and foreign. It will require greater monitoring, but by using the combined resources of the several relevant agencies it can – and will – be done. We want the jobs but we will not compromise on standards as may have been allowed on other occasions,” she added. (JMB)