DLP Minimum Wage Promise Goes Up in Smoke

So much for the DLP election promise about introducing minimum wage legislation “immediately” after coming to power.

Will anybody even remember about it two years from now?

Cat Piss

http://www.cbc.bb/content/view/14015/10/

New minister promises labour legislation within two years

Wednesday, 30 January 2008

Enacting the most pressing legislative changes necessary to improve the local labour environment, is a priority of Barbados new labour relations minister, Senator Arnie Walters.

He made this clear when the top brass of the Barbados Workers Union made a courtesy call on him at his Warrens, St. Michael office Wednesday morning.

Employment rights and employment relations legislation, the Trade Union Act and the Shops Act, were among those listed for attention in the short term.

“I would think that within probably two years most of the important pieces of legislation that would impact on employment relations we would have tried to have put to bed.”

Minister Walters says there will be wide consultation on the changes.

While not going into details, he did speak a bit about how the issue of the minimum wage will be tackled.

“The approach likely to be taken is not necessarily one minimum wage but a sectoral approach because of the disparity between the sectors in terms of entry level jobs.’

Earlier in the meeting, BWU General Secretary, Sir Roy Trotman reiterated the union’s concern about the lengthy delays in implementing important legislative changes.

“We have expressed that concern before, and having expressed it, we will be watching, giving support, but at the same time giving critical support to the pace at which you move in order to implement those kinds of labor legislation which are important for us.”

http://www.nationnews.com/story/290978295226553.php

Minister: New laws after talks

Published on: 2/11/08.

by YVETTE BEST

THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME for the Ministry of Labour will not be among achievements in the first 100 days of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government.

Minister responsible, Senator Arni Walters, made the point on Sunday when addressing the half-year meeting of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) at Solidarity House.

He said the legislation would take some time because full consultation with the relevant stakeholders would take place prior to any enactments.

“It is the Government’s intention to obtain broad consensus taking into account the changing international trading environment and the need to preserve employees’ employment rights as enshrined in the Constitution and in compliance with international labour standards,” he said.

The minister also said Government was looking to put in place a number of “contemporary” pieces of employment legislation, entrepreneur structures and resources to assist in providing new employment opportunities and protecting rights.

He added that the Barbadian population needed to “seek to enhance the productive capacity with a view to competing globally”.

Government’s legislative agenda for employment and labour relations is as follows:

1. A full Employment Rights Act.

2. A revised Trade Union And Human Relations Act,

3. A Safety And Health At Work Act,

4. A Sex Discrimination And Harassment Act,

5. Expansion of minimum wage legislation to key sectors,

6. Revision of aspects of the Holiday With Pay Act

7. Revision of aspects of Shop Legislation to bring it in line with contemporary consumer thinking in changing circumstances,

8. To provide for new dispute resolution mechanisms including the revision of the Labour Department Act, the setting of Alternative Dispute Resolution and a system of employment appeal tribunals, and

9. Revised aspects of Public Service legislation.