This is according to the individual presently at the helm of the mentioned department, Acting Labour Commissioner Mr. Spencer Amory. He said that quite often when investors are doing research into prospective territories for investment, they inquire about the quality of the workforce.
The Acting Labour Commissioner said that countries favoured by investors most often have productive and well trained workforces. He noted that it was the duty of his department to ensure that workers and employees are properly educated on the labour laws and the international conventions to ensure that the industrial relations climate in the Federation is as wholesome as possible.
Mr. Amory continued by noting that to this end, one of his department’s 2008 initiatives is to increase it’s public education programme. He explained that, as in the past, information pertaining to the various laws will be published in the local newspapers. There will also be the publication of a Guide or Handbook containing segments of the various labour laws, written in simple terms, to which employers and employees can refer.
Topics covered will include pay, health and safety and maternity issues. The medium of radio would also be utilized in the form of a radio programme, short clips of employer-employee advice or the creation of an audio learning chat room environment.
The Acting Labour Commissioner further noted that a major continuous activity of the Labour Department is the handling of work related complaints. He said that in any one day several complaints are filed and have to be investigated. For instance, if an employee feels that he is working in an unsafe environment and reports to the Labour Department, a report is filed.
A Labour Officer then contacts the employer, goes out to the location of the incident and investigates the working conditions, which includes discussions with the employer. Once the necessary information is gathered and an analysis made, the relevant advice is then given to the parties involved.
Another function of the Labour Department is promoting relations between the tripartite committee. Acting Labour Commissioner Amory said that this is in compliance with the International Labour Organisation’s Tripartite Committee Convention, of which St. Kitts and Nevis is a signatory. He said that members of this committee would include representatives of the Camber of Industry and Commerce, the various workers unions including the St. Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union and the St. Kitts Teachers Union as well as the Labour Department which serves as government’s representative.
Mr. Amory said that the three groups of stakeholders meet regularly in order to discuss and share views on issues that they have in common as well as to generate ideas and suggestions for processes to move forward, particularly in terms of the legislative agenda. He said that these discussions are very relevant in fostering good industrial relations.
The Acting Labour Commissioner further revealed that the employment agency run by the Labour Department is functioning well in assisting with the placement of quite a few job seekers. He said that businesses submit their vacancies and the Labour Department places those on their computerized job search programme. Fliers of the vacancies are also posted at strategic locations including the Ferry Terminal. Interested persons can then go into the department for an interview before being sent with a reference form to the business with the vacancy. The employer may then conduct his own interview before deciding whether or not the person is suitable for the position.
The Labour Department is also the local contact for the Canadian-Caribbean Seasonal Workers Programme. Mr. Amory said that last year 19 persons went to Canada to work in the agricultural sector. He said that the programme is important in terms of the exchange of skills since nationals can use the techniques learnt, upon their return to the Federation.
