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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
National Address
by
Hon. D. Shane Gibson, M.P., J.P.,
Minister of Labour and National Insurance
and
Minister of the Public Service
on the occasion
of
Randol Fawkes Labour Day
Friday, 6th June, 2014
My fellow Bahamians, on Friday 6th June, 2014 Bahamians from all walks of life will celebrate another Labour Day in our beloved Bahamas. This year’s festivities mark the second celebration of the Randol Fawkes Labour Day during which we as a people will recognize and pay tribute to the Father of the Labour Movement in the modern Bahamas.
Recently, Executive Officers and affiliates of the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Trade Union Congress came together in a week of activities designed to recognize and celebrate a number of past and present trade union leaders for years of dedicated and unselfish service to the trade union movement and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. These men and women are considered heroes in national development and they are a testament to the work of the NCTUB and CBTUC in our society.
Over the past twelve months, this government has expanded the dialogue with our Social Partners and held regular and consistent meetings with both umbrella organizations as well as meetings with individual trade unions and Employer Organizations. Continuous dialogue with Social Partners is a fundamental principle of the PLP Government and is supported by the International Labour Organization Convention 198.
My fellow Bahamians, I am extremely pleased that the National Tripartite Council Bill, which has been debated during the 2nd reading in the House of Assembly, is now at committee stage and only awaiting final recommendation on amendments from the social partners before it is passed and sent to the Upper Chamber. The delay in the passage of this historic piece of legislation was necessary as all stakeholders agreed to invite the comments of the Director General of the International Labour Organization to ensure that the Bill was consistent with international standards and best practices. These comments are now being analyzed by the social partners and after consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, the 3rd reading and passage, the Bill will become the law of the land.
I am also pleased to announce that the first informal meeting of the National Tripartite Council was held on Thursday 29th May, 2014 and I am told that it was extremely productive and successful resulting in the achievement of another milestone in our national development.
Our government also recently debated and passed the Industrial Relations (Validation of Trade Unions) Amendment Bill, 2014. This critical and significant Bill was necessary to safeguard the wellbeing of thousands of Bahamian workers who would have been adversely affected by the involuntary dissolution of their respective trade unions as it ensured that the trade unions are compliant with the statute laws of The Bahamas.
As workers from far and near prepare to participate in one unified Labour Day parade on Friday, 6th June, 2014, this PLP government remains committed to amending legislation and establishing policies to protect the rights of Bahamians workers, and putting Bahamians first.
On Wednesday 28th May, 2014 the Government tabled, for 1st reading an amendment to the Health & Safety At Work Act. This amendment is designed to work in tandem with the Health & Safety Regulations and when passed, will give the Inspectors from the OSHA Unit within the Labour Department more teeth for monitoring and enforcing regulations thereby ensuring safety in the workplace.
My fellow Bahamians, it is envisioned that the National Tripartite Council will, in the very near future, submit recommendations to the Government to amend the Industrial Relations Act 1970 and the Employment Act 2001. These amendments will propose increases in the statutory redundancy and severance entitlements, clarification on the definition of a lunch break, overtime entitlement, and minimum time limits for employers to enter into good faith negotiations with the recognized bargaining units.
I am also pleased to announce that I have invited our social partners to consider amendments to submit recommendations to the Government for an increase in the national minimum wage before the end of this year. It is my hope that the much needed increase in the minimum wage will contribute to the further economic development of Bahamian workers.
Additionally, as the Minister of Labour and National Insurance, I fully support the establishment of a National Redundancy Fund from which Bahamian workers who are made redundant by dishonest employers or by employers who are unable to make redundancy payments, will be able to access their statutory entitlements without delay.
My fellow Bahamians, the struggle of the trade union movement in The Bahamas has been closely tied to the fight for the advancement of our Bahamian people. In fact, it was the trade union movement that paved the way and was at the forefront of nation building in The Bahamas. From as early as 1942 the working men and women were instrumental in helping to shape the arguments for equality and justice for all Bahamians.
As we celebrate another Labour Day in our great country, we must be mindful that many societies around the world cannot celebrate or enjoy the rights and privileges that Bahamian workers have. So many of our sisters and brothers on the planet, we call home, live and work in fear, and do not enjoy similar rights and freedoms as those enshrined in our constitution.
As the Minister of Labour and a trade unionist at heart, I am very proud to be associated with the Labour Movement and the fight for freedom, equality and justice in our great Bahamaland.
It is with deep regret, therefore, that I would not be able to participate in the annual labour day parade due to the fact that I am scheduled to lead the Tripartite Bahamian Delegation to the 103rd Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland from 31st May to 5th June.
The delegation comprises Government Officials, representatives from the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce & Employers Confederation, the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Trade Union Congress. We will address critical issues impacting the workers of our country and the region.
Finally, on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Right Honourable Perry G. Christie, the entire Government and People of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I extend to each of you a Happy Labour Day. My prayer is that each of you will continue to enjoy the celebrations of another Labour Day in peace and love, and let us all work together to make this nation the greatest country in the world.
God Bless the Trade Union Movement and God Bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com
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