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Sen. Bell remarks at National Bipartite Workshop
Aug 28, 2015 - 10:22:31 AM

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Remarks by The Senator, the Hon. Keith Bell Acting Minister of Labour and National Insurance at National Bipartite Workshop Participation of CEC and CCL in Regional Development & Integration Processes at BCPOU Headquarters,Farrington Road on Wednesday, August 26, 2015:

Salutations:

· Mr. John Pinder, President of the National Congress of Trade Union Bahamas and affiliates of the NCTUB

· Mr. Edison Sumner, Chief Executive Officer, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, and it participating members

· Representatives from the Caribbean Congress of Labour and Caribbean Employers Confederations

· Experts from the Caribbean Office of the International Labour Organization,

· Senior Government Officials

· Trade union leaders

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning.

The historic Memorandum between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Caribbean Congress of Labour established for the execution of this project is another fine example of the high regard and commitment that the ILO has for the people of the Caribbean. Members of the CARICOM Community have all benefitted from this commitment. Today, the Caribbean Congress of Labour and its Bahamian affiliate, as well as the Caribbean Employers Confederation and its Bahamian affiliate, are reaping the rewards and, hopefully, will continue to do so well into the future.

An historical review of this program confirms that in 2010, Canadian consultants were contracted to report on the capability of private sector organizations to contribute to policy setting in regional forums pursuant to the European Partnership Agreement’s Social Charter. I am advised that way back then the Caribbean Congress of Labour and Caribbean Employers Confederation put forward their own applications for assistance to CARIFORUM to strengthen their organizational capabilities; however, due to a number of circumstances those initial applications were unsuccessful. In 2012, the European Union announced it would provide funding for a project for the CARIFORUM countries to strengthen their civil society involvement in regional matters. That decision has resulted in us being here in the beautiful Bahamas today.

Ladies and gentlemen, this three-year project which began in February, 2015 with an approved budget of Two million dollars (US$2,000,000.00) is designed with the ILO being the Executing Agency. The expected outcomes include ensuring:

§ that CARICOM social and economic policies are influenced through Caribbean Congress of Labour and Caribbean Employers Confederation and having a recognized status in COHSOD and COTED.

§ that the various Legislative models are in place to enable harmonization.

§ the proper alignment of education outcomes with the needs of the labour market.

§ that Employers’ Organizations and Trade Unions play their role in the implementation, governance, and monitoring of the effects of the European Partnership Agreement’s Social Aspects Charter

I am an advised that 15 Bipartite National Workshops are scheduled to be held between July and September, 2015 to raise awareness and the need for a consolidated regional position and on how to develop such a position. The focus will initially be on four core areas set out in the European Partnership Agreement’s Social Charter.

As a signatory to the European Partnership Agreeement Charter, the Government of The Bahamas fully supports the Caribbean Congress of Labour and the Caribbean Employers Confederation in this massive undertaking. We are also very pleased that the National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas, and the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, who are considered to be the bedrock of the Bahamas National Tripartite Council, are playing a critical role in this regional initiative.

We are particularly pleased that, during the period, special focus will be placed on reducing the skills gap that is evidenced in a number of our CARICOM member states. The Bahamas Government, in conjunction with the National Tripartite Council, is also investing time and resources in reducing the skills gap in an effort to reduce our level of unemployment, with a renewed emphasis on reducing unemployment among the our nation’s youth.

President Pinder and CEO Sumner must be commended for taking the lead role and, once again, demonstrating that it is better and more beneficial to work together to achieve goals and objectives rather than to work in silos. Rest assured that my Government will continue to support such efforts both at a national and a regional levels. We will do all that we can to encourage all Employers and Trade Unions to support the and the Caribbean Congress of Labour and the Caribbean Employers Confederation throughout the duration of the project, which will enable them to be recognized as representative, effective bodies that add value to regional policy development.

Although this is only a one day workshop, I am aware that the project will afford participants the opportunity to travel throughout the region as well as to a number of European countries.

In conclusion, I wish to encourage all Union Leaders and members of the Employers Organization in attendance to openly embrace the session today, and to engage in positive dialogue aimed at working toward one common goal, which is the ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF ALL WORKERS IN THE REGION. I wish you all a very productive session.



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