By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 7th October 2022) — General Secretary of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union Precious Mills is currently participating in a regional conference of domestic worker leaders in the Caribbean, being hosted in Kingston, Jamaica.
The five-day session (Friday 7th to Tuesday 11th October 2022) has been organised jointly by the International Domestic Workers’ Federation (IDWF) and Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO) and is being hosted by the Jamaican Household Workers’ Union.
Additionally, the event is being observed under the banner: ‘Caribbean Conference: Investing in Decent Work for Domestic Workers, Ratification and Implementation of C189 and C190’.
Among those who are classified as domestic workers are cleaners and in-home caregivers.
Commenting on her anticipation for the conference, Gen Sec Mills has expressed: “Our Union is indeed grateful for this opportunity in our efforts to represent and see to the welfare and interests of all workers in the Federation. I am definitely looking forward to sharing my experience and knowledge with my Union colleagues in ensuring that we are able to complement our course of planned action for the betterment of this category of workers. Domestic workers must be educated about their rights, and that too will be an area of special focus for in moving forward.”
According to conference notes in summary of relevant laws for domestic workers pertaining to St. Kitts and Nevis (as sourced from http://caribbeanimpact.org), all CARICOM Member States, including St. Kitts and Nevis, have general employment legislation in force which is asserted by Labour Departments to apply fully to domestic workers. It is also stated that the Employment Act of St. Kitts and Nevis lists “domestic workers” in the interpretation or application.
Furthermore, as highlighted, Labour Commissioners in all countries emphasize that, except where expressly excluded, domestic workers are protected by all legislation on employment, wages, leave, safety, social security, free movement and human trafficking.
More coverage on the conference to be provided. Meanwhile, workers in St. Kitts-Nevis are being encouraged to join the membership of the SKNT&LU.
Interested persons can call 465-2229, email via info@sknunion.com or visit the office at Masses House located on Church Street in Basseterre for more information.