A series of ILO-led meetings in Barbados with Government officials, social partners and other key stakeholders has resulted in a reaffirmation of partnerships and social dialogue to promote decent work and prioritize social justice. Held between 27 June and 1 July 2023, the discussions provided a platform for representatives of workers’ organizations, employers’s organizations and policymakers to highlight the challenges they face and request targeted technical guidance from the ILO to tackle issues such as social protection, just transition, skills gaps and climate change.
Meetings with the Government included the Honourable Colin E. Jordan, Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector and his team, as well as officials from the Ministry of the Environment and National Beautification, Blue and Green Economy.
The meeting with the Ministry of Labour provided rich insight on labour’s current priorities and the vision of the Declaration of Mission to Barbados. The ILO team and Ministries also emphasized the importance of maximizing social justice through policies, as well as strategies that support the Just Transition towards Environmentally Sustainable Economies and Societies for All.
During the meeting with Ministry of Environment officials showcased progress on key activities of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), an alliance of UN agencies, partners and countries which provides services that enable countries to transition toward green economies. The ILO team also held
talks with the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) and the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) to better understand capacity needs improving representation and prioritization of workers interests. During their meeting with the BWU, they were joined by Sir Roy Trotman, who served on the ILO Governing Body for 20 years.
Discussions between the ILO and the Barbados Employers’ Confederation – LABOUR- (BEC) focused on approaches for increasing productivity to effectively reflect market demands, encourage support for micro, small and medium sized businesses (MSMEs) and strengthen private sector performance. On 30 June, the ILO team paid a courtesy call to Dr.
Gene Leon, President of the Caribbean Development Bank, and his team. Dr. Leon outlined the CDB’s resilience concept and expressed interest deeper engagement with the ILO on areas of mutual thematic priority. “The ILO is proud of its longstanding partnership with the tripartite constituents of Barbados and development partners.
We are pleased with the outcome of these meetings. We have determined priorities, progress and next steps for joint action to find solutions to some of the country’s most pressing challenges that are impacting labour markets and key economic sectors,” said Mr.
Dennis Zulu, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean. JOIN The St. Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union NOW 11
