Director of Labour, Howard Thompson and Department of Labour officials have met with major employers on the island of Grand Bahama to address workplace concerns.

Thompson told ZNS News, “we’re happy to report back that there has been some progress.  We would have received a number of complaints from various employees here in Grand Bahama and we would have aired those concerns with those employers and we’re happy to say that the employers took our issues very, very seriously and they’ve taken steps to resolve them.”

The labour director also addressed complaints of racism and unfair treatment by foreign employers.  “We have had the conversation with one or two of these employers and I must say they got into quick action.  They would have hired one of the leading HR experts in the country, who would’ve come down to Grand Bahama today and would have had a culture sensitivity training program for them, which I think was a brilliant idea.  So essentially the training program is where this HR lead would really climatize the foreign expats working in The Bahamas to the cultures and norms of the Bahamian society.”

According to Thompson this is complaint is the first time this type of complaint has reached his desk.   He said, “I’m happy to say that the Department of Labour was instrumental in nudging those companies to make those steps.  If myself, my department and or Immigration would receive these complaints we would look at it probably and essentially it would be a zero tolerance when it comes to these particular establishments.  Because it would indicate to us that that particular foreign worker just doesn’t deserve to be in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas working.”

Labour officials assure that efforts to ensure fair treatment will continue.