The Ministry of Labour and the Public Service is hosting a symposium for stakeholders on proposed changes to labour legislation this week.
Union leaders participating in the symposium spoke with reporters about the state of labour in the country highlighting calls for transparency on the impact of the new deal between the government and the Pike Corporation for the transmission of energy on employees at Bahamas Power and Light.
President of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU), Kyle Wilson said, “the union requires consultation not insultation. We require consultation not confrontation. We want the answers. We want to know what’s going on with out futures. We want to know what’s in this deal. We want to know what’s happening and how it will impact us.”
President of the Bahamas Public Service Union (BPSU), Kimsley Ferguson also stated that there are causes for concern with the government. “I’m wondering if the government is intentionally doing what they’re doing because again if you sit down as the Ministry of the Public Service and Labour as well as the Ministry of Finance and there are some decisions made you know who the stakeholders are and should be in that particular equation. So how you can conveniently disregard the persons that should be a part of the conversation or discussions moving forward in relation to the actual transferring of public servants that are part of those bargaining units,” he said.
Minister of Labour and the Public Service, the Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle revealed that the government is considering raising the minimum wage while delivering remarks on the first day of the symposium on Monday.
While union leaders are in favor of the increase they are calling for a liveable wage which they thinks should be $350 per week. The BPSU President said, “when you look at a salary review you find that a number of things are amended and adjusted and its our job to ensure that the goal post is not moved in the middle of the game and it doesn’t place our people at a disadvantage.”
Minister Glover-Rolle returns to the event on Wednesday.
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