The newsletter of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean May - August 2012 Trinidad and Tobago: starting the social dialogue process and learning from Caribbean and Mauritius experiences Trinidad and Tobago has started the process of institutionalizing social dialogue at the national level. The Government and the social partners – employers’ and workers’ organizations – pledged their commitment to national social dialogue at the Workshop on the Social Dialogue Process for Trinidad and Tobago on 26-27 June 2012 at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre. The Workshop was hosted by the and Small and Micro Enterprise Development, with The International Labour technical support of Organization (ILO) is the United the ILO.The Hon. Kamla Persad- Members of the Head Table at the Opening Ceremony of the Workshop Nations agency devoted to on the Social Dialogue Process: the Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, advancing opportunities for Bissessar, Prime Prime of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd. from right) Hon. Errol women and men to obtain decent Minister of Trinidad McLeod, Minister of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise and productive work in conditions and Tobago, Development (3rd. from right); Senator the Hon. Larry Howai, Minister of freedom, equity, security and delivered the feature of Finance and the Economy (right); Mrs. Elizabeth Tinoco, ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean; and Mr. Keston human dignity. address at the Opening Ceremony Nancoo, Chairman, Employers’ Consultative Association. Also Its main aims are to promote rights of the Workshop. speaking at the Opening were Mr. Michael Annisette, President, at work, encourage decent National Trade Union Centre; Mr. Joseph Remy, President, Federation Held under of Independent Trade Unions and Non-Governmental Organisations employment opportunities, enhance the theme, “Towards and Ms. Catherine Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Trinidad and social protection and strengthen People-centred Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce. dialogue in handling work-related Development: issues. Social Dialogue as The ILO works through its tripartite the Key Driver”, the established a National Tripartite Forum for effective social membership in 185 countries - Workshop benefited dialogue on labour and industrial matters. Jamaica’s tripartite governments, employers and from the country representatives also shared their experiences on the use of workers, all of whom jointly shape experiences of effective social dialogue. its policies and programmes. ILO is Aruba, Barbados, Discussions at the Workshop focused on the global body responsible for Jamaica and institutionalizing social dialogue, the responsibilities of the drawing up and overseeing Mauritius in social partners, the roadmap for future actions based on the international labour standards. establishing and lessons learnt from the countries’ experiences, and the The ILO Office for the Caribbean, implementing resources necessary to establish and sustain the social based in Trinidad and Tobago, national social dialogue process. serves 13 ILO member States and dialogue institutional Mrs. Elizabeth Tinoco, ILO Regional Director for Latin 9 non-metropolitan territories of frameworks. The America and the Caribbean, who addessed the opening of the English- and Dutch-speaking perspectives of the Workshop, pledged ILO’s technical support to assist Caribbean. The Office works government, the tripartite partners in the process and to continue to employers and closely with United Nations facilitate south-south cooperation in the context of Small workers were Island Developing States. agencies, including through five UN shared. Country Teams, and regional Moussa Oumarou, Director of the Industrial and

Promoting decent work for all The basis organizations such as CARICOM. Employment Relations Department (DIALOGUE), ILO, of the Barbados Geneva, and Youcef Ghellab, Senior Specialist for Social Member States: Social Partnership Dialogue, also participated in the Workshop. Antigua and Barbuda, The are six Protocols or Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Agreements signed Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint since the 1990s, Lucia, Saint Vincent and the and which cover Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad national economic and Tobago and social issues, Non-metropolitan territories: while Aruba’s Social Anguilla, Aruba, Bermuda, British Dialogue Body was Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, created in 2010 with Curacao, Montserrat, Sint Maarten,Turks and Caicos Islands. nine Protocols signed. Both ILO Caribbean Newslink is produced by the Information Unit countries have had of the ILO Decent Work Team and high-level support Office for the Caribbean. Please from the email all enquiries to: Government and [email protected] social partners. Mauritius Barbados tripartite partners share their national social dialogue experience. INTERNATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS

Partnership of law and labour important for greater social harmony and economic development, says T&T’s Labour Minister

“The partnership of law and labour is no clearer than when assist in the development of Caribbean jurisprudence, and the one speaks of the job environment and the worker,” stated the areas of industrial and labour law remain critical for economic Honourable Errol Mc Leod, Minister of Labour and Small and development and social stability. Micro Enterprise Development, Trinidad and Tobago, when he addressed the opening of the ILO’s Third Caribbean Course on International Labour Standards for Judges, Lawyers and Legal Educators. The Course was held from 9-13 July 2012 at the Hyatt Regency, Trinidad and Tobago. “Where Government and the legal profession perform their roles optimally, greater social harmony and economic development are assured,” said Minister Mc Leod. The five-day Third Caribbean Course was hosted by the ILO’s International Training Centre in collaboration with the International Labour Standards Department, ILO, Geneva, and the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean. The objective of the course was to equip law professionals with the knowledge that will enable them to use international law sources at the national level. International labour standards Hon. Errol McLeod, Minister of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development, Trinidad and Tobago, greets Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, adopted by the ILO are important tools for the development of Director, International Labour Standards Department, ILO, Geneva. national legislation and for strengthening domestic case law Looking on is His Honour Sir Dennis Byron, President, Caribbean Court on labour matters. of Justice (right), Her Honour Deborah Thomas-Felix, President of the In his remarks at the Opening, Sir Dennis Byron, President, Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago, and Dr. Giovanni di Cola, Officer- Caribbean Court of Justice, said that in the midst of the in-Charge, ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean. challenges brought on by the global financial crisis, a greater reliance on the rule of law becomes more important. He indicated that the Caribbean Court of Justice was mandated to Milestone ratifications of seafarers’ labour rights charter

The ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) has now been ratified by 30 countries, fulfilling the last condition for the first global standard that spans continents and oceans to go into effect in a year’s time. The Charter sets out the labour rights of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers. When it comes into effect, the MLC, 2006 will replace 37 existing ILO maritime Conventions and related Recommendations adopted since 1920. Four Caribbean countries are among the 30 countries Participants attending the Third Caribbean Course included judges, that have ratified the MLC, 2006. They are Antigua and legal specialists, law practitioners and legal educators from Anguilla, Barbuda, the Bahamas, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Vincent and the Grenadines. Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Guy Ryder elected as ILO’s 10th Director-General

The International Labour Organization has elected Guy Guy Ryder has some thirty years of experience in the world Ryder as its tenth Director-General. Ryder, who is currently the of work, most of which has been at the international level. Born ILO’s Executive Director for International Labour Standards and in Liverpool in 1956, he was educated at the Universities of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, was elected by Cambridge and Liverpool after which he started his career at secret ballot by the ILO’s Governing Body. He will begin his five- the international department of the Trade Union Congress in year term in October 2012. London. In 1988, Mr. Ryder became Assistant Director and The election was from 1993, Director of the Geneva Office of the International scheduled by the ILO Governing Body Confederation of Free Trade Unions. In 1998, he joined the following the announcement by Juan International Labour Office as Director of the Bureau for Workers’ Somavia, the current Director-General Activities, until 1999 when he became Director of the Office of of the ILO that he was advancing the date of his departure to the end of the ILO Director-General. In February 2002, he left for Brussels September 2012, eighteen months first as General Secretary of the International Confederation of before the end of his third mandate. Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and from November 2006, as Juan Somavia, an attorney by General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation profession, was the first (ITUC). In September 2010, Mr. Ryder came back to the ILO as representative from the Southern Executive Director responsible for International Labour hemisphere to head the Organization Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and it is under his stewardship that overseeing key work in the supervision of the application of ILO the Decent Work Agenda was Conventions and Recommendations. Guy Ryder introduced. 2 www.ilocarib.org.tt INTERNATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS

Jamaica and Guyana observe World Day against Child Labour The International Labour Office, through the ILO Tackling Child Labour Through Education (TACKLE) Projects in Jamaica and Guyana, works in collaboration with the Government and social partners, to contribute to the withdrawal of children engaged in child labour and prevent further entry of children into employment by offering alternative education and training opportunities. The Project also assists in strengthening the capacity of national and local authorities to formulate, implement and enforce policies to tackle child labour. On 12 June 2012, Jamaica and Guyana joined the rest of the world in observing the World Day against Child Labour.

Jamaica reviews Draft Child Labour Policy “As a signatory to the International Labour In Jamaica, a critical review of the Draft Child Organization’s Conventions that seek to Labour Policy was undertaken with key stakeholders eliminate child labour, Jamaica supports at a one-day Symposium held on 12 June 2012 at the view that whatever their circumstance, the Wyndham Hotel, Kingston. The Policy is an wholesome childhood experiences must initiative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security not be burdened with hazardous, with support from the ILO Tackling Child Labour unhealthy engagement in work that denies Through Education (TACKLE) Project, funded by the children the opportunity of an European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific education…Jamaica, through the Ministry Group of States. The Symposium was held under of Labour and Social Security and its the theme of the World Day “Human rights and social various agencies will continue to address justice…let’s end child labour” and was hosted by the issues affecting children through the the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in National Plan of Action on Child Labour. collaboration with the ILO TACKLE Project. We will also be increasing public Thirty participants from key sectors, including education to parents and employers. Our the Ministry of Education, Office of the Children’s education policy stipulates that children Advocate, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and the Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller should remain in school until age 17 and Prime Minister of Jamaica Statistical Institute (STATIN), along with the Jamaica parents, guardians and employers should Employers’ Federation, Jamaica Association of not abuse our children by engaging them Household Workers, and the Jamaica Confederation in work below this age.” of Trade Unions, and NGOs, participated in the review. - Excerpt of the Message issued by Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller, Additional consultations on the Policy are Prime Minister of Jamaica, in observance of World Day against planned nationally in the coming months after which Child Labour, 2012. the draft will be finalized and taken through the parliamentary review process. Guyana’s Õ Government and social partners re-commit to preventing child labour On the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labour Symposium on child labour in Guyana’s Region Nine; two on 12 June, the Government and social partners of Guyana parenting enrichment programmes held in rural communities renewed their commitment to prevent child labour in Guyana. in Guyana; and three peer education programmes targeting A Communiqué issued and signed by the Government and students of primary and secondary schools. The events the social partners at a media briefing in Georgetown, outlined attracted wide media coverage. measures to accelerate actions against child labour. The measures included the integration of child labour elimination in broader policy frameworks and inter-ministerial co- ordination; the enforcement of national legislation; the provision of access to quality education and training; effective monitoring of supply chains; engaging children and their families and improving outreach into economic sectors where child labour may be prevalent. Several activities were held throughout Guyana to mark the World Day against Child Labour. These included a

Dr. The Hon. Jennifer Webster, Minister of Human Services and Social Security receives the signed copy of the Communique from Aslim Singh of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana. Looking on are Dr. the Hon. Nanda Gopaul, Labour Minister (centre) and Charles Ogle, Chief Labour Officer (Ag.), and Laleeta Sivanand of the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry Ltd. Berbice Parenting Workshop

www.ilocarib.org.tt 3 INTERNATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS

ILO Conference adopts new ILO instruments on Social Protection Floor and Youth Employment The annual Conference of the International Labour a new Recommendation on the Social Protection Floor, an Organization concluded its 101st Session in June 2012 with Action Plan for Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and a Call for Action on Youth Employment. The Recommendation on the Construction of National Social Protection Floors calls for the provision of essential health care and benefits, as well as basic income security. Such basic protection throughout the lifecycle reduces poverty, inequality, ill health and the number of premature deaths. The Recommendation is the first autonomous one to be voted on social security in 68 years, and is a breakthrough in global social policy. The Call for Action on Youth Employment includes a detailed portfolio of policy proposals and measures Caribbean Ministers of Labour and other representatives of government meet that have been tried and tested to tackle the growing with Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO, at the International Labour number of young women and men without work. Conference (ILC), in June 2012. Countries and territories participating in the ILC The Conference also adopted the Framework for included Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Curacao, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad action for the effective and universal respect, promotion and Tobago, Sint Maarten and Suriname. and realization of fundamental principles and rights at work, 2012-2016.

Saint Lucia passes Labour Code On 1 August 2012, Saint Lucia enacted the Labour Code 2006 - its new comprehensive package of labour legislation. The Labour Code comprises eight parts, covering subjects such as Terms and Conditions of Continued Employment; Occupational Safety and Health; Equality of Opportunity and Treatment in Employment; Recruitment of Employees for Overseas Employment and Work Permit; Trade Unions and Employers’ Organizations; and Principles and Procedures of Industrial Relations and Industrial Disputes. The ILO provided technical assistance in the early stages of the development of the Labour Code and recently, to ensure that the Labour Code was in line with International Labour Standards and Fundamental Conventions.

EMPLOYMENT

Trinidad and Tobago commits to greening its economy

The Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise skills, educational backgrounds and occupational profiles. Development and the have identified He outlined Government’s initiatives to shift towards a greener the green enterprises sector as one of the important economy including the creation of a National Wind Resource platforms for economic diversification, poverty alleviation and Assessment Programme and investment in the provision of job creation. In an effort to support its plans, a Workshop on “Developing Policies and Programmes to promote green jobs and green enterprises” was held from 7-9 May 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain. The Workshop, hosted by the Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development, with the technical support of the ILO, addressed ways to assess the current and potential number and type of green jobs, including specific sectors with potential for going green, such as waste management, manufacturing, agriculture, health, education and tourism. Hon. Errol McLeod (centre), Minister of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development, Green jobs are decent jobs that Trinidad and Tobago, with (L-R) Dr. Giovanni di Cola, Officer-in-Charge, ILO Office for the reduce consumption of energy and raw Caribbean; Mr. Carl Francis, Permanent Secretary; Kees van de Ree, Coordinator, ILO Green materials, limit greenhouse gas Jobs Programme; and Mrs. Joy Persad-Myers, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Opening emissions, minimize waste and pollution, Ceremony of the Workshop. and protect and restore ecosystems. The Minister of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise retail dispensing of compressed and liquefied natural gas for Development in his opening address, pointed to the fact reducing the use of gasoline fuel. that Trinidad and Tobago was faced with diminishing oil and The Workshop was facilitated by Kees van der Ree, gas reserves and that it was imperative to employ initiatives Coordinator, ILO Green Jobs Programme, ILO, Geneva; Paula Sergio Mucoucah, Coordinator of Decent Work and Green to promote a green and sustainable economy. He Jobs Programmes, ILO Brasilia Office; Alice Vozza, ILO’s emphasized the importance of adequate policies, such as International Training Centre, Turin; and Kelvin Sergeant, retraining of skills or employment services to facilitate the Specialist, Sustainable Enterprise and Job Creation, ILO reallocation of labour, as green jobs span a wide array of DWT and Office for the Caribbean.

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International Year of Cooperatives

Several Caribbean countries have joined in the commemoration of the International Year of Cooperatives 2012 to heighten awareness of credit unions and cooperatives as a special business model and to promote cooperative principles. The theme for the Year is “Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World.” In some countries, National Committees have been established to spearhead activities for the year. Listed here are activities that have taken place with ILO’s support.

Caribbean Confederation of Credit Union facilitated by Kelvin Sergeant, Specialist, Sustainable Enterprise Development and Job Creation, ILO Decent Work Team and The Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU) Office for the Caribbean. hosted the 55th Annual International Convention from 23-26 June 2012 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Trinidad and Tobago This year a special Symposium for non-financial cooperatives was held at which the ILO’s Specialist, Sustainable Enterprise The Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development and Job Creation, Kelvin Sergeant, was invited Development (MOLSMED) hosted a four-day exposition titled to present on the Role of the Producer and Service Cooperatives MOLSMED in Small and Medium Enterprises. The CCCU was established Connex 2012 in 1972 as a successor to the earlier West Indies Conference from 4-7 July of Credit Societies. It serves some 17 territories in the English- 2012 at the and Dutch-speaking Caribbean and 255 affiliated credit unions. Centre of Essentially, the Confederation monitors economic and financial Excellence, trends in the region and the world and assists affiliates to Macoya. The articulate clearly their own individual roles as they enhance event was in and advance the cooperative difference. The CCCU also celebration of the stimulates and generates knowledge exchange through country’s 50th discussions on issues impacting credit unions and other co- anniversary and operatives, so that the goals and vision of the Movement can in be realized. commemoration of International Dominica Year of Cooperatives. Dominica launched its activities in December 2011 and Labour Minister Errol McLeod of Trinidad and Tobago visits the booth of the Cocoa and Coffee Marketing The has already implemented a series of activities including the Cooperative Society Ltd. at the Ministry’s CONNEX objective of launch of a magazine, a public awareness campaign, school Expo. MOLSMED and community outreach programmes and a showcase of Connex 2012 producers’ cooperatives. A Workshop on Small Business was to Development was held on 4 July 2012 for representatives of showcase the private and cooperative sectors. Officials from the cooperatives Cooperative Division of the Ministry of Social Services, and provide a Community Development and Gender Affairs also attended. space for small The Workshop covered areas such as the business plan, the and micro marketing plan, record keeping, legal aspects of business, enterprise and the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda. The Workshop was owners to develop and grow their business. It also created an avenue for mass dissemination Market Movers, a small business run by young of information entrepreneurs, displays at the CONNEX Expo. on the services and programmes offered by MOLSMED and its agencies, as well as other key stakeholders. The event attracted wide media coverage and helped Small Business Development Workshop in Dominica. to promote the work of the Ministry. ILO was on hand to provide information support at its booth. Grenada’s Ministry of Education embarks on entrepreneurship training with UNESCO and ILO support Curriculum and Education Officers of the Ministry of Education, Grenada, as well as teachers and graduates of the T.A. Marryshow Community College were recipients of entrepreneurship training held from 13-15 June 2012 at the Allamanda Beach Resort. The training was part of a wider Curriculum Refocusing Project that supports the Ministry’s vision to infuse subjects into the school curriculum which address the development of a “well-rounded” graduate, and enhance students’ employability skills. UNESCO, in partnership with the Japanese Funds In Trust (JFIT), is providing support to the Ministry on this very important initiative. The training took participants through the steps of conceptualizing a good business idea to the development of a business plan and organizing and operating a successful business. The legal aspects of business, and costing and financial planning, were also covered. The main facilitator of the Workshop was Kelvin Sergeant, ILO Specialist, Sustainable Enterprise Development and Job Creation based at the ILO Office for the Caribbean. This skills training activity is in support of one of the outcomes of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), 2012-2016, for Barbados and the OECS, related to decent work. The ILO’s technical assistance is delivered as part of the Decent Work Programme for Grenada and contributes to achieving the outcomes of the UNDAF in the sub-region.

www.ilocarib.org.tt 5 EMPLOYMENT Saint Lucia and Bermuda address decent work and the inclusion of persons with disabilities One out of every six people in the world—or some one These include the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with billion people—has a disability. Between 785 and 975 million Disabilities 2006; ILO Convention 159 and its accompanying of them are estimated to be of working age, but do not work. Recommendation No.168; ILO Code of Practice for Managing While some are successfully employed and fully integrated Disabilities in the workplace; ILO Recommendation No.195; into society and other international instruments. as a group, To this end, a two-day training Workshop was conducted many often on 4-5 July 2012 in Saint Lucia and on 25-26 June 2012 in faceBermuda by two ILO Officials - Ms. Debra Perry, Senior disproportionate Specialist, Disability Inclusion, Geneva and Dr. Hassan Ndahi, poverty and Senior Specialist, Skills and Employability, ILO Decent Work unemployment. Team and Office for the Caribbean. The objectives of the The Decent Workshops were to review international standards, identify Work Country barriers to decent work, and identify specific actions and steps Programme for moving forward by addressing policies, laws, services, and for Saint strategies for mobilizing stakeholders. L-R: Mr Andrew Quashie, Deputy Labour Commissioner, Lucia, In both Bermuda and Saint Lucia, the outcome of the two- Mr. Barnabas Annius, Permanent Secretary, signed in day capacity-building Workshops was the formation of a task Department of Labour, Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development and Labour, and Mr. Joseph September force to review their country’s national policies on employment Alexander, Executive Director, Saint Lucia Employers’ 2010, lists of persons with disabilities and to develop plans to implement Federation, at the Opening of the Saint Lucia Workshop. thethe policies. development of strategies for the inclusion of persons with disabilities into decent work as one of its priority areas of work, for which ILO is providing technical assistance. The ILO has received a similar request for assistance from the Ministry of Health, Bermuda, through the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged. The inclusion of persons with disabilities into decent work requires strengthening the capacity of policy staff from different government ministries, employers’ and workers’ organizations to familiarize them with relevant United Nations and ILO instruments concerning education and training, employment and inclusive workplace policies for persons with disabilities. Bermuda Workshop

SOCIAL PROTECTION

ILO support for UWI Masters Programme on regionally, and nationally, and the elements of an effective workplace response based on the ILO Recommendation No. OSHE 200 and the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work. The lectures were delivered by Pierre-Francois The University of the West Indies, Mona and St. Augustine Recoing, ILO International Labour Standards and Labour campuses, continue to receive ILO support for the Masters’ Law Specialist, and Madhuri Supersad, ILO HIV/AIDS Programme on Occupational and Environmental Safety and Specialist. Health (OESH). It is now the third year that students of the Programme have benefited from lectures delivered by ILO experts on International Labour Standards, and HIV and AIDS and the Saint Kitts-Nevis Government adopts World of workplace policy on HIV/AIDS and Other Work. The lectures were Chronic Diseases delivered under the The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis has approved a framework of national workplace policy on HIV and AIDS and other chronic thediseases to safeguard the rights of workers despite their Caribbean HIV/AIDS and chronic disease status. Occupational Cabinet, at its meeting held on 14 June 2012, approved Safety, the policy entitled “St. Kitts and Nevis Workplace Policy on Health and HIV and AIDS and Other Chronic Diseases”. The Policy is the Hon. Derrick Kellier, Minister of Labour and Social the product of extensive collaborative work among the tripartite Environment partners and other key stakeholders in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Security, Jamaica, (second from left) and staff of the Programme. Ministry receive a courtesy call from ILO Specialists, led by the Department of Labour. The ILO provided technical Madhuri Supersad and Pierre-Francois Recoing. Lectures support, led by its HIV/AIDS Specialist, Mrs Madhuri were held in Supersad. April at the The Cabinet also approved the establishment of a cross- Mona Campus in Jamaica while lectures for the St. Augustine sectoral committee to be charged with the implementation Campus were held in May. of the Policy. Students learnt of the International Labour Standards The ILO has been providing technical support to the system and the relevant standards on OSH, as well as the Government, and employer’s and worker’s organizations in CARICOM Model Legislation on OSH. The lectures on HIV Saint Kitts and Nevis to support the implementation of their and AIDS focused on the current status of HIV globally, Decent Work Country Programme.

6 www.ilocarib.org.tt SOCIAL PROTECTION

The Social Protection Floor and the Future of the Pension Industry in the Caribbean “The Future of the Pension Industry in the Caribbean” was the theme of a Seminar hosted by the Caribbean Centre for Money and Finance on 4 May 2012. The Seminar sought to discuss global developments in pension schemes; pension reforms in the region; the sustainability of private pensions and social security schemes after retirement; and the governance of funded pension funds. ILO Senior Specialist on Social Protection, Sergio Velasco, based at the ILO Costa Rica Office was among the panelists leading the discussion at the Seminar. His presentation entitled “Towards a possible Social Protection Floor,” focused on the new ILO Recommendation on the Social Protection Floor, which was subsequently adopted at the International Labour Conference in June 2012. In photo: Sergio Velasco, (second from left) with other discussants, Claude Musaib Ali, Consulting Actuary; Douglas Camacho, Chief Operating Officer, Guardian Holdings Ltd and President of the Insurance Association of the Caribbean; and Sylvester Ramquar, Deputy Chairman, National Insurance Board of Trinidad and Tobago, and Home Mortgage Bank.

SOCIAL DIALOGUE Barbados tripartite partners endorse priority areas of an action plan for better business-enabling environment A report and regulatory environment, entrepreneurial culture, and and action plan education, training and lifelong learning. on the enabling The selection of the above areas was based on an environment for assessment conducted jointly by the tripartite partners in sustainable Barbados with the technical support of the International Labour enterprises in Organization (ILO). The assessment of the enabling environment Barbados was for sustainable enterprises in Barbados was completed through presented at a secondary data sources, findings from a national opinion survey tripartite of workers and employers conducted in November 2011, and dissemination inputs gleaned at two technical tripartite workshops held in September 2011 and January 2012. The results of the workshop held assessment are contained in an ILO Employment Report entitled on 2 May 2012 in “The enabling environment for sustainable enterprises in Barbados. The Dr. the Hon. Esther Byer Suckoo, (right) Minister of Barbados.” Government, Labour and Social Security, Barbados, with The assessment focuses on the political, economic, social through the workshop participants. and environmental aspects of doing business, covering 17 pillars Ministry of as highlighted in the Conclusions concerning the promotion of Labour and Social Security, and the social partners have selected sustainable enterprises adopted at the International Labour three priority areas to be addressed in the action plan: the legal Conference in June 2007.

Saint Lucia Employers’ Federation provides training for SMEs

In 2011, the Saint Lucia Employers’ Federation (SLEF) undertook a strategic planning exercise in which it was revealed that a large percentage of their membership was in the small- and medium-size enterprise category. In an effort to provide business development support services to this sector, the SLEF requested ILO assistance to provide training for small business operators in SME development. A training Workshop was organized from 16-20 April 2012 and facilitated by ILO Senior Specialist for Employers’ Activities, Luesette Howell, and ILO-certified trainer of the ILO’s Improve Your Work Environment and Business (I-WEB), Felicity Richards. In addition to the training, SLEF is reviewing policies to promote the growth of SMEs for job creation. Group session at the SME Workshop in Saint Lucia.

Employers’ organizations take steps to enhance their effectiveness and participation in national development Organizational reviews of national employers’ organizations were conducted in the first part of 2012 in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and Jamaica. Following this exercise, the Antigua and Barbuda Employers’ Federation, the Jamaica Employers’ Federation and the Grenada Employers’ Federation will implement the recommendations and adopt a strategic plan. Organizational reviews were completed over the last three years for the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago and resulted in the provision of a more efficient and effective service to the organizations’ members. The ILO provided technical assistance for the conduct of the organizational reviews, in line with requests from employers’ organizations and priorities outlined in Decent Work Country Programmes and in the Caribbean Academy for the Management of Employers’ Organizations (CAMEO). www.ilocarib.org.tt 7 SOCIAL DIALOGUE

New CEC executive appointed

The 52nd Annual General Meeting of the Caribbean Employers’ Confederation (CEC) was held on 3 May 2012, at which a new executive was elected:

President Wayne Chen Jamaica 1st Vice President Ferdinand Welzijn Suriname 2nd Vice President Vern Gill Saint Lucia Director Clement Carty Dominica Director Raymond Eytle Jamaica Director Gwendoline Mc Laren Trinidad and Tobago Director Acres Stowe Antigua and Barbuda ILO’s former Senior Specialist for Employers’Activities, Luesette Executive Secretary Linda Besson Trinidad and Tobago Howell and newly-appointed Senior Specialist, Anne Knowles /Treasurer with executive members of the Caribbean Employers’ Confederation at the 52nd Annual General Meeting.

Staff Movements Appointments

Anne Knowles, a national of New Zealand, joined the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean as the Senior Specialist for Employers’ Activities on 1 August 2012. She is the holder of an Honours Degree in Law from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and is a graduate of the University of Hawaii’s Advanced Management Programme. Ms. Knowles joined the ILO in February 2004 and gained valuable experience of working with employers’ organizations on two continents – as Senior Specialist for Employers’ Activities for East Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe. She has provided support in areas such as labour legislative reviews, occupational safety and health, corporate social responsibility, labour standards’ relevance to market access for exported goods, and social security. Prior to her joining the ILO, Ms. Knowles was the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation. She was one of New Zealand’s employer delegates to the ILO for nine years and was a member of the ILO Governing Body. She was the Employers’ Group spokesperson at three ILO Conferences, covering Maternity Protection at Work (1999 and 2000), and the Integrated Approach to Occupational Health and Safety (2003).

Dr. Yuka Ujita, Technical Officer on Occupational Safety and Health rejoins the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, after a three-year assignment at ILO’s Safework Programme, Geneva. Dr. Ujita, a Japanese national, is a medical doctor by profession and holds a Ph.D. in Preventive Medicine from the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, as well as a Diploma in Occupational Health. She previously worked at the ILO Subregional Office for East Asia, providing policy and technical advice on OSH.

ILO VACANCIES Departures Please visit the ILO webpage at Luesette Howell, Senior Specialist, Employers’ Activities, retired from the ILO at the end of July 2012, after 18 1/2 years of dedicated service. http://erecruit.ilo.org Mrs. Howell spent eleven of those years based at the ILO Decent Work for a list of current ILO vacancies Team (DWT) and Office for the Caribbean, providing valuable support to throughout the world. Qualified employers’ organizations in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. candidates from under- One of her major accomplishments has been the successful launch of the represented ILO Caribbean first Caribbean Academy for the Management of Employers’ Organizations member States are encouraged (CAMEO), in 2007, a capacity-building programme for Caribbean employer to apply: executives. Prior to her tenure at the ILO DWT and Office for the Caribbean, she worked at ILO, Geneva, and in the field. The ILO DWT and Office for Antigua and Barbuda Caribbean extends best wishes to Luesette on her retirement. The Bahamas Barbados Belize Roma Wong Sang, Information Officer, bids farewell at the end of Grenada September to complete postgraduate studies, having been awarded a Guyana scholarship at a Scottish university. She supervised the ILO’s work in Saint Kitts and Nevis information and communications for eleven years, including as editor of Saint Lucia ILO Caribbean Newslink, producing ILO’s videos, servicing clients’ Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. information needs and maintaining media and public relations.

Produced by the Information Unit, ILO Office for the Caribbean, P.O. Box 1201, 6 Stanmore Avenue, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Tel. (868) 623-7704/7178 Fax (868) 627-8978 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ilocarib.org.tt. Editor: Roma Wong Sang. Editorial Support Group: Ingerlyn Caines-Francis, Angela Colley. Photographs courtesy: Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Jamaica, Marcel Crozet, Sharon Patterson, Roger Seepersad, Kit Israel, Hassan Ndahi, Kelvin Sergeant, Luesette Howell, Roma Wong Sang.

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