Various representatives of the civil service attended a workshop this week to discuss issues dealing with labour in Anguilla. The workshop started on Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. at the Teacher’s Resource Centre Auditorium. Ensor Gumbs, Principal Assistant Secretary in the Chief Minster’s Office, chaired the opening ceremony in which the members of the head table were Franklyn Richardson (Hotel and Allied Workers Union), Calvin Bartlett (ACOCI), Samuel Goolsaran (Workshop Facilitator), Russel Reid (Labour Commissioner) and Foster Rogers, Permanent Secretary from the CMO.

Mr Foster Rogers addresses the attendees

Every member of the head table gave a speech that detailed different aspects of current issues facing labour in Anguilla. Mr. Rogers spoke eloquently about various topics but, before he began, he extended apologies on behalf of the Chief Minister, the Hon. Osbourne Fleming who was not able to attend as he was not feeling well and was under physician’s care. Mr. Rogers mentioned that labour is at the forefront of Anguilla’s national agenda and also highlighted that in 1999, labour in Anguilla was not an issue at all.

Anguilla has changed from being an island that primarily exported its labour to being an island that now has to import a great deal of labour because of the recent and future development projects. He also mentioned that there are two major issues that will soon be addressed. Firstly, it is imperative that ways to identify persons who are legal workers be devised so that illegal workers cannot get access to jobs that qualified people need. This will be done by instituting a sort of work permit identification card that will be given to migrant workers and expatriates. The second issue is the establishment of a minimum wage for which there is a committee making recomendations so that all people can be guaranteed a living wage.

Mr. Samuel Goolsaran, a specialist in industrial relations and labour administration, will be representing the International Labour Organization (ILO) as well as managing the three day workshop. He explained that Anguilla, as a British Overseas Territory that adheres to labour practices set out by the ILO, needs to be known as a country that is being held accountable for proper labour practices. He is here to ensure this happens and to provide future assistance for planning and implementation of new policies and procedures.

Before the workshop began, the Labour Commissioner, Mr. Russel Reid, gave a very sincere and straight to the point speech about the issues his Department is facing on a daily basis. He referred to the Labour Department as being a bullseye for blame and negative comments. He went on to describe it as a controversial department as people in general tend to bend the truth when reporting labour issues they have. He spoke about many occasions where employers would say that he had agreed to something when in essence a conversation never even took place. Moreover, employees who make complaints return to their employers and again put words in his mouth. Mr. Reid said that this workshop is timely and is an example of his commitment and follow through as he promised in the past that this workshop would take place.

-Jason Allen

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