LUNCH BREAK FOR WORKERS

It is with great reluctance that I seek to highlight a very tenuous situation at my work place in the tourism belt. At this workplace the employer has sought to refuse a break for lunch and even worse has also decided not to provide anything to staff for lunch, even on a full eight-hour shift.

I have taken to this medium after much trepidation and great appreciation for the opportunity afforded to me so I can provide for my family. This is even more precious in these tough economic times.

I seek to draw your attention to this section of the Anguilla Labour Code Part Five “Basic Conditions of Employment” Section 48.

“Meals Intervals
48 (1) An employee shall not require or permit an employee –

(a) To work for more than five hours continuously without a meal interval of not less than one hour, or, where subsection (2) has been applied, of not less than the agreed time;
(b) To perform any work during his meal interval.

(2) An employer may agree with his employee to reduce the employee’s meal interval to not lee than thirty minutes.

(3) For the purposes of this section, a period of work interrupted by an interval of less than one hour, or, in the case of a meal interval regulated by an agreement under subsection (2) by an interval of less than the agreed time shall be deemed to be uninterrupted.”

I hereby kindly ask the very otherwise gracious to reconsider this inhumane policy to his hard working and dedicated staff. This is the very staff which has provided the great smiles and first class service to your guests, both at your old and new locations, that moved you into the top class of restaurants on the island.

Dedicated Worker

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