Labour ministry seeks $20m boost to modernise workforce, labour systems

The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector on Monday asked the House of Assembly for an appropriation of just over $20m for the next financial year to modernise labour systems, strengthen worker protections, and prepare citizens for jobs in emerging industries.

A new national labour code was included in a laundry list of initiatives in the House Estimates of $20 476 014 for the ministry.

Minister of Labour Colin Jordan outlined the progress made over the past seven years, highlighting the introduction of Barbados’ first national minimum wage, which has already been increased twice.

He said: “Legislation to effectively protect the pay of workers, creating new legislation to govern the recruitment of workers and how private employment agencies operate, establishing rules for the Employment Rights Tribunal, amending the (Labour Clauses) Public Contracts Act to better ensure that there is decent work, particularly in projects funded by taxpayers, and creating legislation for the recognition of worker and employer organisations.”

The minister also pointed to efforts aimed at modernising the ministry’s systems and strengthening labour market information.

The ministry also plans the launch of a philanthropy portal, finalisation of the migrant labour protocol, development of a new ministry website, establishment of a modern labour market information system, and completion of the national minimum wage indexing model.

The ministry will also start work on developing a national labour code, implementing the Decent Work Country Programme with the International Labour Organisation, and creating a mechanism to determine a living wage for Barbados. 

Work is also continuing to secure a permanent home for the Employment Rights Tribunal and to develop a new apprenticeship system in collaboration with the Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

Jordan said: “The work to realise the signing, the actual signing of Protocol Seven. We are working to develop third sector legislation, and we are working on setting up regulations in our Social Security organisation to stop discouraging people with disabilities from moving into paid employment.”

Looking ahead, the ministry will also roll out new programmes, including grants for faith-based organisations to support youth initiatives.

“You may recall that in our 2026 manifesto, we spoke to a $5m programme and we are about to start work on that,” Jordan said.

Other priorities include establishing rates of pay and conditions of work across the wider construction industry, beyond taxpayer-funded projects, and expanding work in the care economy.

The minister also revealed that research will begin on the gig economy and platform-based work — areas which are increasingly shaping modern labour markets.