#BTColumn – Protecting workers’ rights

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today Inc.

by Dennis De Peiza

The COVID-19 pandemic has invariably changed the world. It would appear that the significance and magnitude of the change, has seemingly caught most civil society leaders off guard and almost reduced to silence.

In fairness to our civil society and political leaders, none of them may have foreseen the coming of the pandemic. It is historical knowledge that since the early 1900’s, nothing in its likeness had caused a total disruption of the world.

With the trend towards a number of emerging social and health related issues, there is a growing need for greater advocacy and representation on these matters.

This requires that civil society organisations are in the vanguard of representing the interests of the society, advocating for policy changes, pushing for implementation of decisions, influencing the
decision-making process, challenging decisions and holding policy-makers accountable.

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown up moral, ethical, right and wrong issues. There has been the vexing issue of the protection of workers’ rights, particularly that of the individual reserving the right not be tested or immunised for the coronavirus.

With this has come the allegations of attempts being made by employers to force employees to be tested and/or to be immunised. There are also accusations of actions on the part of the state that some would argue, tend to border on trampling on the rights of citizens and workers.

As a consequence of this, there is the likely expectation that non-governmental organisations (NGOs), especially trade unions and the church, would have been very vocal on these issues. This is not to say that these organisations would be undertaking an adversarial role but instead, would be expected to take the lead in offering guidance, education and sensitisation.

Trade unions and the universal church are seen as two watchdog institutions. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are expected to monitor government’s compliance with constitutional, human and workers’ rights. There can be no challenge made to the role they are called upon to play, as it is well documented that civil society organisations have played a significant part in bringing about positive social change across the global landscape.

Trade unions and the church have long established themselves as prominent civil society organisations that play a decisive role in the monitoring of policy making, the implementation of policies, political processes and global governance.

These institutions are important to ensuring that there is legitimacy in actions taken and that the democratic principles and processes are observed. The role of civil society is to all intents and purposes, extremely important in ensuring that there is not a unilateral approach to governance.

Civil society organisations are required to continually challenge the system so as to ensure that the decision-making process is concluded on the basis of consultation. This is an aspect of governance in a democratic society which cannot be surrendered to an elected Government.

To do otherwise would be to defeat the purpose of having a system of checks and balances which, is the foundation of a functional democracy.

The challenges thrown up by COVID-19, have drawn awareness to many more that are likely to emerge with oncoming global changes such as climate change. This is accompanied by the continued looming threats of environmental and health hazards.

Within recent history, the world has had to pay attention to global warming, the Bird flu, also called avian influenza, the SARS virus, the onset of the growing impact of non-communicable diseases, which have all add to constant fears of man’s survival, workplace health, safety and productivity.

There must be an understanding that civil society organizations have to play a pivotal role in promoting the decent work agenda. It is critical that trade unions and the church engage in advocacy and in offering alternative policies to government.

Trade unions must, however, take the lead in promoting workers’ rights and enhancing the social protection floor. The work of trade unions and that of supporting civil society organisations must always be guided by the equality of treatment and the rule of law.

In an effort towards ensuring that our citizenry and workforce are not the victims of actions or policy dictates of governments or health authorities, however well intended, there is the need for increase vigilance to ensure that there is no violation of the constitutional, human and workers’ rights.

This means that there is an increasing responsibility entrusted upon civil society organisations, which is led by trade unions and the church, to ensure that good management practices are followed in the decision-making and implementation process, with these being underpinned by legitimacy, transparency and accountability.

Dennis De Peiza is a Labour & Employee Relations Consultantat Regional Management Services Inc. website: www.regionalmanagement services.com