Gov’t not observing the ‘structure and form’ of Social Partnership

The umbella body for trade unions in Barbados is accusing Government of breaching the established structures and form of the Social Partnership and urges the administration to take stock.

In a strongly-worded statement issued Thursday, General Secretary of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations (CTUSAB) Dennis De Peiza said his organisation is concerned that since 2019, there has been a deviation from the
structure and form of the social partnership which is chaired by Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

De Peiza said CTUSAB embraces the original concept as promoted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which provides for representation from government, labour and the private sector.

He pointed out that successive protocols provide for the convening of monthly meetings of the sub committee.

The trade union leader noted that representatives of the Government and an equal number for employers and CTUSAB are to meet for the purpose of consulting and exchanging information that relate to the betterment of the industrial relations climate in Barbados.

“This apparently seems to have been discarded by the Government of the day. CTUSAB firmly believes that this attempt to alter the long-established form of the partnership must be challenged since it denies the opportunity for the partners to meet and address industrial relations issues,” De Peiza contended.

He noted that successive protocols also provide for quarterly meetings of the social partnership at which there can be wider discussions on matters that would advance the objectives of the protocols.

“The congress is steadfast in its belief that the process and procedures for the convening of meetings of the full social partnership under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, must be observed,” he said.

He referenced section 12:3 of the Administrative Procedures of Protocol 6, which declares that “after consultation with other social partners, a social partner may invite persons or institutions to participate in a meeting, if that partner deems it desirable to do so in the interest of advancing the objective of this protocol.

“CTUSAB therefore denounces the non-observance of the provisions of Protocol 6 by Government. Further, the frequent calling of meetings of the full Social Partnership at short notice and sometimes without an agenda, is basically a sign of gross disrespect and disregard for the other social partners,” De Peiza argued.

“CTUSAB calls on the Government to observe the agreed understandings of Protocol 6, and desist from acting inappropriately,” the spokesman for the trade union umbrella body stated.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb