Gov’t stamping out undesirable labour practices by companies with state contracts

The Mia Mottley administration is revisiting a 71-year-old labour law to deal with the undesirable employment practices of companies executing government contracts.
Prime Minister Mottley, in her Budget speech on Tuesday, singled out the construction industry where she said practices were alarming.
“The notion of people underbidding and unfairing workers to secure a contract must be put out to sea, never to return to shore again in this country,” she declared.
Mottley said Chapter 349 of the Labour Clauses Public Contract Act 1952 which was passed by Sir Grantley Herbert Adams “to fight some of the worst excesses of worker exploitation in this country” had been receiving the Government’s attention.
“…. Because the public purse must not be used as an accomplice to worker disenfranchisement in this country,” she insisted.
“The Minister of Labour and others have recently engaged with representatives of employers and workers on inconsistencies in the construction industry where some practices have developed that would cause your hair to stand up, on rates of pay and other terms and conditions of workers that must be adhered to by organisations executing contracts paid for by the taxpayers of this country.”
The Prime Minister said while the Government had started with the construction industry, it was going further.
“The Schedule to the Act allows for the establishment of rates of pay and conditions of work for contractors and any subcontractors. Main contractors are responsible for the adherence to the established rates and conditions of their subcontractors – those who are genuine or those who have been forced to become sub-contractors because they want to avoid their obligations as an employer.
“After consultations, rates and conditions have been established and communicated to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment. These rates are subject to change as negotiations on a new agreement have subsequently been concluded with the industry,” she explained.
The rates include the amounts to be paid to people in various occupations, including truck drivers and equipment operators. Additionally, implied in the provisions will be a role for the labour inspectorate to ensure, among other things, compliance with hours of work, overtime rates, safety and health at work, and social security provisions, the Prime Minister said.
“All ministries, departments and agencies must use these established rates and conditions when considering goods and tenders for government work,” she added.
Mottley said a ministerial statement will be given by the end of the month on this matter.
The Prime Minister also disclosed that she expects to receive, shortly, the Trade Union Recognition Bill that she announced last year.
(EJ)