Labour Minister hails progress as bill prioritises workers, sustainability

Tourism workers may soon benefit from improved pay and working conditions as the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) and the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) finalise a landmark collective agreement.

This development, announced by Minister of Labour Colin Jordan, signals a significant step forward for the country’s prime industry, which employs 28 per cent of the total workforce, about 35 000 people.

Jordan made the announcement in the House of Assembly as lawmakers passed the Tourism Development Amendment Bill on Tuesday.

He said: “We have made significant strides, and I expect that in the coming hours or couple of days, we will be able to announce that we have reached an agreement with respect to the collective agreement between the BHTA and the Barbados Workers’ Union. That will see some pay increases for workers. Those details will come once everything is finalised and the ink has dried.”

The agreement is expected to deliver much-needed improvements to pay and working conditions for tourism workers.

With tourism as the backbone of Barbados’ economy, employing thousands of people across diverse skill levels and sectors, the Member of Parliament for St Peter highlighted the importance of the industry: “Tourism is a people industry. It employs significant numbers of our population across a range of skills, technical abilities, and academic achievements.”

Despite the positive developments, Jordan acknowledged that tourism faces broader challenges, including sustainability and infrastructure maintenance. He emphasised the need for environmentally sensitive practices and modernisation to keep Barbados competitive globally.

“The wear and tear on facilities is significant,” the labour minister explained. “We live in a time when any worn facility can go viral for the wrong reasons, damaging our reputation. This is why maintenance and renovations are so important.”

The Tourism Development Amendment Bill aims to address some of these issues by incentivising investments in sustainable tourism practices and infrastructure upgrades.

Jordan elaborated: “This agreement and the amendments to the Tourism Development Act reflect our commitment to the people who power this economy. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive future for Barbados.”