Workers triple threat: inflation, climate, job insecurity – labour leaders

Top labour movement leaders on Tuesday sounded the alarm on a growing crisis for Caribbean workers, who are grappling with soaring living costs, climate vulnerabilities and unstable employment conditions.

The urgent call for action came during an International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference here, where union officials demanded immediate policy reforms to safeguard workers’ rights and promote economic sustainability.

During the first day of an ILO conference, A New Social Contract: A Trade Union Perspective for the Caribbean, at Accra Beach Hotel, a call to action was made to urgently address labour issues and advocate for policy reforms that prioritise workers’ rights, social justice, and economic sustainability.

During her remarks, Maria Helena André, director of the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) said the world was experiencing profound economic and social upheavals exacerbated by technological change, demographic shifts, globalisation, and the increasing impact of climate change.

“We have witnessed how these transformations have fundamentally reshaped our economies and societies, impacting the nature of work itself,” she said. “But above all, the recent period of economic instability, rising geopolitical tensions, and conflicts has heightened uncertainty about what the future may hold. Multilateralism is under attack, the geopolitical landscape is increasingly hostile, and the ideals of democracy, which serve as a catalyst for social cohesion, peace, and prosperity, are being challenged.”

She said creating decent jobs and opportunities, particularly for young people, ensuring fair wages, and safeguarding workers’ rights must be at the centre of any new social contract.

“Even for those who manage to find employment, work is increasingly precarious,” she said. “Many workers struggle to provide stability for themselves and their families, lacking decent wages, safe working conditions, employment security, and social protection. A fairer, more equal society is one where workers’ rights are upheld, and every worker has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to their community.”

Going forward, she said a new social contract must be implemented.

“In many countries, the current social contract has been eroded. Governments struggle to keep pace with rapid technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, and more people are falling through the cracks due to increasing labour market fragmentation.”

Ryan Phillips, president of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB), echoed similar sentiments, describing the conference as a defining moment for labour relations in the region. “The world of work is experiencing profound change,” Phillips said.

“Technological advancements, digitalisation, and automation are restructuring the labour market, creating new vulnerabilities. The rise of gig work and non-standard employment has led to the erosion of traditional labour protections.”

Phillips called for stronger policies on living wages, job security, and social protections, stressing that governments must intensify their efforts to combat inequalities.

“There ought to be no lip service paid to addressing the issues of racism, poverty, exploitation, and human rights violations. Ensuring social protection for all workers requires extending coverage to those in the informal and gig economy,” he added.

General secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union Toni Moore, in her speech to the conference, said that in light of the changes taking place in the work environment, there was a greater need to put worker-first policies in place to protect valuable human capital.