Barbados reaffirms commitment to fairness, inclusion and decent work

Barbados has reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, inclusion and decent work during the Second World Summit for Social Development held in Doha, Qatar.

Delivering Barbados’ national statement today, Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector, Colin Jordan, said that “progress is not an accident – it is built person by person, through learning, work, participation and belonging”.

Minister Jordan welcomed the Doha Political Declaration, which builds on the 1995 Copenhagen Summit, treating poverty eradication, full employment, and social inclusion as inseparable goals.

He highlighted the strength of Barbados’ Social Partnership, which unites government, trade unions, and employers as co-architects of national policy. This collaboration led to the establishment of a national minimum wage in 2021 and stronger protection for workers across government programmes and procurement.

The minister outlined recent reforms including the Child Protection Act 2024, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2025, and measures to support families, such as paid paternity leave and extended maternity leave. Barbados has also advanced elder rights through the National Policy on Ageing 2023–2028 and new legislation for care and safeguarding.

Minister Jordan warned that these gains are at risk if global instability and conflict continue unchecked, and he urged renewal of the multilateral system.

He also called attention to the climate crisis, describing it as a lived reality for Caribbean nations, and endorsed Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s Bridgetown Initiative for reforming the international financial architecture.

Minister Jordan concluded by reaffirming Barbados’ belief in human dignity and social justice, saying: “We recommit to a human-centred approach to development.”

(BGIS)