Jordan urges balance between job market flexibility, protections for young workers

Minister of Labour Colin Jordan has called on fellow policymakers, trade unions and youth representatives to strike a careful balance between a flexible job market and robust protections for young workers, warning that evolving employment patterns risk leaving many without job security or social safeguards.

At a Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) workshop for young people on Contract Work and the Future of Youth Employment: Rights, Risks and Real Paths Forward, Jordan said the evolving labour landscape has created tensions between the need for flexible work arrangements and the risk of exploitation.  

Representatives from the youth branches of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) and the Barbados Nurses Association attended the forum alongside members of youth organisations including the Caribbean Youth Environment Network and the Barbados Youth Development Council.  

The workshop was held at the NUPW headquarters in Dalkeith Road, St Michael.  

Jordan urged policymakers to recognise that younger workers increasingly favour flexible employment arrangements over the rigid systems that once dominated the labour market. But he cautioned that this shift must not come at the expense of worker protections.  

“We are talking today about youth employment rights… the tension that exists between flexibility and protection, between flexibility and exploitation,” he said, noting that while progress in labour market structures should be embraced, safeguards must remain in place.  

The minister pointed out that the traditional expectation of long-term employment with a single company has largely disappeared. Instead, many young workers now enter the workforce through short-term arrangements, such as six- or twelve-month contracts, rather than open-ended employment.  

This shift, he explained, reflects broader changes in labour markets globally and the growing preference among younger workers for mobility and varied career experiences.  

But fixed-term contracts often create uncertainty for workers attempting to plan their lives, particularly when it comes to major financial decisions, the labour minister said.   

“Younger workers want the flexibility to be able to move around, but younger workers also want to be able to plan their lives,” he said, noting that short-term employment can complicate efforts to secure loans to buy vehicles, land or homes.  

He suggested that financial institutions must become part of discussions on labour policy since traditional lending models often rely on payslips and permanent employment as proof of stability.  

“Discussions like these need to include financial institutions, because one of the big issues with fixed-term contracts is the ability… to obtain credit.” 

Beyond financial challenges, Jordan raised concerns about job security and career progression for young workers operating under temporary arrangements. 

While some workers embrace flexibility or self-employment, others still seek stability and clear pathways for advancement.  

The minister also emphasised the importance of social protection as labour markets evolve, warning that many contract and self-employed workers face challenges maintaining contributions to the National Insurance Scheme.  

“All workers must be afforded the opportunity to have social protection,” he said, stressing that the issue remains a priority for the ministry.  

The government plans to address some of these challenges through the development of a comprehensive labour code as part of Barbados’ Decent Work Country Programme, which will be developed with assistance from the International Labour Organisation, Jordan said.  

The proposed code, he explained, will aim to modernise labour legislation and ensure protections extend not only to traditional employees but also to contract workers and individuals providing services independently.  

He also warned that employment conditions affect more than just workers themselves, pointing out that many young people support dependents and extended family members.  

Jordan encouraged young people and youth organisations to actively engage in policy discussions and consultations shaping labour reforms, stressing that their input remains essential to developing balanced solutions.  

“Do not underestimate the influence that you can have,” he said, urging participants to share their views through unions, youth bodies and other organisations involved in national consultations.  

He added that a well-functioning labour market requires clear and fair relationships between those who supply labour and those who purchase it, ensuring dignity for workers while allowing businesses the flexibility needed to remain competitive.