ILO calls for recommitment to tripartite dialogue

It requires trust which is earned over time and by demonstrating that you are genuinely interested in making the relationship work. It also requires a real commitment to keeping the lines of communication open in order to resolve whatever problems may arise in the relationship,” says Claudia Coenjaerts, Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean based in Port-of-Spain.

According to a statement from the ILO, in light of the current labour relations landscape in Trinidad and Tobago in particular, ‘it is timely to remember the importance of tripartite dialogue and the need for tripartite processes.’ “Why do we need a tripartite process? When it comes to discussions among governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations, each party brings sometimes seemingly opposing interests to the table.

However, governments, employers and workers need each other to keep the wheels of the economy going but the fact is that they come with very different perspectives.

“Tripartism that works is an excellent method to find that sweet spot where consensus is reached among Governments, employers’ and workers’ organistions but to reach this win-win situation, all the parties must be willing to come to the table and engage in meaningful discussion,” says Coenjaerts.

“In times of economic hardship such consensus is more important than ever.” The establishment of the National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC) in Trinidad and Tobago in March 2016 brought with it the hope of tripartite dialogue and a willingness by all parties to work towards social justice.

Mechanisms such as the NTAC are meant to be a forum in which governments can engage workers’ and employers’ representatives to help translate the DWA into national policies and programmes, the ILO director said.

The proper functioning of such a Council is meant to ensure that the interests of all parties are heard.

Furthermore it is meant to be a forum which is consistently used to ensure that input and perspectives feed into policy decisions, the ILO statement said.