Labour Ministry promises improved service in Tobago

TOBAGONIANS can look forward to a very strong presence of the Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development on the island. That was the word from Labour Minister Anthony Roberts during a visit to the ministry’s Tobago offices at the Scarborough (NIB) Mall on Wednesday. During an  interview with Newsday, Roberts said the Ministry is currently working on legislation to “deal with the basic conditions of employment” in Trinidad and Tobago. He noted that this will take care of some of the vexing issues affecting workers in Tobago, particularly in the the tourism sector.

There have been numerous complaints from hotel workers in the island about their conditions of work, including “victimisation” and very poor industrial relations practices. Roberts confirmed that these issues were raised during a meeting with Tourism Secretary Neil Wilson and other Tobago House of Assembly (THA) officials. He described the session, which took place during a courtesy call on THA Chief Secretary Orville London, as a “very good meeting.”

Roberts said the ministry was trying to “beef up” the services offered in Tobago to provide personnel in consultation with the THA “so we can deal with the industrial relations issues here.” He said the National Employment Service was to be launched in Tobago shortly. The minister, accompanied by his advisor Hart Edwards and senior ministry officials, was on a visit to Tobago as part of a series of of visits to the offices, agencies and clients of the ministry.