Kamla:

UNC Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said yesterday that despite the implementation of OSHA, workers continued to die on the job.

In her Labour Day message, Persad-Bissessar also promised that the Labour Movement “would take its rightful place once again” under the UNC Government.

“The UNC will continue to strive to introduce policies and programmes as well as champion legislation that would advance the cause of workers in Trinidad and Tobago,” she said.

Stating that the UNC would aggressively pursue the implementation of OSHA, Persad-Bissessar said that while the PNM vacillated on OSHA, workers continued to die and to be injured on the job.

She said the labour movement was challenged to be more vigilant in the cause of workers’ right, in the face of Government’s indifference and in the face of the disparity between the rise in inflation and the real wages and benefits earned by workers.

In stark contrast to the PNM Government, she promised that under a UNC Government, the labour movement would be involved in any negotiations with investors.

Persad-Bissessar said the UNC pledged to speedily implement the provisions of OSHA; introduce mechanisms for a more active involvement of the labour movement in matters involving foreign investment and the use of the national patrimony.

She said they will also work towards improving the working conditions especially of women who are increasingly forced to join the workforce and provide incentives to employers for workers who spend at least three weeks per year in continuous learning and development.

Persad-Bissessar cited several achievements of the last UNC administration in the area of labour law. These included, she said, the Minimum Wages Order; the Maternity Act of 1998; the Children Amendment Act 2000; Protection of Wages Act 2000; OSHA Bill of 1998.