ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, February 28th, 2012 – In keeping with Government’s vision to improve the standard of living in the Virgin Islands the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering and his team of representatives from the Ministry and the Labour Department led the discussion on labour issues at a community meeting held at the Sir Rupert Briercliff Hall in Road Town last night.
The Ministry has been conducting a series of information-gathering public meetings, aimed at discussing the actual impacts of labour issues on the Territory’s main industries and workforce.
The public’s suggestions for alleviating those impacts will be used for strategic planning purposes, where the information can be applied to strengthening the link between education, the labour market and immigration; to ensure that Virgin Islanders take more control of developments in the labour market and to restructure the Labour Department to ensure the department’s ability to address workforce placement.Issues discussed at the meeting included the extent to which wages have not kept pace with inflation and the need for a review of the minimum wage; population growth and the problems surrounding the work permit process; the 60 percent to 40 percent imbalance of expatriates verses Virgin Islanders in the workforce; and the effects that these labour issues are having on the Territory, including an increase in criminal activity and other social ills plaguing the community.
According to the Minister the labour issues currently under review has serious implications for the fabric of our society and the future of our Territory. “The abundance of labour related issues are a vexing problem facing us as a people and though they are cross cutting across the Ministries it is a priority for this Government,” the Minister explained.
Some of the solutions offered by the concerned citizens at the meeting included a training needs assessment that would serve to identify the skill gaps that currently exist within the workforce which can be followed by a prioritisation of training for Virgin Islanders over a period of time; a recruitment drive for indigenous Virgin Islanders who meet job requirements and have needed skills and qualifications to relocate to the Territory from overseas; and a database that would cross reference work permit holders with their immigration status.
The suggestions along with the other views were embraced by the Minister and his team who was also keen on having some of the concerned citizens at the meeting serve on the committees that are being established to look at some of the issues.
The Acting Labour Commissioner Janice Rymer and the Acting Deputy Labour Commissioner Stephanie Williams made a concerted effort to highlight sections of the Labour Code that addressed concerns raised at the meeting and encouraged residents to familiarise themselves with the content of the Code, however the Minister sought to clarify the difference between the ‘Letter of the Law’ vs. the ‘Spirit of the Law’ which he says provides a leeway for individual circumstances to be reviewed accordingly.
The Road Town meeting was the fourth meeting in a series of meetings conducted throughout the Territory providing residents with the opportunity to share and discuss their views and issues concerning any labour matters. The next and final meeting will be held on Anegada within the coming week. The details will be announced at a later date.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
British Virgin Islands News