Barbados Minister urges employers not to sacrifice workers

~~Adz:Right~~ BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – MINISTER of State with responsibility for Labour, Sen. Arni Walters has advised employers to not sacrifice their workers as they look for ways to survive the global economic crisis.

According to Caribbean 360, Walters declared that employers should not reduce training opportunities; instead, they should continue to equip their staff to meet the challenges of tough economic times.

“I urge you the employers to avoid this trap. The companies that engage such skilled and trained craftsmen will definitely have the advantage to recover more quickly at the end of a recession.

“The quality of a workforce is usually a strong determinant of how long a company will be affected by a recession,” said the Minister.

He also called on employers to partner with the Barbados Vocational Training Board to create more apprenticeship programmes.

Walters expressed his belief that sustaining a highly skilled workforce would make the difference between the country experiencing the full effects of the economic crisis or being able to manage the situation effectively.