BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Feb.21.2018 – PRESIDENT of the St. Kitts Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Jose Rosa has called on the Government to enforce safety and health legislation in the workplace.
That call comes against the backdrop of a political back and forth on claims of unhealthy working conditions at the Department of Labour’s Church Street location.
The government has since relocated the agency to another building.
Rosa, while addressing the opening of a one-day Social Dialogue Workshop at the St. Kitts Marriot yesterday, said that it is the responsibility of the government to enforce safety standards and also to guarantee safe working conditions within work places.
To this end, he stated that they should enforce safety and health legislation, workplace inspection, training and assistance across the board.
He emphasized though that Health and Safety is everybody’s responsibility in the workplace.
“Also, we need to extend this health and safety practice to our daily life activities,” stated Rosa.
Head of the St. Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union, Joseph O’Flatherty indicated that the kind of dialogue that they had at the workshop, will only result in the benefit of all.
He stated that they believe in the tripartite mechanism (government, private sector and the Labour Union) because it has been the best structure where all essential concerns are addressed at the national level.
O’Flatherty pointed out that from their perspective as a trade union, the tripartite process will ultimately bring about better relations, noting that the important role government plays in the whole Labour process should never be forgotten.
“Since it is through the legislative dynamics that workers in this country and elsewhere enjoy certain rights and protections. It is just as significant that our dialogue is placed in the context of national development because we must be competitive nationally, regionally and internationally.”
