Broomes to head tripartite committee on workers’ rights

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Government has established several committees to collaborate with the Trade Union bodies and other workers’ representative organizations in its quest to ensure that workers’ rights are upheld; they are remunerated fairly and have a conducive working environment.

Reporting on Cabinet’s recent deliberations, Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo told media operatives that Junior Social Protection Minister, Simona Broomes will head the Committee.

Nagamootoo advised that Cabinet at its meeting on October 20, 2015 approved the appointment of the Board of Directors for the National Tripartite Committee.

Members will include Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence, representatives of the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industries (CAGI), the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).“This committee will deal with matters relating to industrial relations, human resource management and labour policies. We have now given this an institutional clout in what is called the National Tripartite Committee,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister has advised that, “we have appointed these entities to work along with the Government and this board…very important features of the struggles of the working people of Guyana for trade union recognition emerged from the Trade Union Recognition Act chapter 98:07 of the laws of Guyana, and it concerns the procedures for certifying trade unions and recognised bodies.”

Cabinet has also appointed members of the Board of Directors for the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board which will be chaired by Justice Claudette La Bennett and will include representatives from CAGI, GTUC and FITUG.

Nagamootoo explained that, “it means that if this body were to function effectively and efficiently, there should be no poaching, no renegade trade unions trying to impose themselves on the workers.”

“Workers under the laws have a right to pick a union of their choice and I believe this is one of the historic high points of the struggles of the working people of Guyana.” [Extracted and modified from GINA]