Promoting decent work for all

Transcription

1 The newsletter of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean January - March 2013 ILO Director-General's statement on the occasion of International Women s Day 2013 A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women. Stop violence against women at work Workplace violence assumes many forms and women are often particularly vulnerable, especially in the informal economy. Such violence is wrong and is a violation of the most basic human rights. Workplace violence, including sexual harassment, also represent a significant barrier to women s access and equitable treatment and opportunities in the labour market. Promoting decent work for all The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations agency devoted to advancing opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue in handling work-related issues. The ILO works through its tripartite membership in 185 countries - governments, employers and workers, all of whom jointly shape its policies and programmes. ILO is the global body responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards. The ILO Office for the Caribbean, based in Trinidad and Tobago, serves 13 ILO member States and 9 non-metropolitan territories of the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. The Office works closely with United Nations agencies, including through five UN Country Teams, and regional organizations such as CARICOM. Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago Non-metropolitan territories: Anguilla, Aruba, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Montserrat, Sint Maarten,Turks and Caicos Islands. ILO Caribbean Newslink is produced by the Information Unit of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean. Please all enquiries to: ilocarib@ilocarib.org.tt The ILO s decent work mandate compels it to act against violence at work and to foster workplace environments founded on gender equality and respect. Gender-based violence is clearly at odds with the meaning of decent work: full and productive employment for women and men in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Available data point to the extent of the problem at work. For example, between 40 and 50 per cent of women in European Union countries experience unwanted sexual advances, physical contact or other forms of sexual harassment at their workplace. In Asia and the Pacific, studies indicate that 30 to 40 per cent of women workers report some form of verbal, physical or sexual harassment. Violence against women comes ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder with a high cost to individuals, families, societies and economies. A study in Australia showed an estimated economic cost of some AUS$13.6 billion in while another study published in 2008 estimated that in England and Wales the cost of domestic violence alone was 20 billion per year, of which lost economic output amounted to 2.3 billion. The world of work is an excellent context for both prevention and remedial measures. The ILO has had a long engagement in practical action against gender-based violence in work places, both at policy and programme levels. It has developed tools and guides with a strong sectoral approach targeting areas where the labour force is highly feminized, such as the health and services sectors. Moreover, action in support of women s empowerment, whether through business development, management skills, and provision of savings and credit services, as well as through their organization, also renders them less vulnerable to violence. Tripartite delegates at the ILO s 2009 International Labour Conference instructed member States to develop policies, programmes, legislation and other measures aimed at combating gender-based violence. Several international labour standards including the 2011 Convention on Domestic Workers which covers these highlyvulnerable and predominantly female workers require ratifying States, along with trade unions and employers organizations, to take action against any form of violence, abuse and harassment at work. Of the various ways in which sex discrimination manifests itself across the globe, gender based violence is exceptionally dehumanizing, pervasive and oppressive. It can and must be prevented. Wherever invidious discriminatory behaviour such as sexual harassment and bullying at work is tolerated, trivialized or brushed out of sight, it is time to take a stand, join forces and act with determination. A decent world with social justice upholds equality between women and men, boys and girls and assures all women and girls that gender-based violence will not be tolerated wherever it occurs from homes to schools and workplaces. On this International Women s Day the ILO recommits to doing its part to make this a reality.

2 LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION Deployment of Labour Market Information System continues in the Caribbean Introduction: The need for Labour Market Information Systems Since 2009, the Global Financial and Economic crisis, the protracted nature of its aftermath, and the typical positioning of the regions economies, resulted in sluggish economic and employment growth in most countries of the region. This and the increased levels of unemployment explain why employment issues are now a high major policy and political issue. Expanding job opportunities has taken centre stage in the policy debate in many Caribbean countries. The related policy issues such as the effectiveness of education and training systems, employment services, wage policies and the social protection system, also surface in this debate. In formulating their response to the sustained impact of the Global Financial and Economic Crisis on their labour markets, many Caribbean Governments are moving to an evidence-based approach in the design of their employment policies. This is necessary because of their limited ability to fund employment programmes and the immediate impact labour market policies have on the living standards of the population. The corner stone of evidencebased approaches is a reliable information system. All stakeholders want to know what employment challenges are, and who in the labour market is affected, and where and how they are affected. Such information will allow them to analyze the situation, and design and monitor policies. Therefore, the demand for Labour Market Information Systems (LMIS) to support employment and labour market polices has steadily grown. The ILO s technical cooperation on LMIS In implementing the Memoradum of Understanding between the ILO and the OECS, the LMIS piloted by the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean (ILO-DWT) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was integrated in a joint work plan on Labour Market Information (LMI). The ILO-DWT formally established the CLMIS Project in August The aim was to implement a revision of selected labour administration functions, establish the organizational and human resource capabilities to computerize these functions using an integrated system of labour administrative records, and produce a set of key labour and employment statistics from these records. The CLMIS Labour Administration Application that standardizes the DoL s major reporting procedures and introduces a supporting software package. Current modules include procedures to handle and report on complaints handling, dispute resolution, labour inspections, and various other employment and occupational safety and health (OSH) related operations. The core of the system is a centralized National Labour Administration Database (NLAD) that assists labour administration officers and managers to process, report on, or monitor all ongoing labour administration procedures in real-time. Users can generate and print automated letters, statements, the status of cases, statistical and workflow tables. A web-based dissemination system for Labour Market Information (LMI) is the second major component of the CLMIS. This application allows the participating producers of labour market information 1 to disseminate a nationally agreed package of LMI to the public using the internet. Ongoing deployment of the CLMIS in the OECS region After the initial deployment of the system in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia, the deployment of the CLMIS is an ongoing activity that is part of the Decent Work Country Programmes in the subregion, but it is at the same time part of the ILO-OECS collaboration on LMI. Following a preparatory missions and work in 2012, the CLMIS was deployed on Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis. To this end, ILO Senior Specialist, Employment and Labour Market Policies, Mr. Reynold Simons, and Software Developer Mr. Kerywn Roach, undertook a mission to the Labour Departments of these countries in early March During these missions the two CLMIS software applications were installed and the DoL staff was trained. In addition, the work to formalize the tripartite network of LMI stakeholders was started in preparation of the formal launch of the LMIS-website. In the coming months the DoL and other stakeholders will undertake the necessary work to officially launch the system and open the LMIS website to the public. Deployment in the wider Caribbean Ahead of time, the CLMIS is being deployed in other countries of the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. In Trinidad and Tobago the system is piloted in selected units of the Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development. Full deployment of the system is planned in Suriname, Sint Maarten and the Bahamas. Collaboration with other development partners The key role of the LMIS has also intensified the communication and collaboration between the ILO and other development partners who are actively supporting the ILO constituency in their response to the employment and labour market challenges. These include the European Union (EU), World Bank (WB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and Caribbean International Development Agency (CIDA). The ILO- DWT developed working relations with all these Agencies to avoid duplication of efforts and generate synergies in order to get the optimal support for the development efforts of the peoples of the Caribbean. 1 These include the Department of Labour, the National Statistical Organization, The National Insurance, the Trade Unions, the Employers Organizations, the TVET Institutions, Special Employment (job creation programmes), the Labour Inspectorate or Occupational Safety and Health Authority, and various line Ministries. 2

3 PRODUCTIVITY AND COMPETITIVENESS ILO delivers technical assistance and capacity building on job creation, SMEs and cooperatives Barbados In Barbados, over the period March 18-20, the Cooperatives Department and the ILO worked closely to promote the inclusion of teaching of cooperative principles and practices at the national level with a focus on nonfinancial and youth cooperatives. Participants were introduced to cooperative principles, rules and regulatory issues and the link with entrepreneurship, the business idea, marketing and financing. At the opening ceremony of the 3-day Workshop entitled: The Role of Cooperatives in Nation Building in Barbados, Registrar of Cooperatives and Friendly Societies, Ms. Sharon Drayton asserted that cooperatives must be seen as a major sustainable solution to economic growth. The Registrar indicated that one of the greatest challenges in Barbados was to make sure that more people become familiar with the scope, size and scale of the cooperative movement within the global economy and how it sustains and builds communities across the world, and its capacity to do so in Barbados. To this end, the Cooperatives Department remains committed to continue its education drive which began in Grenada In Grenada, 35 persons between the ages of years were involved in an immersion experience when they attended a capacity-building Workshop on Jobs, Youths, Cooperatives and SMEs during the period March, These participants were introduced to the social responsibility of credit unions as well as to domestic and international developments in the movement. The technical session was addressed by the Minister for Economic Development, Trade, Planning and Cooperatives of Grenada, who brought greetings on behalf of the Government and indicated Government s commitment to the development of SMEs and the cooperative sector. During this Workshop, participants were introduced to the ILO SIYB tool and also acquired skills in credit union outreach initiatives, problem solving, technical assistance, team building, and public presentations. Guyana From 4-6 March 2013, representatives from the Cooperative Department, Ministry of Labour, trade union representatives, Directors and members of the Credit Union League of Guyana and other cooperatives, representatives from the business community and Minister of Labour, Dr. The Hon. Nanda Gopaul; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security Lorene Baird; and ILO Specialist, Kelvin Sergeant, at the opening of the three-day technical Workshop. Government agencies, participated in a technical Workshop on the Role of Cooperatives in Nation-Building and the Development of SMEs in Guyana. The technical Workshop was opened by the Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, who indicated that the Government was committed to providing financial resources to the Cooperative Division under his Ministry to fulfil its mandate in accordance with the laws of Guyana. Also speaking at the opening ceremony was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Mrs. Lorene Baird; Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) President Norris Witter; Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) President, Carvil Duncan; and Head of the Employers Association, the Consultative Association Of Guyanese Industry, Samuel Goolsarran. The 3-day Workshop touched on issues such as the economic and social roles of cooperatives; cooperatives and the ILO s Decent Work Agenda; the role of the Board, Directors, Members; and the impact of the financial crisis on cooperatives. Participants were also introduced to key modules in the ILO s Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) tool, such as the business idea, the marketing plan, the financial plan, and the legal and regulatory framework for SMEs. A special session highlighted the major problems facing the sector at this time and participants were asked to offer solutions which included topics such as delinquency in the credit union movement and solutions to attract young people to the movement. 3

4 WORKERS ACTIVITIES Jamaica Household Workers Union launched On Friday 15 March 2013, some 200 persons gathered in Kingston to participate in the official launch of the Jamaica Household Workers Union (JHWU). This event formally established the JHWU as the first union dedicated to the organization of domestic workers in Jamaica and the second trade union of its kind in the Caribbean. The launch took place at the Knutsford Court Hotel with the support of the ILO, UN-Women, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the International Domestic Workers Network. The motto and the rallying cry of the new union are: Respect, e q u a l i t y, dignity...every household worker s right. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (centre) speaks with President of the JHWU, Shirley Pryce (left), and Myrtle Witbooi, General Secretary, South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union and Chairperson for the International Domestic Workers Network, following the launch of the JHWU at the Knutsford Court Hotel on 15 March Support for the JHWU was demonstrated by the national trade union movement. Representatives of the Caribbean Domestic Workers Network from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago were in attendance. Also in attendance was Ms Myrtle Witbooi, President of the International Domestic Workers Network (IDWN) and General Secretary of the South Africa Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU) who urged domestic workers to seize the opportunity provided by the adoption of ILO Convention 189 and ensure that Jamaica ratifies this Convention which belonged to domestic workers. The International Trade Union Confederation and the Caribbean Congress of Labour sent solidarity and congratulatory messages. Representatives of the NGO community, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Minister of Labour, praised the JHWU on its achievements thus far and underlined their importance in nation-building. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, in her keynote address, expressed her total support of the Union and its cause and stated that the concept and development of a union for household workers to ensure that domestic workers are respected and enjoy equality of rights to maintain their dignity are a manifestation of the vibrancy of the Jamaican democracy. She also indicated that domestic workers could very well be called Ministers of Home Affairs because of the work they do in the nation s homes. The Prime Minister further stated that she was in full support of the ratification of Convention 189, which the JHWU has called for on numerous occasions, and she declared: The Government which I lead will not fail to accept the conditions that will result in an environment of decent work for every household worker in Jamaica. Training on ILS and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work for the Officers of NATUC A training Workshop on International Labour Standards (ILS) and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work was organized from February The objective of the Workshop was to build capacity of the Central Executive of NATUC for better understanding, application and use of ILS, specifically the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and the supervisory mechanisms. The Workshop was hosted by the All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union (ATGWTU) at the Rienzi Complex in Couva. Twenty-one NATUC Officers, 13 men and 8 women, representing 9 different trade unions, attended the threeday Workshop. Ms. Paula Robinson, ILO Senior Specialist, Workers Activities, and Mr. Pierre-François Recoing, ILO Specialist, International Labour Standards and Labour Law, acted as facilitators for the Workshop. The programme includes an overview of the ILO s supervisory mechanism. It was followed by specific and detailed presentations on each of the four sets of Human Rights Conventions relating to Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. In group work sessions, the participants actively collaborated to respond to the assignment set (most of which were based on real case studies) and then presented their findings to the plenary. The JHWU President also made it clear that she understood the organization s work would also make a contribution towards reaching gender equality in the country when she said, We confidently believe that as this Union grows and develops the capacity to defend the rights of all household workers, we will be doing our part in contributing to the achievement of gender equality, as stated in the National Policy for Gender Equality. 4

5 EMPLOYERS ACTIVITIES Regional Programme linking labour standards and market access for EPAs Employers organizations representatives at ILO international events The Executive Director of the Jamaica Employers Federation, Ms Brenda Cuthbert, was invited to participate in the International Women s Day celebrations in Geneva on 8 March. Ms Cuthbert was a speaker at the Round Table organized by the Gender Department and shared experiences from the Caribbean. Left to right: Mr. Calvin Cable, Executive Director, Saint Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce; Mr Wayne Chen, President of CEC, Mr. Lenard Spencer Amory, Labour Commissioner, Department of Labour, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Labour, Justice and Legal Affairs; with Mr. Pierre-François Recoing, ILO Specialist, International Labour Standards and Labour Law and Ms. Anne Knowles, ILO Senior Specialist, Employers Activities As reported in our last Newslink, the first of the workshops focusing on raising Employers Organization awareness of the relevance of understanding and applying core labour standards at enterprises to ensure market access took place. The first phase of three workshops was held in February in Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. Four further workshops were held in March in Anguilla, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados. Mr Vern Gill, Vice President of the Caribbean Employers Confederation, participated in the first three and Mr. Wayne Chen, President of Caribbean Employers Confederation (CEC), undertook the scene-setting role of explaining the links between business and the Caribbean Single Market in the last four workshops. Participants included representatives from trade unions and government departments, as well as staff and members of the various employers organizations. Pierre-François Recoing, ILO Specialist, International Labour Standards and Labour Law, focused on the eight core ILO Conventions covering the areas of Freedom of Association and the Right to Bargain Collectively, Elimination of Forced Labour and the Worst Forms of Child Labour and Conventions related to unlawful discrimination and equality of treatment. Anne Knowles covered the topics of MARLS (Market Access Requirements Related to Labour Standards) and responses to these requirements that could be implemented at an enterprise. Employers Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago hosts workshop on negotiation skills Rainer Pritzer, ILO Senior Specialist, Social Dialogue and Labour Administration, and Anne Knowles, ILO Senior Specialist, Employers Activities, conducted a three-day Workshop from 5 8 March on negotiation and mediation skills for members and staff of ECATT. The Workshop included a number of practical role plays to bring out different aspects of negotiation, as well as it concentrated on effective tactics to use in negotiations and how to deal with disputes that arose at an enterprise. A key part of the programme that was appreciated by the participants was the provision of an induction checklist to ensure that matters were clear to an employee from the outset so that disputes could be prevented. Mr. Lucas Lubin, General Manager of Windward Island Gases Ltd and Director of the Council of the Saint Lucia Employers Federation is one of six persons from Employers Organizations worldwide to be awarded a fellowship to study the activities, structure, and working methods of the International Labour Organization. The course, to be held from 15 May to 5 June, will be conducted by the International Institute for Labour Studies at the ILO Training Centre in Turin, and in Geneva, where the participants will be able to attend part of the annual International Labour Conference. Barbados Employers Confederation (BEC) supports the development of entrepreneurs Participants of the 3-day Workshop Twenty-two budding entrepreneurs and local trainers attended a three-day Workshop in February to enhance their ability to start or improve their businesses. Anne Knowles, ILO Senior Specialist, Employers Activities, and Kelvin Sergeant, ILO Specialist for Sustainable Enterprise Development and Job Creation, facilitated the training during which participants were exposed to modules which included entrepreneurship, developing a business idea, SWOT analysis, marketing plan, financial plan, legal aspects of business, record keeping and insurance. The Workshop had its genesis in the survey undertaken last year in Barbados to identify areas where the tripartite constituents could be assisted to develop an Enabling Environment for Sustainable Enterprises. One area identified was the need to create an entrepreneurial culture as the survey revealed that Barbados lacked the necessary skill and competencies for entrepreneurship. To ensure staff from BEC were able to provide on-going training as a service for members and potential members, a staff member worked with each of four groups to come up with a business idea based on either franchising, personal skill, response to complaints, identified needs, or brainstorming. Each group then developed a full business plan for that business idea incorporating elements of the agenda. 5

6 SOCIAL PROTECTION School Retention and Child Labour Prevention Programme creating impact in Guyana ILO, IPEC and the Ministry of Labour Human Services and Social Security School Retention and Child Labour Prevention Programme, which commenced in September 2011, has been recognized as making an impact on the lives of not only the children attending the target schools, but parents, guardians, and the communities where they live. The Programme sets out to provide daily transportation to 360 children from three rural schools; a hot meal three days per week; parenting enrichment sessions for parents and guardians; an aftercare programme for those children who require additional support in grasping concepts and coping with homework requirements; and finally, the provision of psychosocial support in the form of individual and group counseling sessions for parents and children on an as needs basis. The program has been receiving attention in the print media in Guyana and has been hailed for its success in addressing the educational and social protection needs of the children who are benefitting. An evaluation of the programme to date has shown that: There has been a marked increase in attendance rate of children from 64% to 94% during the period of Project implementation. There is a notable reduction in the teacher attrition rate. Improvement in the overall performance of the students at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate has been recorded. Primary Schools for the first time in 2013 has tripled the number of children they are presenting to write the National Grade Six Examination. Children are now benefitting from the full instruction period at the three schools as they (and teachers) are arriving punctually for the commencement of sessions. The implementation process has positively impacted the relationship parents have with the schools involved. As a result of the Parenting Education Workshops, three parent support groups have been formed with a core of trained parents. The groups aim to monitor the situation of school / non-school attendance and become involved in the necessary networking to ensure that children attend school and complete the full courses of Primary and Secondary Education. National trade unionists sensitized on their role in the dialogue on child labour Parents and children included in awareness programmes The European Union (EU) sponsored Tackling Child Labour Through Education (TACKLE) Project in Guyana has recently recorded intervention with Partners in all 10 of Guyana s Administrative Regions. A number of partners have collaborated with the Project to intensify activities in communities aimed at providing information on child labour. This included the Guyana Trade Union Congress, whose members in six Administrative Regions benefitted from sessions aimed at assisting them to understand their role in the dialogue on child labour. In addition to the trade union movement articulating for support to enable members better understand their roles, the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, through the Men s Affairs Bureau has been playing a lead role at the community level in the sensitization programme on child labour. The Bureau has targeted parents, men and boys, while the Union has given attention to whole school populations, regional administrators / councilors and national trade unionists. The rate at which boys have been dropping out of the school system has been cause for concern. It is for this reason the primary message of the programme is the value of education and the usefulness of remaining in school until completion of full courses of primary and secondary education. The Ministry, as well as the trade union movement have both targeted mining communities in Guyana for intervention. Gold and diamond mining, and logging are among the economic activities commonly undertaken in Guyana s interior. The Regions identified for intervention were Regions 1, 7 and 8. In every area in which the sessions were conducted, a core group drawn from among the participants was established. The group was tasked with remaining connected in order to monitor the incidence of child labour in the communities and network for reporting purposes. 6

7 SOCIAL PROTECTION Handbook on child labour launched Jamaica launched a handbook on Child Labour at a training workshop on February 14, The European Union (EU) supported Tackling Child Labour Through Education (TACKLE) Project. The publication aims at enhancing the knowledge base on child labour and is designed to provide guidelines for professionals, who encounter instances of child labour in the course of their work which will assist them in enforcing regulations. The Handbook, will provide the basic information and the steps necessary for referring children, who have been impacted by child labour through the legislative and legal system, explained Nasolo Thompson, ILO National Project Officer for TACKLE. Ms. Thompson noted that based on ILO s estimates, there are 20,000 professionals nationally who could utilize this document. These include members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), guidance and counselling staff in the Ministry of Education, teachers, coaches and medical professionals. So, there is a wide variety of people, who actually need access to this information and it s up to us to see the best way to get it into their hands, she noted. The production of the handbook was funded with the support of the European Union (EU). The TACKLE Project, was launched in 2009 and the excuting agency is the Labour Ministry. The main objective is to prevent child labour through public education and awareness. Capacity Building of Divisional Trainers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to Combat Child Labour in Jamaica A Workshop was hosted from March 18-20, at Alhambra Inn, Kingston, by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, under the EU sponsored Tackling Child Labour Through Education (TACKLE) Project. The forum sort to continue to build capacity and knowledge on child labour. It targeted police and community safety officers, mainly from Kingston, St. Andrew, and St. Catherine, as these parishes are the most populated with significant child labour concerns. The TACKLE Project runs in 12 countries, which includes two Caribbean countries, Jamaica and Guyana. Jamaica is the only country that has developed a law enforcement training programme that is country specific. JAMAICA GIVES RED CARD TO CHILD LABOUR On the occasion of the FIFA World Cup Qualification match Jamaica vs Panama on March 22, Jamaica s capital Kingston boosted the ILO-FIFA Campaign Give the Red Card to Child Labour. During the opening ceremony, 250 volunteers set the example for the audience by holding the symbolic Red Card to garner support to end child labour in its worst forms by The event, sponsored by the ILO and the European Commission and African, Caribbean and Pacific Secretariat, was endorsed by Jamaican Prime Minister, Hon. Portia Simpson- Miller, FIFA International, Jamaica s Football Federation, the players and all involved partners. The Campaign mobilizes communities and sports associations in vulnerable neighbourhoods around the world to empower girls, boys and youth to participate in the fight against child labour. It encourages local sports initiatives to tell the world to give a RED CARD to exploiters of children and abusers of their rights. The ILO s 2010 Global Report on Child Labour estimates that there are over 215 million child labourers around the world. The struggle to fight exploitation of child labour is now more important than ever if the goal of eliminating its worst forms is to be reached by It is imperative for Jamaica to reach the development objectives of Vision 2030, and the elimination of child labour represents an important vector to achieve that goal. 7

8 SOCIAL PROTECTION World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2013 to focus on the prevention of occupational diseases Worldwide, occupational diseases continue to be the leading cause of workrelated deaths. According to ILO estimates, out of 2.34 million occupational fatalities every year, only 321,000 are due to accidents. The remaining 2.02 million deaths are caused by various types of work-related diseases, which correspond to a daily average of more than 5,500 deaths. This is an unacceptable decent work deficit. The inadequate prevention of occupational diseases has profound negative effects not only on workers and their families but also on society at large due to the tremendous costs that it generates; particularly, in terms of loss of productivity and the burdening of social security and health systems. Prevention is more effective and less costly than treatment and rehabilitation. All countries can take concrete steps now to improve their capacity for preventing occupational diseases. Every year the ILO calls on governments, employers, workers and their organizations to observe the World Occupational Safety and Health Day through collaboration. In line with the 2013 theme, a variety of activities towards the development and implementation of national policies and strategies aimed at preventing occupational and work-related diseases are anticipated. In the Caribbean, various promotional events are planned in each member country: Antigua and Barbuda: A half day seminar for 150 persons along with staff; Labour Matters TV Programme; Radio Programme (Media Blitz) Barbados: National Tripartite half-day Seminar and showcase to commemorate the ILO World Day for Safety and Health at Work th April 2013 on the sub-theme Environmental Medicine as a Tool for the Prevention of Occupational Diseases commemorate the ILO World Day for Safety and Health at Work Guyana (OSH month): Poster and essay competition in school; OSH fair; health walk Jamaica: National Symposium Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Safety Week April 28 to May 3, 2013, National symposium and OSH exhibition; Release of new list of Occupational Diseases; Workers Day (NLC) Workers Walk and Talk Occupational Diseases Trinidad and Tobago (National Safety Week): National Symposium (2 locations); Outreach activities. Mainstreaming OSH in Education The development of national preventative safety and health culture is an essential factor to reinforce decent work through safe and healthy working conditions. This can be achieved by involving the workers, the general public and the community through awareness-raising programme. Sensitizing children to safety and health is not only about giving young people skills and knowledge to help them keep themselves safe when they start working, it is also seen as an important element toward the goal of building a prevention culture for the future. The integrated approach to Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and education has been widely introduced in Europe and the USA since early the 2000s. On 6-8 November 2012, a joint Workshop entitled Mainstreaming OSH into Education: Towards a Culture of Prevention was organized by the EU- OSHA Agency, ILO, the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of America (NIOSH) at the ILO Training Centre in Turin, with the attendance of 51 experts from 27 countries. Five colleagues from the Caribbean, representing the ministries of labour and education, and the EU-ILO TACKLE Project in Jamaica and Guyana, had the privilege of being exposed to new approaches and learning from the other regions experience. Following the Workshop, the concepts and practices were shared with other staff in the ministries. In both countries, Mainstreaming OSH into Education was strongly supported, and the introduction of the programme into their education curriculum was agreed to by key stakeholders. In Guyana, the working group was set up in February 2013, aimed at the development of a new safety and health education curricula. 8

9 SOCIAL PROTECTION Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister launches national workplace policy and pilot programme on HIV and AIDS and other chronic diseases Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, on 14 March 2013, simultaneously launched the National Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS and Other Chronic Diseases, and a pilot workplace programme to commence the implementation of the Policy. He noted that cancers, diabetes and HIV and AIDS were realities that must be addressed in the workplace. The Prime Minister expressed his full support for the initiative and commended the commitment of participants as evidenced by the high-level representation from agencies and the presence of the tripartite partners. The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Labour, Justice and Legal Affairs, Mr. Patrice Nisbett; Mr. Calvin Cable, Executive Director, Saint Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC); and Mr. Batumba Tak, General Secretary, Saint Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union (SKNTLU), endorsed the Policy and promised their support in ensuring that the pilot workplace programme was successful. They, alongside, the President of the CIC, Mr. David Lake; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Mr. Elvis Newton; Labour Commissioner, Mr. Spencer Amory; Labour Officer/HIV Focal Point in the Ministry, Ms. Shernel James; and Mrs. Madhuri Supersad, HIV/AIDS Specialist at the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the enterprises and agencies participating in the pilot programme. Guided by a national consultant, the workplaces will implement a pilot programme over a nine-month period, at the end of which, they would have endorsed a policy framework for their workplace, have a cadre of trained persons in-house comprising a focal person and peer educators, staff sensitized on issues relating to HIV and UPDATE ON HIV AND AIDS IN THE WORKPLACE IN GUYANA ILO new UN alternate on the CCM. The ILO was nominated by the UNCT in Guyana as the alternate to UNAIDS on the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM). Guyana resubmitted its proposal to the Global Fund on March 15 and therefore, the continued presence of the UN on the CCM will provide invaluable support to Guyana s HIV/AIDS response. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis (3rd from left) with officials at the launch of the National Workplace Policy and Pilot Programme AIDS and other chronic diseases, and a monitoring system in place. At the end of the pilot programme, the agencies will seek to use the new capacity to expand the number of workplaces implementing the national workplace policy. A total of 28 public and private sector organizations will be participating in the pilot workplace programme. The ILO provided technical and financial support for the development of the Policy and also supports the implementation of the pilot programme. 9

10 EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES Upcoming activities Caribbean Employers Confederation Annual General Meeting Place and Date: Suriname; 8 April 2013 Workshop for Employers Organizations on the Role of Labour Standards in Accessing International Markets and Supporting the Caribbean Single Market Place and date: Trinidad and Tobago; 11 April 2013 Stakeholders awareness-raising workshop on the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 hosted by the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Union of Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago Place and date: Trinidad and Tobago; April 2013 Training workshop for inspectors on the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 organized in collaboration with the Maritime Administration Place and Date: Saint Kitts and Nevis; April 2013 Training Workshop on OSH in the mining sector Place and date: Suriname; April 2013 World Day for Safety and Health at Work in focus on the prevention of occupational diseases Place and date: Worldwide; 28 April 2013 Jamaica Employers Federation Conference Place and date: Jamaica; 2 5 May 2013 Workshop for Employers Organizations on the Role of Labour Standards in Accessing International Markets and Supporting the Caribbean Single Market Place and date: Bahamas; 7 May 2013 Workshop for Employers Organizations on the Role of Labour Standards in Accessing International Markets and Supporting the Caribbean Single Market Place and date: Jamaica; 10 May 2013 Tripartite training workshop on OSH assessment in hotel/ hospitality sector Place and date: Saint Lucia; May 2013 Organisational Review of the Saint Vincent Employers Federation Place and date: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; May 2013 Training workshop for employers on OSH assessment in hotel/ hospitality sector Place and date: St. Maarten; May nd Session of the International Labour Conference Place and date: Geneva, Switzerland; 5-20 June 2013 World Day Against Child Labour No to child labour in domestic work Place and date: Worldwide; 12 June 2013 It s time to check on the implementation of the international labour standards to which your country has subscribed! The 2013 Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations an its 2013 General Survey on Labour Relations and Collective Bargaining in the Public Sector are now available on the web at: INFORMATION RESOURCES Global Employment Trends 2013: Recovering from a second jobs dip Five years after the outbreak of the global financial crisis, the study offers the latest global and regional information and projections on several indicators of the labour market, including employment, unemployment, working poverty and vulnerable employment. It also presents a number of policy considerations in light of the new challenges facing policy makers in the coming year. ISBN: Price TT$99.00; US$15.00 Perspectives on Labour Economics for Development Perspectives on Labour Economics for Development seeks to provide a comprehensive, but non-technical, coverage of labour market issues in a developing country context to help policy-makers and other readers improve their capacity to understand these topics and develop appropriate and effective policy responses. This book is an invaluable reference for policymakers in middle- and low-income countries as well as an ideal handbook for teachers and students of economics and development. ISBN: Price TT$148.50; US$23.00 ILO VACANCIES Please visit the ILO webpage at for a list of current ILO vacancies throughout the world. Qualified candidates from underrepresented ILO Caribbean member States are encouraged to apply: Antigua and Barbuda The Bahamas Barbados Belize Grenada Guyana Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Produced by the Information Unit, ILO Office for the Caribbean, P.O. Box 1201, 6 Stanmore Avenue, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Tel. (868) /7178 Fax (868) ilocarib@ilocarib.org.tt Website: Photographs courtesy: Guyana Information Service (GIS), ILO 10