Is the Jamaican government giving BPO investors the “green light to disregard labour laws”?
There are currently 40,000 workers in Jamaica’s global services industry; the government is aiming for 300,000 jobs in the industry by 2030. But “at what cost?” trade unions are asking.
(Alamy/Artur Marciniec
)
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There are currently 40,000 workers in Jamaica’s global services industry; the government is aiming for 300,000 jobs in the industry by 2030. But “at what cost?” trade unions are asking.
(Alamy/Artur Marciniec
)
With tens of thousands of jobs linked to the tourism sector lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Jamaican government has heralded the island’s fast-expanding business process outsourcing (BPO) sector as a much-needed source of jobs. However, there are major concerns about the widespread breech of workers’ rights in the sector. Of the 40,000 BPO workers in Jamaica – whose roles vary from customer services to technical support, sales
The Fiji Times » Adhere to pacts, says Anthony
fijitimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from fijitimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Fred Wesley
Image: THE FIJI TIMES
Bula!
It’s the end of another week, and as we look ahead to the weekend, here’s a sneak peek at the headlines for Saturday, March 6.
NEWS
Civil liberties
Refrain from anti-union practices and instruct police and the armed forces to respect basic civil liberties and labour rights, the Fijian Government has been told by the International Labour Organization’s Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations.
The second report is on an interview with unionist Felix Anthony.
Unionist Felix Anthony. Picture: SOPHIE RALULU
Interference
Government says one thing in the international area when signing conventions and acts differently at home, says National Workers Union general secretary Felix Anthony. While commenting on the International Labour Organization’s Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations for Fiji to refrain from interfering with the internal affairs of the union, M
“[…] How will retrenching 2500 workers and putting the delivery of water in the hands of another foreign water management company result in the delivery of a safe and reliable water supply 24-7 to the citizens? …”
The following Letter to the Editor about the latest report about the Water and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) was submitted to Wired868 by Gerry Kangalee of Rambert Village:
Photo: Wasa headquarters in St Joseph (via guardian.co.tt)
The so-called revelations about Wasa made by the cabinet sub-committee have been public knowledge for years and years. Who didn’t know Wasa is a hotbed of corruption is who didn’t want to know.
Unions write to PM on exploitation in security industry
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley - FILE PHOTO BY JEFF K MAYERS
TWO trade unions have joined forces in an appeal to the Prime Minister to intervene to stop the exploitation of private security guards.
They have also called for a commission of enquiry into the practices of security firms and their poor industrial relations practices.
Claiming many private security firms flout national insurance regulations, the unions appealed for state contracts not to be given to such companies.
The presidents of the two unions – Dave Smith of the National Workers Union (NWU) and Deryck Richardson of the Estate Police Association (EPA) – have described the working conditions of some officers as “slave-like.”
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