WhitemanEVERYTHING WILL be done to protect the interests of workers at the Sangster International Airport which is being sold, according to Information Minister Burchell Whiteman.
He said job cuts were likely to follow the privatisation of the Montego Bay-based airport.
The Minister, who was addressing journalists at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, did not state the number of jobs that would be lost but said everything was being done to ensure the workers received the full benefits to which they were entitled under law.
Cabinet had been updated on the divestment process which should be concluded by December 31, he said. By that time, the operation and management of the airport would be transferred from the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) to YVRAS Consortium of Vancouver, Canada.
"We have no doubt that everything has been done to protect the interest of the staff and the Cabinet is satisfied that this gesture of good faith will be the correct way to go in terms of sharing with the workers and their representatives the commitment made by management in respect to them in dealing the new managers of the airport," Mr. Whiteman said.
In relation to staffing arrangements, the Minister explained that workers' representatives had "sought the opportunity to verify for themselves that the proposed concession agreement adequately reflect the undertaking with respect to the transition arrangement as represented by the AAJ's management".
Based on the arrangement with the Enterprise Team, it has been agreed that the pension plan for transferred workers will be "no less favourable than the existing plan operated by the AAJ".
Additionally, all accumulated benefits will be transferred and there will be a transition period during which the situation of the workers will remain the same.
According to Mr. Whiteman, "There are clear arrangements for those staff members who will be separated - whatever applies in law and whatever is agreed with the AAJ will be honoured in the transition arrangement".
He said he was unable to give the exact number of persons likely to lose their jobs. "That information is not available to us," Mr. Whiteman responded when asked.
"There are principles agreed between the AAJ and the concessionaire and those principles will be honoured based on the findings of the concessionaire," he said.
