By Dionne Rose, Staff ReporterHORACE DALLEY, Minister of Labour and Social Security, will be faced with some unresolved labour issues that have been brewing for some time now when he meets today with trade union representatives at the Labour Advisory Committee (LAC) meeting.
The LAC is a tripartite committee comprising representatives of Government, trade unions and employers.
According to Senator Dwight Nelson, president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), among the issues to be brought to the fore are concerns relating to the 'dissatisfaction with the operations of the Ministry' and mechanism to be put in place to preserve the integrity of the work permit system.
FLEXI WORK WEEK
Other questions that the Ministry will have to answer include the "non-function of the National Productive Centre and the failure of the joint select committee of Parliament to meet since its appointment in January of this year to examine the implementation of the flexi work week," said Senator Nelson.
The Minister will also be asked to explain why he ordered a review of the employment termination and redundancy payment act by Dr. Noel Cowell of the University of the West Indies, without any consultation with the unions or bringing it to the LAC.
Senator Nelson said, "apparent acceptance by the Minister for a review of the redundancy payment law and the failure of the Minister to meet with the joint confederation of trade unions and the employers federation in retreat as promised by the Ministry over the year" will have to be explained.
Commenting on the general attitude of the Ministry in relation to labour issues, Senator Nelson said, "the Ministry of Labour is the repository of the country's conscience and any deficiency in its operations will impact negatively on the more vulnerable at the workplace."
