Labour Minister Calls for Partnership Between Management and Workers

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles has called for a partnership between management and workers, stressing that there could not be continued hostility between both sides, as labour and capital are two of the most important planks in the development of a country.
Mr. Charles was speaking on (Sept. 25), at the launch of the Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF) 2007 Salary and Benefit Survey, at the JEF’s Ruthven Road offices. He said both employers and employees should recognize the value of each other and the sacrifices made by both sides to provide labour and capital.
“If you (the employer) recognize your money, as he (the employee) recognizes his labour, you are going to find out how valuable those two things are,” Mr. Charles said, adding that the Ministry was on a mission to encourage levels of co-operation between management and employees, to stave off any tensions that might arise in the labour market.
In addition, Mr. Charles said the Ministry would “go all out” to train workers, and would be working closely with the Ministry of Education in this effort. “Where we can’t use them, overseas employers are asking us to send them Jamaican skilled workers, and so we have jobs wide open for us,” he noted.
The Minister invited the JEF to meet with the Ministry, to work out an agenda of training for young people who are not trained for the skills required today, both locally and overseas. “We have to fill that gap fast,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, President of the JEF, Audrey Hinchcliffe said the survey contained vital market information, which among other things, formed the core of references during periods of industrial unrest.
“For example, that which we observed in the first and second quarters of this calendar year. It is by receiving credible data, that companies are able to strategize their competitive approach,” she said. This year, the manual is presented in two volumes, with volume 1.1 providing information regarding chief executive officers, executives and managers, while volume 1.2 gives information on technical, professional, supervisory, clerical and hourly-paid employees.
This is the highest coverage in the history of the survey, with a total of 95 companies participating, representing some 20 sectors. A minimum of four companies is represented in each sector.
The survey was conducted over a period of seven months, from February to September of this year. The respondent sectors include: education and training; government; information technology; engineering; professional services; telecommunications; transport and storage; wholesale and retail; janitorial and maintenance; automotive; advertising and public relations; media; hotels and restaurants; marketing and promotions; utilities; financial services and agriculture.
New additions to the survey are: the engineering, automotive, janitorial, telecommunications, marketing and promotions, and advertising and public relations sectors.
September is being observed as National Employers’ Month, under the theme: ‘Talent, Technology & Policy: Driving Innovation’.