Domestic Workers To Be Unionised

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Thursday, 16 August 2012 02:30

By Everton Barnes

Antigua St. John’s - Efforts are afoot to unionise domestic workers in Antigua & Barbuda with the aim of improving their conditions of work.

An official of the Antigua Trades and Labour Union said the union is already in the process of organising these workers and to encourage them to join the body.

“Domestic workers in the country are often exploited as they are required to work long hours for wages that are below the minimum wage for this category,” the official stated.

He said the union adheres to the vision statement issued by the Caribbean Domestic Workers Network which wants a Caribbean society where domestic workers enjoy the conditions of decent work consistent with ILO Convention 189.

These include a living wage, social protection, freedom of association, collective bargaining and labour rights.

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Meanwhile, the matter of domestic workers has also caught the attention of the Labour Department.  Labour Commissioner Hesketh Williams has circulated a letter to all trade unions asking them to encourage their members to participate in a process of consultation that will lead to Antigua & Barbuda’s adoption of Convention 189.

“As the need has arisen to protect this vulnerable group, the Labour Department is seeking to get input on the way forward for the process of ratification. To this end, the Department is seeking your assistance in circulating this convention to your executive for feedback,” the letter dated July 11, 2012, stated.

It added that a meeting will be held at a date to be determined to review the articles of Convention 189 in preparation for ratification.

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