Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo. (FP)
Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, is optimistic that discussions on the future of labour and other matters of national interest will continue between the relevant stakeholders.
She expressed this hope while addressing the Barbados Employers’ Confederation’s (BEC) 60th Anniversary Awards Ceremony and Dinner at Apes Hill Country Club, Waterhall, St. James.
Noting that the subject of productivity and its improvement in the workplace had been at the forefront of recent public discourse, Minister Byer Suckoo said she expected the talks would lead to “meaningful strategies to enhance productivity in Barbados”.
The Labour Minister also pledged to continue official collaboration with the BEC and the other social partners. “I re-affirm the Government’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with its tripartite partners [and] I congratulate the BEC on 60 years of meaningful contribution to national development and wish the President and members continued growth from strength to strength.”
Senator Byer Suckoo stressed the importance of social dialogue and collaboration between the Government, the employers and the workers’ representatives as critical to fostering a healthy industrial relations climate, as well as social cohesion and economic progress in Barbados.
“This for us is not theory this is now our history. And we have learned some very valuable lessons from our history which we must not forget. I want to use this opportunity to remind us all that our history has taught us that when we Barbadians unite we have not only the strength and resilience to weather storms, but we have demonstrated the creativity and ingenuity to devise better approaches to our challenges,” she underlined.
Meanwhile, in her remarks, President of the BEC, Marguerite Estwick, said the institution was proud of its contribution to education on various management topics, understanding labour legislation and on raising the standard of management in Barbados through in-company or on-site training programmes in supervision and management and through the provision of scholarships.
Mrs. Estwick also said that the BEC was an approved national Caribbean Vocational Qualification Centre that “provided a slate of comprehensive labour management workshops on business topics such as sexual harassment, human resources management and effective communication for managers.”
During the event, a number of long-standing council members, outstanding employees, past presidents and past executive directors of the BEC received awards.