Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo speaking yesterday at a two-day workshop hosted by the International Labour Organisation and the Barbados Employers’ Confederation at the Accra Beach Hotel. (C.Pitt/BGIS)

Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo speaking yesterday at a two-day workshop hosted by the International Labour Organisation and the Barbados Employers’ Confederation at the Accra Beach Hotel. (C.Pitt/BGIS)

As Barbados makes the transition to a green economy, the creation of “green jobs” and the transformation of existing roles will also take center focus.

Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo made the assertion yesterday, while speaking at the launch of a two-day workshop hosted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC), at the Accra Beach Hotel, Rockley, Christ Church.

After speaking on the role of Multinational Enterprises in Barbados’ development and the importance of upholding decent work standards; Minister Byer Suckoo shifted her attention to the “Green Jobs Initiative”, which will be a bi-product of the developing green sector.

She stated, “Whilst the emergence of renewable energy and other new sectors has occupied much of our attention, there is scope for greening in our hotel and tourism sector.” This new focus, she explained, “creates a need to be able to adapt to the changing demand for skills and the redefinition of jobs.”

As a result of this initiative, the Minister disclosed that Government has “invested heavily in skills development” in order to achieve this goal. She went on to express her gratitude to the ILO, for assisting the Labour Ministry with commencing the green jobs project.

The two-day workshop was attended by prominent labour representatives from varying organisations.

These included: Kelvin Sergeant, Sustainable Enterprise Development and Job Creation Specialist with the ILO; Marguerite Estwick and Tony Walcott, President and Executive Director of the BEC respectively; Cedric Murrell, President of The Congress of Trade Unions & Staff Associations of Barbados; and Toni Moore, General Secretary of the Barbados Workers Union.

malissa.brathwaite@barbados.gov.bb

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