The National Committee for Wellness in the Workplace will soon be heightening awareness about this island’s National Workplace Wellness Policy.
This was revealed on Wednesday by Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector, Colin Jordan, as he addressed a media briefing on matters relating to the Policy, at his Ministry’s headquarters in Warrens, St. Michael.
While noting that providing a platform to educate and sensitise citizens about the National Wellness Policy was key, Mr. Jordan indicated that video presentations and other infographics would soon be disseminated on various platforms to keep the public informed. He stressed that the Ministry was ready to move ahead with implementing the policy that was approved by the Cabinet in 2019.
Alluding to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the island, he said: “So, we started to meet again in 2022. We understood that for a wellness policy to make sense, to be effective, people had to be on board…. So, we have to educate people…. We understand that this [policy] cannot operate in that system. We have to get the information out and we have to do it in effective ways.”
Pointing out that a three-year action plan with a number of activities had already been developed to further the goals of the policy, Minister Jordan stated: “Now, the plan…is a three-year plan and it is broken down with year one focused on awareness building, focused on a promotional campaign on wellness in the workplace….”
The dissemination of some short videos to educate persons about the policy and its programmes will be done through social and traditional media.
Minister Jordan said there would be a dedicated website for the National Workplace Wellness Policy, and gave the assurance that it would be established by the end of March while the Instagram and Facebook platforms will be in place by February 28.
The National Wellness Committee is jointly chaired by the Ministry of Labour and the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU). It comprises a number of organisations and persons. They include the Ministry of Health and Wellness[; the National Task Force on Wellness; the Ministry of the Public Service; Barbados Employers Confederation; Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association; the Small Business Association of Barbados; the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners; the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health; the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados; faith-based organisations represented through the Anglican Church; the Barbados Council for the Disabled; and The University of the West Indies.
Honorary membership has been assigned to Orlando “Gabby” Scott, and to Special Advisor, Professor Trevor Hassell.
The mandate of the committee is to oversee the implementation of Barbados’ Workplace Wellness Policy and to monitor the effectiveness of any strategies that are executed. Its Terms of Reference calls for the committee to provide overall coordination and oversight for implementation of the national policy.
It also includes engaging and planning with stakeholders, developing strategies and initiatives that further the intent of the policy. It is set up also to provide guidance and oversight to any of its subcommittees.
The roll out of the communications plan will be undertaken by the Promotions and Awareness on Workplace Wellness subcommittee, which is chaired by Professor Dwayne Devonish, of The University of West Indies.
Professor Devonish, in extending gratitude to the Ministry and the Committee “for pushing and advancing this monumental initiative”, said: “I think very few Barbadians know that we have a National Workplace Wellness Policy, and I think few of them know that it is really the first policy of its kind anywhere in this world. So, this is something definitely for all Barbadians, in fact, those in the Caribbean to celebrate….”