Minister of Labour, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo (right), shares a light moment with Chief Liaison Officer of the Jamaica Central Labour Organisation (JCLO), Barbara DaCosta,??during the courtesy call. (A. Miller/BGIS)
The Ministry of Labour remains committed to the H2B employment programme in the United States and will continue to source opportunities for Barbadians in the face of difficult economic times.
This assertion came from Minister of Labour, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, who was speaking during a recent courtesy call with Chief Liaison Officer of the Jamaica Central Labour Organisation (JCLO), Barbara DaCosta, at the Warrens Office Complex, Warrens, St. Michael.
Dr. Byer Suckoo added that her Ministry would seek to work closely with the JCLO to ensure Barbados continued to receive benefits from the H2B programme, which has provided several opportunities for Barbadians to work in American companies and hotels.
Ms. DaCosta said she was looking forward to collaborating with the Labour Ministry to discuss ways in which both parties could rationalise resources to better serve the needs of the workers.
The regional labour official informed Dr. Byer Suckoo about several changes in the United States Immigration Reform System which would affect the participation of Caribbean countries in the overseas employment programme.
Ms. DaCosta also took the opportunity to inform the Labour Minister and officials of the Ministry about the role and function of the JCLO, which is an umbrella body for Caribbean workers in the United States Employment Programme.
The meeting was also attended by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Martin Cox, Chief Labour Officer (Ag), Vincent Burnett and officials of the Labour Department.