Barbados Today February 23, 2021
The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) shadow spokesman on labour on Monday called on his opposite number in Government to address pressing issues currently facing workers amid the COVID-19 crisis
In a statement, the DLP’s Courie Cox, said Minister of Labour Colin Jordan’s recent plea for workers not to panic was not feasible as several issues preventing the earnest resumption of economic activity still remain with no end in sight.
Cox said: “The Democratic Labour Party is at a loss regarding this request of workers by a Minister in an environment where unknown strains of the Covid-19 virus are running rampant. This has resulted in business operations being disrupted on a daily basis with clusters of workers testing positive and staring immediate weeks of financial uncertainty in the face. The Government has announced the clearance of testing results backlogs, but we all are aware that numerous workers are still at home awaiting resul
Employers warned
Article by February 12, 2021
Local businesses are being cautioned against using strong-arm tactics to ensure that employees and/or prospective employees accept COVID-19 vaccines, as it could well be against the law.
Describing the subject as “extremely complex” Executive Director of the Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC) Sheena Mayers-Granville could offer no firm position on whether one’s vaccination status could legally be used as a prerequisite for a job.
President of the Barbados Private Sector Association Edward Clarke, however, warned that while workers should not be forced, refusal to be vaccinated could result in more social and economic stagnation for the foreseeable future.
The Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC) has advised its membership that workers who are unable to fulfil their duties because they may be self-quarantined and awaiting secondary COVID-19 test results are eligible for sick leave and pay entitlements under the law. Executive director Sheena Mayers-Granville told the DAILY NATION yesterday that the BEC made this clear in a circular disseminated last week. The advice was given after Prime Minister Mia Amor …