Contact:
Prime Minister's Press Secretary
Wednesday, November 1, 2006 - Representatives of the social partners –
Government, Trade Unions and Employers -- yesterday began a three-day retreat at
the Conference Room of the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) to conclude
consultations on the Draft Labour Code.
Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny D. Anthony says the intention is to achieve the best
possible consensus among social partners.
According to the Prime Minister, who is chairing the proceedings, “yesterday’s
discussions went reasonably well, with lots of give-and-take between the unions
and the employers.”
Describing the exercise as “one designed to fashion a Labour Code based on
consensus,” the Prime Minister said the intention is to provide Saint Lucia with
“a progressive Labour Code.”
He said he would “have much preferred if we had made even more progress
yesterday,” but, “given the nature of the activity, as much consensus as
possible must be sought.”
Yesterday’s discussions followed opening remarks by the Prime Minister, the
President of the Trade Union Federation, Mr Joseph Dosserie and the Executive
Director of the Private Sector Council Mr Joe DuBois.
The retreat began a day earlier, after the Prime Minister agreed to an urgent
request by the Private Sector Council of St. Lucia to reschedule its start from
today.
The Private Sector Council had earlier sought to advance the start of the
retreat, explaining that the original “timing of the retreat [was] inconvenient
to their Legal Advisor.”
The Private Sector Council comprises the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry
and Agriculture, the St. Lucia Industrial and Small Business Association, the
St. Lucia Manufacturers Association and the St. Lucia Hotels and Tourism
Association.
The retreat continues today and will end tomorrow.
