Staff of the Department of Labour in the Ministry of Home Affairs & Public Safety were happy to have our partners with us for two days at the end of July. The Department hosted a two day employment Relations Training Workshop at the East Caicos Room, Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa July 25th - 26th. Over 40 Human Resources and General Managers attended the workshop which was addressed by Mr. Derek Been Permanent Secretary in the Ministry and by Dr. Anna-Teresa Romero, Director ILO Caribbean Sub-region.
While Labour Consultant Samuel J. Goolsarran, was the main facilitator Commissioner of Labour, Willette Swann gave two presentations that interested the participants and generated many questions and much discussion. The Commissioner's first presentation was on the procedure for recruiting, hiring and employing persons with emphasis on work permits.
Mr. Swann clarified for participants that the purpose for notifying the Commissioner of intent to employ a non-Belonger is to give the department further opportunity to source a Belonger for the position.
He reminded participants that the contract of employment should be:
- agreed;
- reduced to writing;
- signed by both parties and
- sent to the employee in the home country before he/she leaves for Turks and Caicos.
Making use of strong words, Mr. Swann chided employers who disregard special conditions on work permits just to appeal those conditions to the Minister after they have used the permits and the permits have subsequently expired. "Those appeals are not only illegal but also disrespectful to the Minister and the whole system," he declared.
The Commissioner's second presentation outlined the "duties and responsibilities of employers and workers pointing out that the responsibilities are often joint responsibilities and where they are not there is a corresponding responsibility for the other partner. |
