The 22nd Triennial Delegates Conference of the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) is entering Day three today in Port of Spain, Trinidad, under the theme “One Caribbean, One Voice: Advancing Workers’ Rights through Governance and Solidarity”.
A sub-theme for this year’s conference is “Balancing Mobility and Protection: Building a Fair Labour Migration System,” as the regional labour movement continues to address the urgent challenges facing workers throughout the Caribbean.
Representatives from three Antigua and Barbuda trade unions are attending the CCL conference; the delegates are, three from the Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU), another three from the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU) and one from the Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association (ABPSA).
AT&LU President Bernard De Nully participated in a panel discussion on the topic; Balancing Mobility and Protection: Building a Fair Labour Migration System.
In his presentation, De Nully underscored the importance of equal rights for migrant workers, paralleling those of local employees. He highlighted the core mission of the AT&U, which is dedicated to safeguarding workers’ rights and ensuring fair wages.
“There should not be any form of social injustice meted out to migrant workers as we ahere to the concept to Balance Mobility and Protection and Building a Fair Labour Migration System. There also must be an established policy that is equitable and which follows the fair recruitment framework to give suitable and qualified workers be they nationals, CARICOM nationals or migrants workers a reasonable recruitment process for employment,” he declared.
He added that it is quintessentially important for the social dialogue between government, employers and trade unions to continue, as collectively, they seek a more equitable system for all, including migrant workers.
