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Regional civil society targets use of job cuts as cost-saving measure
…labour unions demand restraints
Participants in the Civil Society Forum during a reception on Tuesday evening aboard the cruise ship
By Tusika Martin
in Trinidad
The issue of job cuts as a primary alternative by employers in times of financial difficulties is being addressed at the Civil Society Forum as labour plays an active role for the first time in the Summit of the Americas.
On Tuesday, the Civil Society Forum was officially opened by Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, aboard cruise ship ‘Carnival Victory’.
Speaking with Kaieteur News during a reception that was hosted after the official opening, General Secretary for Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union, Trevor Johnson, said that the particular interest, which the summit will be addressing, is the issue of ‘decent work’ as is being advanced by the International Labour Organization.
“Job cuts are something that we are very concerned about…We have seen job cuts in the energy and manufacturing sectors. Labour’s position is that there must be a restraint and rethink in terms of alternative strategy and not that you have job cuts as a first option,” Johnson said as he spoke in a general context for workers across the region.
The issue of sustainability of jobs will also be discussed, he said, as Trade Unions across the region acknowledges that ‘yes’ there is a global economic crisis and ‘yes’ there is a global financial crisis.
According to Johnson, while these two factors are true, Trade Unions want to see a tripartite discussion where government, private sector and the unions sit together and ‘work or craft out’ some form of credibly resolution.
“We are hoping that we do not get reactions from the employers like ‘I’m losing money so I am cutting jobs’…there has to be some sort of dialogue to come to some sort of amicable solution,” he added.
Tomorrow, Civil Society along with the private sector from across the region will be meeting with various Foreign Ministers, where they will make presentation and put forward the labour and private sector agenda.
This agenda will be taken to the Hemispheric Leaders to fashion a position that can address concerns in both sectors.
Meanwhile, there is a delegation representing Guyana at the Youth Forum which began its deliberations yesterday.
Head of that delegation, Bevon Currie, of the National Youth Development Network, told Kaieteur News that one of the focuses of the forum is deliberating on ways that can help integrate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and young people in creating employment for themselves.
“We have a lot of creative young people and we know that if we channel their energies in the right direction we can use their creativity to sustain innovative projects to gain employment for young people in Guyana.”
During the deliberations at the Youth Forum, regional youths, including those from Guyana, will also be examining ways to attract more young people in the field of entrepreneurship.
At present, in Guyana the Ministry of Labour is working with a number of youth organisations to assist in the empowerment of young people in the areas of private enterprise and the establishment of small businesses.
Speaking about channeling positive change among youths, Currie said that in the Caribbean there is a security dilemma and youths are both victims and the perpetrators to some of these.
“We will be discussing and seeking to find ways to channel these youths to gain positive employment and to work with decision makers to integrate youths in the national security and public safety trust.”
In the region, there is a growing phenomenon of gangs and during the forum, youths will be suggesting ways to stem the development of these gangs and turn those persons into positive young people, enabling them to become social entrepreneurs and national developers.
The forum will also be examining ways to start businesses for young people without major capital requirements since finances for new business are challenging in light of the global financial crisis.
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