From Ceola Wilson The Royal Gazette

“Fahy hoping to forge stronger ties with labour leaders”

Bermuda will forge stronger ties with labour leaders in the Caribbean to develop an integrated market “responsive to business needs while recognising the needs of workers”.

Just back from the meeting of the Eighth ILO Meeting of Caribbean Labour Ministers, Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy said the recent dialogue was productive, and the relationships established were “invaluable.

Follow-up communication with respect to “specific policy and legislative frameworks, particularly as it relates to the modernisation of Bermuda’s labour laws” are already underway.

Sen Fahy noted that a review process will begin in the coming months with a view to modernising Bermuda’s labour laws.

“Many of the jurisdictions attending the meeting have already commenced labour law reviews,” said Sen Fahy. “Partnerships and information exchanges with some of these jurisdictions as well as the ILO will most definitely assist in expediting Bermuda’s review.”

He noted that Bermuda “is already ahead of many of the other jurisdictions as it relates to defining systems for workforce education and training”.

In a Ministerial Statement in the Upper House today he said: “The development of Bermuda’s National Training Plan is well underway wherein a planning framework has been approved by the Ministry and the subcommittees are actively engaged in the research phase.

“I have agreed to share our findings and outcomes with Ministers in other jurisdictions to aid their planning efforts.

“Likewise, the Minister from St Kitts, following a robust discussion on ideas to stimulate economic growth and development, has agreed to share information with Bermuda with respect to its economic citizenship programme. A programme designed to stimulate economic activity through investment.”

In closing he said: “I look forward to strengthening the relationships with Labour Ministers in the region and to long and productive working relationships that are mutually beneficial to our respective Island homes.”

The two-day meeting was held in Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago on July 2. The Minister was accompanied by Workforce Development Director George Outerbridge.

He also told Senators that the “all inclusive cost of the trip for both Bermuda representatives was underwritten by the ILO” which included airfare, hotel accommodations and a per diem.

The meeting was attended by Labour Ministers of Labour and other high-level representatives of the Ministries and Departments of Labour of the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.

Also attending was the ILO Director-General, the CARICOM Secretary General as well as representatives of the Caribbean Employers’ Confederation and the Caribbean Congress of Labour.

A total of 21 delegations were present, 16 of which were led by Ministers. The conference was held under the theme “Coherence for Human and Social Development in the Caribbean”.

Participants agreed that “there is scope for working together for a Caribbean-wide response to the emerging opportunities and challenges” moving forward.

And Labour Ministers should play a key role in developing an integrated labour markets.

It was also agreed that “greater emphasis needs to be placed on productivity enhancement to support economic growth and job creation”.

According to Sen Fahy, this discussion was led primarily by Bermuda and Cayman on the issue of finding “the balance between guest workers and locals” which presents similar challenges.

The emphasis was also placed on entrepreneurship education, particularly for young people with a view to strengthen technical and vocational education and training.

The Ministers agreed that the need exists to for the “reform of curricula to place greater focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

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http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20130717/NEWS/707179919