Penalties for breach of labour laws being reviewed – Chief Labour Officer
Saying that businesses are continuing to breach the labour laws due to their scant regard for the penalties, Chief Labour Officer (CLO) Dhaneshwar Deonarine has announced that a review is underway.
Deonarine made the announcement at a recent seminar conducted by the Ministry of Labour.
In a press release, the ministry said the one-day seminar was held at the Sensation Banquet Hall and saw more than 35 businesses from Corentyne, Region Six, in attendance.
The seminar addressed Conditions of Work, Occupational Safety and Health requirements, Industrial Training and Employment Exchange Services.
According to the release, the participating businesses were urged by Deonarine, to see their employees as the most important factor of production and as their greatest asset and to honour their obligations to the employees and provide just conditions of work. The CLO pointed out that businesses and companies continue to breach the relevant laws because perhaps the penalties are nugatory or worthless to them. “In this regard he communicated that these labour laws are currently being reviewed,” the release said.
He also voiced his hope that if the labour laws are not sufficient to deter noncompliance, the morality lens would be used as their guide in the interregnum.
The release noted that the seminar was held as part of a programme that seeks to sensitise the business community on the
laws and regulations governing the conditions of work and safe systems of work. Additionally, it said a partnership with the business community is seen as a catalyst and means to encourage, promote and ensure compliance with the laws relating to conditions of work and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH.)
The seminar focused on the labour laws governing overtime payments, termination of employment and severance pay, inspection and record keeping, minimum wage, probation period and leave with pay, industrial training and relations through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and safety and health at work and the OSH laws.