Pryce renews calls for domestic workers’ training institute

PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Household Workers’ Union, Shirley Pryce, has renewed her call for the Government to set up a training institute for domestic workers, noting that it is an avenue to enhance their quality of life.

Pryce, who is also the head of the Caribbean Domestic Workers Network, said that the “muchneeded” institution would be the first of its kind in the region.

She was speaking at the GraceKennedy/Heather LittleWhite Household Worker of the Year Awards Ceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, on Tuesday.

Pointing out that Prime Minister Andrew Holness had agreed that a training institute was needed and committed to making this a reality, Pryce disclosed that the union has received a syllabus from HEART Trust/NTA and would now like to move forward.

“Everyone who calls the office needs a trained domestic worker, but where are we going to do the training?” she asked.

“HEART is not a fit for domestic workers because they cannot go to school in the days, it has to be weekends and evenings, so that’s the plan,” said Pryce.

WORKERS OF THE YEAR

Meanwhile, Michael Brown and Rosemarie Forrester copped the Male and Female Household Worker of the Year Award, respectively, at the ceremony.

Both received $330,000 placed in an First Global Bank zccount and $25,000 in Hi-Lo Gift vouchers.

They will also receive financial assistance for educational advancement. This could be either for their personal development or they could choose to make the award of $100,000 to a student.

The GraceKennedy/Heather Little-White Household Worker of the Year Awards was inaugurated in 2014 to recognise and reward Jamaica’s household workers. It is presented in the name of the late Dr Heather Little-White because of her years of service at GraceKennedy, training household workers, and her dedication to the improvement of their skills and their lives.