Number of contract workers a concern

Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) Wayne Walrond, is again voicing concerns over the Government’s increasing reliance on contract workers. In particular, he highlighted the negative repercussions this trend is having on the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). “The union has observed that there are still several persons being engaged by […]

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Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) Wayne Walrond, is again voicing concerns over the Government’s increasing reliance on contract workers.

In particular, he highlighted the negative repercussions this trend is having on the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

“The union has observed that there are still several persons being engaged by the Government under a contract arrangement. The example that comes to mind is the persons doing the seaweed cleanup, which is being managed by the National Conservation Commission (NCC). The union is happy whenever the Government provides employment opportunities for persons, we always welcome the opportunity for people to be able to work. However, we are still concerned about the high number of persons being engaged in contracts for services,” he added.

Walrond’s main issue revolved around the lack of social security protections for these contract workers.

“While these persons will get some monies in their pocket based on the days that they work, they are provided no protection from National Insurance if they are injured on the job. These workers cannot get maternity leave, they are not entitled to any of the social security services provided under the National Insurance Scheme.

“Government does not make contributions to National Insurance on behalf of these workers, and based on the fact that the terms of their work arrangement are more in keeping with an employee rather than an independent contractor, they are not allowed to register as selfemployed,” he pointed out.

This is not the first time Walrond has raised such issues. Over the past few years, he has repeatedly called attention to the precarious position of contract workers, emphasising the importance of their inclusion in the NIS. His concerns are compounded by the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) convention on decent work, to which Barbados is a signatory.

“The ILO convention speaks about decent work. This means that the work must be done under the right accommodations and provisions which include protection under the social security net. These arrangements are certainly not in keeping with the ILO convention on decent work,” he said.

He noted that the situation is particularly dire for young workers, who are being deprived of the chance to contribute to the NIS and secure their financial future.

“These workers are between a rock and a hard place,” Walrond lamented.

“The union is especially concerned because these are young people who should be contributing to the NIS, which we are currently trying to build to ensure that there is money there for the future to secure pensions. We also must bear in mind that the NIS has moved the qualifying period for pensions from ten years to 15 years. Therefore, it is unfair that these people are hindered from contributing to their future security,” the outspoken trade unionist explained.

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