Colleagues at Viceroy Anguilla have had two useful consultations on the draft Labour Code now being presented to workers and employers, and the community in general, by officials in the Ministry and Department of Labour.
The first consultation was presented early last week by the Minister, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge; Ministerial Assistant, Mrs. Evalie Bradley; and Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Aunika Webster-Lake. Later in the week, both Mrs. Webster-Lake and Mrs. Bradley conducted the second consultation with another group of Viceroy’s colleagues.
Commenting on the usefulness of the consultations, Ms. Dorla Hodge, Viceroy’s Director of Human Resources, said: “I think it is important to get the input of the persons that the Labour Code will impact. Viceroy is actually the largest employer outside the Government of Anguilla, and therefore we felt the need for the Labour Commissioner and Ministry of Labour representatives to speak to us about the changes that will ultimately impact our colleagues when the Code goes into effect. There has been a great dialogue. If you don’t involve the persons in the process – when it rolls out you will have a [difficult] circumstance; but if you involve them in the process, they will feel a part of the procedure and be more receptive of the changes when they take effect.”
The Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Webster-Lake, commented: “The idea of the consultations is to get people involved and informed. We want to hear from them. We don’t want a case when the Code goes to the House of Assembly for persons to say they don’t like this, or that, and no one ever asked me. So what we are doing is that we are asking people to have a voice in this matter. The aim is that when we finished it – although it will not be what everyone likes – it would be for the betterment of Anguilla – where it is consistent and fair. It is not just pleasing individuals, but the best thing for Anguilla.”
