My focus this week is to again shed some light on the sad state of affairs and the plight of the workers especially those in the hotel industry – the island’s main source of income. Our hotel workers are some of the most loyal, faithful and hardworking employees, yet they continue to be pushed around and treated like doormats. I always did my best, with what I had, to uplift them. However, my hands were tied to some extent as the labour laws are outdated and have armed employers with weapons to carry out mass destruction on helpless employees. Some employers are having a feast dumping their workers at will with no regard for their welfare, while Governments idly stand by not doing anything whatsoever. One begs the question, why have this type of behaviour been allowed to go on without any moral suasion or intervention by Government on behalf of the workers for so many years? Governments have a moral responsibility to its people and have to negotiate on their behalf irrespctive of laws or not. We are not talking about giving them a fish, but helping them to fish, by continuing decent employment to provide the basic needs for their families.
Our hotel industry is laden with female employees. The majority of them are the head of their homes and are also the breadwinners. I was in the trenches with them so I have firsthand knowledge of their plight. I saw their struggles, resilience, despair and hurt feelings especially when they come to work and are told that they no longer have a job. One can imagine the negative impact on their homes when they are not in a position to provide even the basic needs for their families. I also noted in previous articles that employees come to work and are instructed to give the guests 5 Star service. However, who are looking out for the workers? Over the years some employers have skillfully promoted that our workers are lazy and laid back without any regard to giving a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay. In a meeting I was shocked to hear a Minister agreeing to this view. I find this thinking erroneous and insulting as the actions of a few bad employees should not be used to make a false generalization of many hardworking and faithful workers.
There is hope for us to address some important issues in the new Draft Labour Code, but we await to see how long it will take for it to be put into law. I listened attentively to the public consultation on the Code and I am not surprised of the people who are against it. I applaud Mrs. Cora Richardson – Hodge, the Minister of Labour, who is genuinely fighting the major opponents of the Code. Some persons are wondering if she is getting any support from her colleagues. Anguilla is a society where big businesses run things supported by some legal, governing and business agencies. I am encouraging those professionals who have a good conscience and a love for people to continue using their talents for the social betterment of this society and humanity generally. You are in a privileged position to uplift and help others. Take to heart and action the inspiring and powerful Word: “To whom much is given much is required.” The survival of this island depends on the love, compassion selfless leadership and humility of all of us. History has illustrated to us that those who humbled themselves, the Universe exalted them, whereas individuals who exalted themselves, being full of pride, greed and arrogance, they were humbled.
I always wrote about the view that the system is devised so that a selected few is benefiting at the expense of the wider community. The world doesn’t belong to leaders and businesses alone – it belongs to all humanity. Leadership is to ensure that the people are empowered and not to be taken advantage of. I must admit that we are in now a compassion debt and Anguilla is at a cross roads. Showing love and compassion to the people are two of the key characteristics of a true leader. There is scant disregard for employees. They are played and toyed with. While the response from leaders in authority is nonexistence – if there is any, it is somewhat vague and superficial. Whenever you talk or write about these unfortunate circumstances, the response by many, including sitting governments, is that you are being political and is using the situation for political mileage. They prefer you to look on and say nothing even when the bread and butter issues of the people are at stake. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. eloquently and perfectly stated that “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”. Additionally, it is said that “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself serving others”. You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless; however, when you are kind to the poor and you look out for the oppressed and downtrodden in society, the Creator is honored and pleased.
I have knowledge, wisdom and understanding that the trials and adversities we encounter in life are temporary circumstances that we have to embrace, but never allow them to become a permanent feature engraved on our mind. It is Martin Luther King Jr. who said that, The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. I am also cognizant that whenever one takes a stand and speaks out against oppressive regimes, without a doubt you will be a target. With courage, a strong conviction, a mental toughness and divine intervention one can overcome anything. Nelson Mandela observed that, “Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.” My passion has always been focused on building relationships in people centric work spaces, where employees feel valued and are treated with fairness and respect. It is never about me. “It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
