By Sue-Ann Wayow
NOW more than ever in the world’s history, heightened and fruitful consultations need to take place between the labour force and the business class.
President of the Industrial Court Deborah Thomas-Felix made this one of her points as she spoke during her second book launch at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Port of Spain on June 4.
Thomas-Felix’s latest book entitled Labour Law and Good Industrial Relations – Progressive Discipline and Maternity Protection in the Workplace focuses on guidelines on how to approach discipline at the workplace, the law as it relates to the unilateral alteration of the terms and conditions of employment as well as the right to be heard, and a discussion on the special protection for pregnant women to ensure that they enjoy decent work in dignity and in safe and healthy surroundings during and after pregnancy.
She said, “I cannot overemphasise the importance of social dialogue for an inclusive, sustainable, resilient recovery from this pandemic and for future growth. If there is ever a time, in the history of the world, for there to be the coming together of minds about the labour market and sustainable development; this is the time.”
Thomas-Felix added that the transformation of economies continues to be witnessed, there was disruption to the labour market daily, the work environment was rapidly changing and the profound effect of the pandemic on several businesses including the retraining and the re-skilling of the work force and the closure of some businesses.
She said, “The approach to recovery, as I see it, is the meeting of the minds with an aim to foster sustainable growth, social peace, and resilience. As we work together to ensure continuity in the future, there is only one progressive approach, in my view, which is an approach with consultation firmly at the center. Social dialogue is the linchpin for social partners to navigate this pandemic and to create new systems to carve a path forward for this nation and by extension, the region, to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
Dr Shelton Nicholls Senior Advisor to the President, Caribbean Development Bank also spoke.
He commended Thomas-Felix for making the time to write the book.
Dr Nicholls said, “It is always inspiring when judicial leaders take time away from their daily routine to examine the important interplay between the judicial system and the evolving industrial relations climate in our region.”
He said, “Her Honour draws from a wealth of regional case material and provides much clarity on how industrial relations practices in the region could be improved.”
Thomas-Felix thanked all of the speakers at the launch including Dr Nicholls, Judge Heather Seale, Judge Elizabeth Solomon and Rahim Mohammed and also mentioned Independent Senator Paul Richards.
She also thanked her sister Valerie, sons Araya and Makiri and nephew Kurt for their love.
Additional gratitude went to the judges and staff of the Industrial Court and all her friends and relatives who have supported her in the process as well as the team who worked with her for the launch.
Thomas-Felix’s first book called Labour Law in the Commonwealth Caribbean: Practice of Good Industrial Relations in the 21st Century, was launched last year.
