President of the Dominica Employers Federation (DEF) Benoit Bardouille is renewing calls for amendments to be made to the existing legislation to make Sunday a normal working day.
Bardouille was addressing an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the DEF last week.
He argues that the shopping trends have changed and employers should follow suit.
“The employers call is driven by the shopping patterns of patrons who now demand the opportunity to shop every day of the week. And so because we are operating in a demand driven culture, employers have to respond,” he said. “We still need to continue to advocate for an amendment to the legislation.”
According to the DEF’s President, advocacy in recent times has been led by a repeated call for liberalization of the legislative restriction on Sunday trading adding that prior to May 1990 there was no restriction.
He added that even with the introduction of the restriction, there are no reasons given to explain it.
He stated that the restriction in law was not based on worshipping on Sundays.
“We know it is not for worship, and I repeat, we know it is not for worship,” Bardouille pointed out. “Since the Protection of Employment Act already caters for one to be already absent from work to take part in religious worship.”
Both the President of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA) Gregor Nassief and the Executive Director of the DEF Archille Joseph have expressed their views in support of making Sunday a working day.
However the Trade Unions on the island are opposed to the idea.
You people understands nothing that’s important to get you out of slavery, what f o you learn in school they teach you how to quote the bible and stay proffesional beggers. Every country that’s rich had to forget jesus work seven days a week to build their society the way it is today. China closed it doors to the outside world now they are a super power. You people from dominica send all your money to china buying cheap good the rest goes to miami to the cubans. It is necessary yt? O work seven days to build your selves and your country. After work every body should do like me go to the garden. Jesus is always with you all the time go to work
There is no problem working Sunday’s I did it myself but I get double time for that. I say no to making it a normal working day because what that does it give employees right not to give you your double day. We are all trying to make money but not spend it. I will work Sunday’s but at double or time and a half.
I worked the weekends while I was at college so that I could attend classes and completes assignments during the week without difficulty. Had this not been the case, I would have starved to death. We need to be open minded about this. I have been paid time and a half for working on weekends in the past.
If the economy desires a Sunday, then that’s what we need to do. What if nurses, police officers and doctors refuse to perform surgery on a Sunday during an emergency?
What ever happened to Tuesday night prayer meetings and Wednesday night service for those who are religious? Let’s not act as if Sunday is the only worship day available to religious people on the island.
The question is if Sunday a normal working day will you still get paid time and a half? No I guess not
This should be left as it is! Adding one more day will do nothing for the fledgling tourist industry. Do not reinvent the wheel, take a page from St. Thomas for instance, consult with them, ask how they do it. Not just drinking buddies agreeing with each other. That’s what I am sensing here. Adding one more day can have negative effects on the society and not much change to tourism.
Leave it as is please. Sunday is a day of worship ! A day of rest !
Why be a copycat? We don’t want to follow the US way of living. Working on Sundays in most jobs is not an option in the US u have to work when u are required or else ull be fired if u dont. Keep Sunday as Sunday. We got 6 days and that’s enough
We too peaceful in this country. We need to take action against those who offend us!
Benoit Bardouille, God gave you life, health and strength. You are still walking on your two feet, have two hands with fingers, a face and mouth. With all that which God has endowed you with, you choose to want his people to work for the almighty dollar on Sundays? Throwing a slap in his face, eh? Wait and see.
You, no doubt, once a religious man, you are now calling for work on Sundays, the one day Christians are able to go to Church to worship God and to spend time with their family.
Man, have a heart and a godly one at that! Cease offending God and pleasing Satan, the detractor and destroyer of souls who is laughing at you, knowing where you will end up by ignoring God, The Lord’s Day which He expects all Christians to worship on that day. You want to pull others down with you?
You cannot take away their Sundays from them and make it a normal work day. I hope they say NO!!! .
So what about those who worship on the Sabbath (aka Saturday)? Stupessss
I will work if the pm and his boys work too. Good for one good for all
There are two set of ppl living in this world, they are the children of the devil and of god. Is only those of the devil will call for the day of worship to be a working day. So we would stop giving him his glory, but the devil is lier. And his worker of iniquity.
So why he don’t tell the Saturday worshipers to open on Saturdays stupes
No one is going to get me to work on a Saturday and Sunday, there is no way I am going to get rich by working on these two days and working on Sundays is not going to have any impact on Dominicas economy. So the people who are calling for people working on Sunday are just idiots. Working on a Sunday should remains someone’s choice.
Papa lord, working on a Sunday working on a Monday what difference does it make, you’re getting paid, talking about worship and you all are still bad at heart. In the tourism sector you working everyday, yes you get off but you have to work on Sunday’s, again those lazy office workers unproductive are the one crying no Sunday.
Dominicans lets all fight against this nonsense. Work on a Sunday? eh? A sunday is the day most people take a rest from the whole week of hassle and hard work. Greedy them man greedy they want to force it on us. They already underpaying us and still want to take our rest from us. When we suppose to recieve a dollar and hour they giving us 5 cents wi. Now they want to force us to work. Mr Bardouille i love my sundays so please dont try to make it a nightmare for us in Dominica. If we choose to work on a sunday and to be paid double the amount then it will be up to us. But i telling you which Dominicans wants their life like a slave? Nah hold your nonesense for you and your family. We have a life besides work. BACK OFF MAN!!!!!
The Old Testament law that required devoted Jews to observe the seventh day (Saturday) as a day of absolute rest ended at the cross when Jesus cried “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
The Apostle Paul wrote that Christ nailed this law to His cross along with the Sabbath days, and all its rituals. (Colossians 2:14-17)
Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week (Sunday).
After His resurrection He appeared twice on Sundays to His disciples.
Sunday was the “day of Pentecost” (Acts 2) when God sent the Holy Spirit.
Sunday was the day of worship for the early church. (Acts 20:7)
St. Paul instructed the believers to receive the church offering on Sunday. (1 Corinthians 16:1,2)
St. John referred to Sunday as “the Lord’s day”. (Revelation 1:10)
Several of the church fathers in the second or third century referred in their writings to Sunday as “the Lord’s day”.
Most Christians believe it is HIS day; a day for rest and worship.
Sincerely,…
I am supportive of businesses opening up and people working on Sunday. What I am opposed to is classifying Sunday as a “normal” working day. Those who work on Sundays should, at a minimum, receive time and a half pay. Anything less is a slap in the face to an already struggling workforce!
i think the issue here is paying over time or double or time and half pay whichever one is applicable for sunday pay…lots of people work sundays ……look at clear harbor however they work a shift system so they are given two days of during the week …also there’s govt workers who work on sunday no overtime or what have you because they get off days during the week so MR BARDOUILLE COME CORRECT AND EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE ..I THINK YOU JUST DONT WANT TO PAY THE EXTRA MONEY
Not all people are given an option. Depending on the type of business some people are required to work on Sunday. In those positons, most often employers will rotate the emplyees days so it is fair to everyone and they will have different days off.
While living abroad I worked on a Sunday. I was not forced to work on a Sunday, it was my choice. I had Wednesday off to rest. Much better day, all you people working and I had the beach to myself.
It’s just a matter of time. today is the issue on we should work on Sundays, Tomorrow will be that we will be denied the freedom to pray and worship in our free country. People take heed this is where this is heading to.
I HOPE HE WORKS ON A SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the U.S. people are given the option to work on Sundays. No one is forced to. Most employers pay time-and-a half or double-time. I think it is a good idea to allow businesses to open on Sundays because it is good for the economy.
Where in America do they pay time and half to work on a Sunday? We are not talking about babysitters, we are talking about regular working people with regular jobs. The ones who are working legally.
“Tell the truth for once” you need to do your research if you live in the us and you are not getting paid double time for working at your legal “regular” job on a Sunday, you are working at the wrong place, Look for another job.
Sunday or Saturday, whatever day you choose is a day to give all thanks and praises to almighty God. This thing about working on a Sunday is putting money before God, when we die we are leaving all of it behind, God is here today, he was there yesterday and he will be there tomorrow. We cannot say the same about our selves all we have is now.
Steups. Not everyone is religious or believes in a deity, and some of them would be willing to give their hard work and time to labour on a Sunday. The rest of the civilised world has no problems allowing people to work on Sunday. Religion and government must be separate.
You are correct. He knows, sees and hears all things. Whatever is done on this earth and by whoever, He is taking note, either for reward in Heaven or condemnation in Hell.
Dear Mr. Bardouille.
Even the FATHER rested. Perhaps you do not have a life, a family or do not need to rest, but magway sar! People need at least one day to rest, to spend with family, to fellowship. Come on man!
This demand for Sunday as a regular work day is just for the benefit of a few supermarkets/restaurants in Roseau, who do not want to pay over-time pay, Dominicans barely shop for anything besides prepared food on a Sunday.
So the enterprises which open on Sundays are doing so illegally?the problem is that these people do not want to pay the workers overtime for working on Sundays, but there is nothing stopping anybody from operating their business on Sunday.if Sunday is made a normal working day then the everyday rates apply.This is the crux of the matter ,that fancy talk of shoppers demands is just idiotic smokescreen.
if not Sunday then when will be rest day?and if a worker agrees to work on his or her rest day whichever day it is ,will they not still be entitled to overtime pay?even the christian God we all profess to believe ,it is said, took one day off for rest.
I agree with you 100%. Actually anyone working on a Sunday should be paid double time. I live in the US and I get paid Overtime for work performed on a Saturday, Double time for work performed on a Sunday, and Two and a half times for work performed on a holiday. I am also only required to work 40hrs per week. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are by choice. Working on those days is not compulsory.
This is not the norm for the regular working individuals. The only truth in your statement is the 40 hours. This statement says you have never worked a regular job since you do not know the truth about holding a job.
He actually rested on the 7th day, not Sunday which is the first day!
Apples and Oranges….the 1st day of the week could be Wednesday or Thursday for me…Nothing in the bible declares “Saturday” or “Sunday” or any other named day as the Sabbath…they were just using a numerical system to name the days in the olden times. So let’s just stop the silly argument about Saturday and Sunday ok? It’s getting old now. Bon.
stupzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz man!
Read your bible and on the seventh day the creator rested then commanded us to do the same.
And now read this comment, and realise that not everyone cares what is in your bible because not everyone is religious. A person should be allowed to work, if they wish to contribute their labour, on a Sunday, regardless of other people’s religious beliefs, and another person should have the option not to work. What cannot happen is you saying *no one at all* should work on Sunday because of your specific religious beliefs.
Man , come out there , if all u not complaining about too much sick leave is to work on Sunday … Sunday is my day to give praise to the lord n study my kids … Only day I actually have with dem cause k work everyday including Saturday … Man come out there eh …
@ Tru Dominican….good one…Let me help you…. Man run you, just now you will ask for people to work day and night, take a 1/2 hour break to sponge, grab something to eat and back to the grind? It seem you asking to bring back slavery…. Man run you eh!
The issue here is greed on the part of the DEF. There is nothing stopping you from opening your business whenever you want.These employers don’t want to pay there employees double day for Sundays so they want the day and soon public holidays to considered normal working days.
NO!NO!NO! WE DOH WANT TO WORK ON SUNDAY. Sunday is family time,Sunday is relaxing time,Sunday is my time,Sunday is your time. If you want to open your business on sunday that is up to you,who is stoping you? go ahead. We as a people have gotten too greedy ,more ,more ,more wher does it end . One has to work in order to live not live to work.” Fire bon “dis sunday working mentality.
BULL, even GOD rested, Man I DO NOT WORK for NO MAN on Sundays… Fire me… I will NOT work on Sundays
I dont see an issue with sunday work. Everyone wants to compare dominica with other countries but dont was to adapt other countries style. Is either you move forward or you stay stagnant and hush your a$$.
Lets take a look from 1952 to now how many graduates from the university of the westindes who owned a factory or hotel that employes 100 people in the entire caribean. How many millionaires were created from that system, they created servants to work talk and argue about shakespare. We can either reform itnow or shut it down. This school is not working to free black people. Guest who is in charge black peoplewhat are they afraid off. If the people who ran the water company no one would have to tell them to sell water to get out of slavery where they dont have to beg the chinese for pipes. We must win our selves from that dope we must think and stop being proffesional beggers. The ministers are so proud that Skerritt knows hoe to beg, no one tells him how to create wealth at home. Is the blue going to do the same become better proffesional beggers or create millionaire at home
WORKING ON SUNDAY SURE, AS LONG AS I GET PAID FOR IT.
My opinion…Sunday worshipers respect the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Money isn’t everything! Just saying
stupes, bardouille its time for you to STFHU. allu economic driven greed will break up families, people need time with their family and friends
This is the way the world is going. Bardouille is a copycat. Little does he know, by wanting Sundays to be a mandatory work day, he will place a curse on Dominica, himself, his household and endeavors.
How many jobs does Bardouillle have?
Give another man a chance,you behaving like Crazy John
I would like to see all his pay checks at month end he need a Carib basket to carry them
You want to do like the states!!! Soon you will say Ban prayer in schools and in public.
Noted
You would be foolish to take an example from the U.S.A. at this time in history.
Sadly, America is not the only nation that has done this. But Mr. Obama has taken his nation out from under God’s protection. He knows he is in deep trouble. When you make the decisions and choices he has made you no longer have God on your side.
For almost 2,000 years Christians have called the first day of the week “the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10, also Christian writers in the second and third centuries) and have come together on this day to worship.
(Acts 20:7) (1 Corinthians 16:1,2)
For those who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior it is a day of rest, worship, and family togetherness. It has been for nearly 2,000 years.
We invite you to join us!
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Are you God? Leave President Obama out of your business. Last I check God was not a man from St. Lucia who forgot where he came from.
Bardouille YOU NOT HEARING I DOH WANT TO WORK ON SUNDAYS??
STUPES!!
but but Pizza hut does open on a Sunday and holiday, nothing stopping you from doing the same… you don’t have to change no law if you want to open your business on Sundays…
They don’t want to pay overtime.
Ok fine..lets say it is not for worship.
So an individuals life is supposed to be at work from 8-4 ALL their lives?
When does an individual have time to be with your children and family? and dont tell me in the afternoon, when you live work at 4:30 and drive to portsmouth it already 5:30. Undress, relax, make food.7:30. You tired…you making tracks to hit your bed.
We look at other countries and say oh this and that..follow the trend. There are other trends…in those countries where children essentially raising themselves, don’t we see the high crime rates? Then we say parents not raising their children right. Oh course they not… WHERE IS THE TIME…you dont even have time to teach your little child 1+1. !
Then we say Dominica has the highest number of centenarians, well…could this be because our population is not over worked like many individuals of other countries?
Hold a public debate so i can give you’ll the 101 reasons this will not work
Sorry I gave you a thumbs down. Now I understand, you are working too much. Wish I could reverse it to a thumbs up. DNO can you help please. One less thumbs down.
We are so behind and brain washed by the church and the British , we need to work seven days a week to catch up. Close all churches for ten yrs and get to worked. Christianity did a number on us , they give us jesus , salvation, and poverty, and they leave us as proffesional beggers singing for our supper all over the world. Every body who was under the British is getting out of slavery, except the blacks, the indians is getting out, chinese, singapore, and every other race they give us jesus, we are so confused blue turn on red over crumbs.
Great comment. Very true. Colonialism still rules too many of our minds, yet most Dominicans are happy slaves to the white colonists’ religions and laws.
I feel sorry for you. You have condemned yourself.
if this is approved and sunday becomes a working day, which day is our off day to relax and enjoy our family time?
Just emphatically let Bardouille know that Dominicans who are of course in the majority refuse to work on Sundays. This would put a spoke in his wheel once and for all.
no work on Sunday , where you want us to put our GOD Benoit? God my not be part of all you lives, but he is sure part of mine and Sundays is when i devote the day to him. What happen to us ? we keep saying we are a God fearing nation, a great percent of the population worship there God on Sundays. So right now money before God ? while you at it revising laws making Sunday a working day, i say why don’t you ask to change the law and legalize gay marriages too, they are citizens of Dominica and they have right too, Benoit and company .
Question: If Sunday is made a normal working day, then there is no more double time pay for workers? Isn’t it difficult enough for citizens of this country?
Notice who is behind this? The people who have to pay…
I hope they call for an increase in the minimum wage with these calls cuz if not they need to stop.
I would like to know with the normalization of a Sunday as a workday (so they likely won’t have to pay the increased wages for Sundays since it’s considered a holiday), do they plan on increasing the minimum wage or the salary of staff considering the level it is now? Do they plan on providing transportation or healthcare benefits? What does the employer plan to do for the employee so that they can use them to make more money?