A CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Labour Stakeholders Regional Workshop, which will explore education, social security, among other areas, got underway on Monday at the Fort Young Hotel.
The two-day workshop is being hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat with the assistance of the European Union 10th EDF CSME and Economic Integration Programme.
Communications Specialist within the CSME Unit of the CARICOM Secretariat, Salas Hamilton said the workshop will explore in some depth the areas of education, occupational classification, social security and social dialogue.
“As we seek to expand the category of skilled workers, we can move and seek employment across member states. The development of the Caribbean vocational qualification (CVQ) assumes major importance,” he sad at the opening of the workshop.
Hamilton stated further that the harmonization of the classification of occupation among CARICOM member state is vital, “to achieving a common understanding of professional categories as persons move from one member state to another for employment.”
“We also want to ensure that persons can have their social security benefits move with them, and not lose out on these because they have decided to leave and work in another CARICOM country,” he said.
He is of hope that participants will learn over the next two days, “an increased knowledge, information and appreciation of what is involved in the CSME and how advantage it is and can be to you and the people you represent.”
“We would like that after the next two days you feel genuinely motivated to not just promote but champion the CSME to your membership and even to other stakeholder groups with whom you may collaborate,” Hamilton told those attending the workshop.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary, Ambassador Steve Ferrol who presented the featured address on behalf of Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit said, among the many relevant topics to be discussed, a few stands out as core areas to addressed.
“Namely the development of labour market, information systems in the CSME, social protection in the CSME, harmonization of labour legislation among member states,” he saated.
According to Ferrol, central to addressing the challenges of free movement of labour is the development and efficient operation of a regional labour market information system.
“That system is crucial as it will guide policy makers in designing practical and targeting employment relation policies and programmes based on the supply and demand of the labour market,” he explained.
However, he noted, “ A natural prerequisite will be the development and effective management of national labour market information systems to feed into and support the proposed regional system.”
He added, “Although attempts have been made in a number of member states to set up these national systems, the experience is that the update and maintenance of these systems remain a challenge for many particular the smallest states among us…”
Ferrol revealed that social protection in its wider context remain a challenge to the region due to the differing categories and levels presently offered by respective member states.
“The dicusssion still remains as to which of these are transferable and which should be available to persons moving from one member state to another,” he said. “A more challenging aspect however, will be to address issues of labour practices within the region,” he said.
Senior Project Officer within the CSME Unit of the CARICOM Secretariat, Ayodele Hippolyte said the workshop is of utmost importance.
“We are quite aware of the whole issue of freedom of movement of labour and skills throughout the region and so, we want to make sure you the representatives of employers and workers associations who represent the backbone of one of the vital stakeholder groups in the whole freedom of movement arrangements…,” she explained.
Hippolyte said the workshop is aimed at updating and apprising persons of the latest developments as well as social security arrangements.
She said she looks forward to, “a productive, fruitful and enlightening two days.”
“And when you go back to your organizations, we hope that you will be better informed, more knowledgeable and excited about the CSME,” she said.
Representatives from across the Caribbean Community including, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Monsterrat, Belize, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname and St Lucia are all present at that workshop.
The deliberations at this CARICOM Workshop are pertinent to the future socio-economic development of our Caribbean Countries. We just cannot hide from the realities of free movement of skilled workers, the employment situation, social security provisions and the associated relevant, innovative strategies such as the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ).
We further need to explore the required Leadership, policy and change strategies and practical applications at our organizations and learning institutions effectively to transform the social fabric of our people, communities and societies.
This major challenge needs to be investigated and applied from several perspectives. However, the collaborative interventions are required from all stakeholders from legislative policy developers, the providers of resources to the implementers and recipients. We must gear our vision and mission towards realizing the necessary performance, productivity and satisfaction at all levels. We need to embark on this positive social change process for the benefit of our people, communities and societies.
This workshop that represents a small cog in the whole process is relevant and timely. However, we must note that our Caribbean peoples have no choice but to enhance our operations not only as national and regional but also as a global entity.