General Secretary of the Dominica Amalgamated Workers Union (DAWU), Mrs Elias Leah Shillingford, was among trade union officials from across the Caribbean who successfully completed a three-week training program on International Labour Standards (ILS) organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
This training, held from July 22 to August 9, 2024, has equipped the participants with a deeper understanding of their roles within the ILS system, the functioning of supervisory mechanisms, and the process of submitting reports to the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR).
The training aimed to empower union leaders and industrial relations officers from Caribbean trade union centers to strategically utilize ILO supervisory mechanisms. By enhancing their participation in these mechanisms, the officials are now better prepared to represent workers’ needs and rights effectively, both before their countries ratify conventions and during the implementation and reporting phases.
Twenty participants from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago took part in this comprehensive program.
Special thanks were extended to Her Honour Ms. Deborah Thomas-Felix, former President of the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago, ILO Actrav, the International Trade Union Confederation, the Caribbean Congress of Labour, and ITCILO for their collaboration in making this training program a success.
This training comes at a crucial time, as all participating countries are currently in default of reporting to the ILO-CEACR and must submit their reports by September 1, 2024. Dominica, in particular, has thirteen conventions outstanding. The successful completion of this training ensures that these trade unionists are now better equipped to meet these reporting requirements and advocate for the rights of workers across the Caribbean.
Participants of the training were provided with several key takeaways:
- Enhanced Understanding of ILS: Participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the International Labour Standards (ILS) system, including the roles and responsibilities of trade unions within this framework.
- Supervisory Mechanisms: The training covered the functioning of ILO supervisory mechanisms, which are crucial for monitoring compliance with international labour standards.
- Reporting Skills: Participants learned how to effectively submit reports to the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR), a critical aspect of ensuring that countries adhere to their commitments.
- Strategic Utilization: The training emphasized the strategic use of ILO supervisory mechanisms to better advocate for workers’ rights and needs, both before and after the ratification of conventions.
- Collaboration and Networking: The program facilitated collaboration among trade unionists from various Caribbean countries, fostering a network of professionals dedicated to improving labour standards in the region.
- Immediate Application: With the upcoming deadline for reporting to the ILO-CEACR, participants are now better equipped to meet these requirements and address outstanding conventions, such as the thirteen pending for Dominica.
These takeaways ensure that the trade unionists are now more capable of representing and advocating for workers’ rights at both national and international levels.
Alice explain this one to me.There is a Chinatown in every state in the USA,one of the biggest is Carnal Street in New York.New York is dotted with Chinese restaurants and stores,not forgetting Flushing,where they have their own bank.I lived on Chinese chicken and fried rice for years.Are you telling me the Chinese are in the USA to take over the USA?At one time it was said the Chinese OWNED the USA,I wonder if you believe that?
Yes negetron!!!
Negativity is your only personality.
Every time I see your comments they negative.
You know skerrit can’t be blamed for all Dominicans issues right ???
And am not saying that because for iLabour, Am for Country.
As a child I saw Dominica under freedom party, we said she was the IRON LADY!! But never took Dominica anywhere. Then came UWP, we sank even worst than the titanic!!!! . Here comés Skerrit, having to clean up a whole mess, from all former parties before him.
Yet still you all are just putting all the blame on him. Before him who was in power. And am not saying his doing all perfect, But I will say he did better than them all
Only a person who has lost their mind would vote a gain for a party that was already in power, and sold there ressources to the French in Guadeloupe.
I do believe we should be extremly cearful with China, because this is a communiste country, and China don’t help for nothing
But we need to see the Wealth in Dominica…
Alice, you sure live in Wonderland!
Roosevelt is the most corrupt, most incompetent, most dictatorial, most uneducated a d I could carry on ad infinitum.
Facts are stubborn things. Dispute these:
*He met a thriving banana & agriculture sector – Torpedoed it!
*The country made $billions from passport sales – Vaporized it!
*He met a dominant sporting sector – Mutilated it!
*He met the country with a pristine image – Discolored it!
*He met ROSS U generating 33% GDP – chased it off island
This one cold blooded, wrecking ball of a leader and his devout anarchists have done generational damage and vandalism to Dominica.
Yes negetron!!!
Negativity is your only personality.
Every time I see your comments they negative.
You know skerrit can’t be blamed for all Dominicans issues right ???
And am not saying that because for iLabour, Am for Country.
As a child I saw Dominica under freedom party, we said she was the IRON LADY!! But never took Dominica anywhere. Then came UWP, we sank even worst than the titanic!!!! . Here comés Skerrit, having to clean up a whole mess, from all former parties before him.
Yet still you all are just putting all the blame on him. Before him who was in power. And am not saying his doing all perfect, But I will say he did better than them all
Only a person who has lost their mind would vote a gain for a party that was already in power, and sold there ressources to the French in Guadeloupe.
I do believe we should be extremly creaful with China, because this is a communiste country, and China don’t help for nothing
But we need to see the Wealth in Dominica…
I’m serious! Do trade & labour unions serve any purpose in Dominica? They are mostly dormant, low-key ed or impotent. They don’t aggressively engage in bargaining negotiations with government nor the private sector for better wages and working conditions for their underpaid and overworked members.
Dominica needs union leaders with a spine. Leaders who are courageous and would aggressively and relentlessly pursue the rights of workers for better deals and more benefits.
Specifically, unions should fight for better job security, for maternity, paternity and pension benefits, reasonable working hours, overtime pay, access to legal
representation on workplace harassment, bullying, discrimination or unfair firing.
Please be reminded that the Union leaders are not the union.
It is the Workers that are the unions. Together we stand. When the workers receive all the benefits, and do not pay the small unions dues, how do you expect the leaders to fight for all the better working conditions that you speak about?
The workers receive all the benefits in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but refuses to sign up to pay the union dues. The Labour laws does not make it mandatory to pay the dues, therefore the dilemma. It is the chicken and the egg situation. Which comes first?
What the Union leaders need to do is to sensitise the new generation on the importance of “joining a union”. There is now a 40 yrs gap and this young generation need to be educated on unionisation.
Finally, ask every worker who has a problem, whether they are in a union and you will receive your answer.