Tourism Minister Addresses Industry Concerns Amid Worker Protests

McKoys News | 2024-11-18 | Original Article

ST JAMES, Jamaica— Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is continuing discussions with key stakeholders in Jamaica’s tourism sector following a series of protests by hospitality workers demanding better wages and improved working conditions.

 

The talks, which began Sunday and resumed Monday, involve the “entire ownership structure” of the tourism industry, representing 196 entities that employ workers under varying management and operational arrangements.

 

“We have to work it through together,” Bartlett said on Sunday during a reception for the inaugural Bahamasair flight at Sangster International Airport. He stressed the importance of dialogue between management and staff, urging employers to meet with their teams to address grievances and restore normalcy.

 

“Solutions are not had when we are poles apart. They are only had when we are together,” Bartlett said.

 

The protests, which began last month, have escalated in recent weeks. On Monday morning, workers at Excellence Oyster Bay in Trelawny staged demonstrations calling for increased wages, additional staff buses, and more uniforms.

 

Last Friday, Iberostar workers in Rose Hall, St James, protested outside the hotel, following similar actions at Royalton Negril on October 21, which led to the suspension of the general manager and some grievances being resolved. On November 12, employees at Secrets and Breathless resorts in Freeport, Montego Bay, also protested, citing deteriorating conditions since a change in ownership.

 

Bartlett assured that his ministry would ensure employers follow through on commitments to address workers’ concerns. “The commitments that we are getting from our employers to have these consultations are met and that the solutions are found,” he said.

 

President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Robin Russell, voiced concern over the protests, emphasizing the importance of communication between management and staff.

 

“The JHTA is in full support of workers addressing whatever issues they are having but are also concerned with the way that the action is being taken,” Russell said. He highlighted the potential harm to the industry, which is recovering from challenges such as travel advisories and hurricane disruptions.

 

“It is imperative that the management listen to the staff. I think the communication lines need to be open… before industrial action is taken,” Russell added.

 

The JHTA has established a working committee, led by Russell, to examine the challenges facing the sector and propose solutions. Bartlett reiterated his ministry’s commitment to fostering collaboration and resolving the issues affecting the sector, which remains a cornerstone of Jamaica’s economy.